Sitting in the kitchen with Theodore was nothing like Lucy would ever expect. He had made them each a cup of hot cocoa and they sat across from each other, enjoying their drinks and cookies.
"You still love baking." He remarked, mentally adding that she was excellent at it too.
"I often do it for Zeus. If you want, I can have him bring you and Zaria cookies once in a while." She suggested without thinking too much of it.
"That would be great. Though it would be even better if you brought the cookies yourself." Flirted Theodore, and Lucy didn't know how to respond to it. She offered a smile and sipped her hot cocoa, cradling it between her hands.
"You said you wanted to talk about F&P Media." He asked.
"Yes." She looked at him oddly. "You know about what has been happening to the Su family, right? My father's name getting thrown around in articles for his past crimes and all that."
"I do." He looked at her curiously.
"Aren't you interested in the news?" She expressed her curiosity,
A frown settled on his face. Interest was an understatement. There wasn't any media agency that wasn't trying to be the first to get to the bottom of the Su family's scandalous revelations. Everyone was trying to either interview Lucy or Nathaniel and it was almost impossible for her to accept any of their invitations with how low the odds were. How could he not be interested in it?
However, "I have already had my fair share of the repercussions caused by messing with the wrong families. I do not intend to make a similar mistake for the rest of my life."
She chuckled but knew that he made sense. She had known how horrible it had been for him when Desmond decided to sue F&P Media for meddling into matters related to the Fort family. She would never forget how hard it was for her daughter to find a job afterwards.
"Well, I'm offering myself to you." She looked at him and he almost choked.
"What are you saying?"
"If you want to interview me, I'm in for it." She smiled.
He mulled over her words and was confused. "Why would you offer yourself up for an interview with F&P Media? I have confidence in the potential of my agency but I also know that you have innumerable options from already successful companies."
"I only want F&P Media." She insisted. "I only trust you. Do you want to interview me?"
He smiled even though he knew he was overthinking her words. "Sure. But I can't be the one interviewing you on live television. I'm part of your story, you know."
"Right. It would be odd." She twirled her nearly empty cup. "We can do a written interview first."
"What kind of effect do you intend to achieve?" He asked, realizing that she was not just giving answers to the public. She probably wanted to drag Nathaniel's name through the mud all over again.
"I want everyone to know what a scumbag he is. At least to the point that no one in their sane mind will want anything to do with him."
He nodded. "I see. But within the time frame you want, a live interview will have a more dramatic effect. I'll personally write down the questions you want to be asked and make sure these are the only ones you will be asked. "
"I can do with that." She inched closer. "However, we have to do this tomorrow."
"I guess that can be done." It was an unexpected pie from the sky for F&P Media. He had scheduled an interview with an actress for the following day, only for the woman to bail out on them. Who would have expected that she would be replaced by the mysterious tycoon everyone wanted to know about, Lucy Roatta? The contrast was insane.
"It's a short notice to inform our followers of your upcoming interview but I guess everyone is waiting for you so it's going to be easier." He took out his phone and logged into the company Creszone account before putting up the announcement. He was yet to log out when the night owls started commenting and expressing their excitement.
"So many people want to know you." He remarked.
She smiled ever so slightly. "Are you jealous…of them?"
He was taken aback and she knew when to stop. "Well, I'd like to be asked what I think of all the rumors circulating online about my father, why no one knows that I'm his daughter and…" She changed the subject, letting him know what she wanted to reveal the next day.
"Lucy," He half-whispered her name when they were done, and she was preparing to leave. She turned to look at him.
"I would like to thank you for this. It means a lot for F&P Media."
She smiled up at him. "You don't need to. It's for Zaria and my grandchild."
"Well, I still benefit from it so, thank you."
"You're welcome."
He took the empty cups to put them on the sink but she was in his way, and didn't seem to make head or tail of his words when he told her so. She continued standing in his way, smiling until he couldn't help himself anymore. He inched closer and closer to her face until a groan from the door startled them into jumping away from each other.
"Get a room, you two!" Zaria closed her eyes in mock disgust.
"Aren't you asleep, princess?" Theodore moved further away from Lucy who looked like she wanted to dig a hole to hide in.
"I forgot to refill the water jug in my room and came down for some. At the wrong time, I guess." She held up a glass jug. "You didn't see me, I didn't see anything." She hurriedly refilled her jug at the dispenser and hurried back up as though the kitchen was on fire.
He chuckled and placed the cups on the sink before holding a hand out to Lucy. "I'll see you to the guest room."
"Huh?" She was taken aback by the sudden offer.
"I mean, it's already so late at night and not the right time for anyone to be driving around on their own. You can sleep in Zaria's room if you don't want the guest room. She will definitely be happy to have you."
"That's a tempting offer but I must go back and prepare for the interview." She turned him down.
"That's okay." He led the way out. "Is it too late to mention how beautiful you look?"
"I don't think it is."
It was colder outside, and Lucy shuddered when the cold breeze hit her skin. She sneezed, merely seconds before Theodore's jacket settled on her shoulders.
"I still think you should have stayed over but since you insist on leaving, you should be warm at the very least."
"Thank you." She hugged the fluffy jacket, feeling warmer instantly.
…
News spread like wildfire in Olphire but news regarding Imperium aristocrats was like an explosion. It was shocking that the number of netizens awaiting the interview surpassed any other. Lucy had received countless private messages from friends asking her whether she was really airing her family's dirty laundry in public and she had one answer for all of them—she should have done this ages ago.
Nathaniel gave her a call an hour before the time of the interview. "What are you doing?" He asked.
She was already on her way to F&P Media and couldn't be bothered with him. A sinister smile ghosted her lips. "Exactly what you wanted me to do, father."
The last word was said out with vengeance, and she hoped it would be the last time for her to call him that. She hung up on him and drowned herself in her thoughts through the rest of the ride to F&P Media. To her delight, Theodore was there to receive her.
"Are you really sure you want to do this?" He asked her when they were on their way to the studio.
"Positive." She placed a hand on his shoulder. "I should have done this twenty-eight years ago. My cowardice caused you, Zeus and Zaria to suffer for so long and if I stay silent for any longer, my grandchild will suffer the same fate. So thank you for giving me this chance, Theo."
Theo. It had been ages since she called him that and it made him just as happy as it did in the past. He tried not to bounce on his heel as he walked her to the studio.
"Good luck." He whispered to her when she walked in and sat on the couch, even though she didn't need any.
She smiled back at him and went though the interview questions to ensure none was missing and none had been added to it. They were all dramatic questions, much to her advantage.
When the interview that had been nicknamed as "the skeleton contest" by the netizens went live, the host introduced Lucy before firing off the first question on the list.
"Everyone has been waiting to hear you speak up, Ms. Roatta, but they are all curious of one thing. Why is your surname Roatta?"
She laughed like it was a simple matter. "Obviously, because I don't want to breathe the same air as that of a heartless man, let alone have his surname."
The host was baffled. "But if he has been heartless to you all your life, why are you only speaking up now?"
Her expression turned solemn. "Well, everyone has a day when all the skeletons in their closet just break out and march into the limelight, right?"
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