“I’m going to stand by you and you’ll stand by me. We’re in this together, Griff.”
A ray of admiration beamed through him. If only she knew how much that meant to him.
Benny, the doorman, came up to them. “Mr. Griff, they’re trying to come in. I had to lock the doors.”
“It’s a circus already,” Griff muttered. “Thanks, Benny. We need to get this done and over before it disrupts the store any more than it already has.” Looking to Priscilla, he asked, “Ready?”
Her curt nod gave him his answer. But it was her worried expression that told him of her inner turmoil.
“I’ll protect you,” he whispered to her as they made their way outside.
“Wait,” Charlie called, striding toward them. “I’m coming, too.”
“Me, too,” Francine said, her arm hooked with Charlie’s as the united sisters joined them.
“Well, if you think I’m staying behind, then you’re nutso,” Rico added.
“Holy, moly, look at all these people,” Peg said. “Don’t you worry, Boss, I know a few karate moves. I’ll use them, too, don’t you think I won’t.”
Griff led the way, blocking the others from the instant blur of flashbulbs going off. The bright white lights and constant whirls and clicks sent him hurtling back in time. His middle tightened.
“Gentlemen, ladies, please.” He held up his hand to quiet the growing noise of chatter. Most settled down, but a few dared to shove microphones in his face and ask questions. He ignored them. He waited as Priscilla and the others trickled out behind him. Bruno, a man of his word, stood close to Priscilla.
Once they did join him, Griff became aware of a commotion in the depths of the crowd.
“The troops,” Charlie said. “I called them, Griff, when we decided on the press conference early this morning.”
“Hey, watch it,” someone yelled.
“Outta the way, buster,” Edward said, leading Alex and Marcus. Dolly wasn’t too far behind, hanging onto Eddie’s coattails.
Griffin swallowed hard. When they pushed their way through, he shook the men’s hands and got a fierce hug from Dolly.
“You think we’d just let you swing in the wind by yourself?” Dolly asked. “No, sirree. We’re all in this together. One big happy family.”
A combination of gratitude and guilt swarmed inside Griff. They’d do this for him. But what would he do to them in the end?
Each one lined up alongside of the other, a united front. To Griff, he likened it to his line of defense.
He pulled himself together and faced the press. Priscilla slipped her hand in his and held it tightly. “Thank you all for coming this morning. I’ll give a short statement, answer no more than five questions, and then this press conference will be over.” Firm. Direct. To the point. There would be no mistaking this was anything but business.
He didn’t wait for their approval. “Most of you might recognize me. I’m Griffin James. The King family has allowed me to head up their store to revitalize it. I’m grateful for the opportunity and humbled by their trust in me.” It was never more true than at this moment. “I have been faced with many challenges in the retail industry over the years; however, I believe with the King family and King’s employees we will band together, work hard, and far exceed any expectations that we could ever imagine. King’s Department Store will live up to the late Charles King’s dream for this store and for his daughters. The legacy lives on.
“Now, I would like to briefly introduce you to my wife—”
Shocked gasps rent the air. Cameras clicked.
“Priscilla King James,” Griff said, putting his arm around her. He felt her tremble against him. “Yes, she is the youngest stepdaughter to the late Charles King. Yes, she works at King’s, currently as a manager. However, in the near future, she will be utilizing her creativity more and designing. No, we didn’t know each other before I got the job. Yes, it was a whirlwind courtship and wedding. No, I don’t want to own King’s. I refuse any of my wife’s inheritance or monetary gain from marrying a King daughter. I didn’t marry her for her money.”
“That’s an understatement,” Priscilla said, once again not filtering her words.
The reporters in front heard and chuckled. Priscilla’s family and friends joined in.
It eased Griff’s tension. “I am a very lucky man,” he said, “to have found someone as special as Priscilla.” He meant it. “Any questions?”
There were a dozen or more people clamoring to be heard, but Griffin zeroed in on one overzealous reporter. He recognized the woman from the gossip columns she’d written nasty insinuations about Francine and Marcus a few months ago. “Does Mrs. King approve of the marriage? Why isn’t she here today? Is there a feud in the family?”