"Then show them you're that woman. Pretend you're your own client. Advise yourself." If he could get her to look past her emotion and view the problem logically, she would see it wasn't so bad. Oh, they were in for a few nasty moments, but it was a storm they could weather.
He saw the instant her intellect took over.
She sat up straighter and her eyes lost that frightened look. "The best way to get rid of them is to make a statement. We should be honest. We explain we're in our concubine period and request privacy while we're working out our relationship. I ask my sister and her husbands to release a statement that they stand behind the potential marriage and my brothers-in-law thank you three for honoring his culture and values. We move the press away from the salacious aspects of our relationship. We focus less on anything that encourages this 'mistress' business and talk more about the potential of another semi-royal wedding."
"That's perfect." Rory breathed an obvious sigh of relief.
Oliver brought her free hand to his lips. "I think that will work beautifully, love. We'll still have some trying to take photographs, so no outdoor sex. But the reporters should leave us alone for a while. The very fact that we're isolated will help."
This time when Tori moved off his lap, he helped her. She was back in control. She reached for her bag as Oliver informed Lyle they would stop and speak with the press. Tori brushed her hair and smoothed on a bit of gloss. Either way she looked gorgeous.
"Callum, they're going to ask you about Thea," she instructed.
"What do you want me to say?" Callum asked.
Her lips quirked up in the sweetest smile. "I thought you were the boss."
"Only in the bedroom, my love. Or when you need it. Right now, I think you'll find we'll follow your lead. We didn't pick a doormat of a woman. We picked someone smart and competent. In this, you are our leader."
A sheen of tears made her eyes a little watery. "So we're a team?"
Had she not realized that? Callum reached for her hand. "The three of us were a team for months, but we got a bit lost. We needed you to bring us together. We're always a team. We always back each other. That's what a family is."
She leaned forward and kissed him. "You know what to say, Callum. You run the old 'on the advice of my lawyers' line and don't say a thing about Thea. When they ask you about the baby, say only that you look forward to being a father one day and that any child of yours will have all your love. Oliver, don't frown. In fact, everyone smile unless the question warrants somberness. When they ask about our sex lives, and you know they will, smile and tell them we like to keep our private lives private."
The limo rolled to a stop right outside the estate's big gates. Thick trees hid the house and the river beyond from view, affording them privacy. Callum wondered briefly if they should just drive on. Or if they should simply head straight back to Bezakistan. But running their business from another continent for thirty days without any advance planning would be somewhere between ball-busting and impossible.
When Lyle opened the car door, Rory stepped out and reached back inside to help Tori. She winked Cal's way before exiting the limo.
Oliver sent a bolstering glance his way, too. "Don't let them get to you. Five minutes tops, then we won't be dealing with these people for a whole month. And you handled her beautifully."
Oliver stepped out and then it was Callum's turn. He was well aware he was the real fuck-up of the group. The press might have been interested in three wealthy brothers sharing a bride, but it likely wouldn't have been as huge a story without him. He was one of the chief reasons they were swarming. He'd been the bad boy of football for years, and now that was coming back to haunt them all.
But they needed him, too. All he could do was smile and follow Tori's instructions. Eventually, they would see that he'd settled down.
He followed Oliver out of the car, and the cluster of reporters immediately assaulted them with questions.
"Ms. Glen, how do you feel about stealing a pregnant woman's man?"
"Torrance, do you think your sister is embarrassed by your recent nude display?"
"How does the sex work? Do you all take turns? Can none of you find a woman of your own?"
Every word turned his gut. They were locusts. Callum fisted his hands and anger roiled through his system.
"Don't. Their words don't mean a thing," Rory whispered in his ear. "Let Tori handle this."
He tried to calm himself. It was one thing for these prats to heap this humiliation on him, but quite another that they dumped it on her. The fact that he couldn't protect her burned him.