Getting in line at the employee coffee cart, I run into Sloane, and she’s absolutely beaming when she sees me.
“Quinn!” she squeals, grabbing my arm as she smiles. “Good birthday, huh?”
“Yeah, it was. Thanks so much for coming.” As I say it, I realize how it sounds, and clearly, Sloane does too, because we both let out a laugh.
“Did you see our texts? We were blowing up your phone all night and this morning.”
I haven’t even looked at my phone, wanting to leave my lawyer and Sean’s legal team on read. And with how late I was running, I grabbed it and shoved it in my purse.
She pulls her phone from her pocket, scrolling through the text chain, which has us both laughing a little too hard.
* * *
Alana: Get it, girl!
Daisy: That was the real thing! Those Olsen boys know how to get it done!
Sage: How was it? Best of your life?
Sloane: Not sorry we ditched out on your birthday party.
The text chain continues with several dirty emojis, lots of jokes, and a few congratulations, and even if it is a little embarrassing, I love the friendship I’ve developed with these girls. Joking and laughing and sharing, knowing I’m not alone in this, but finally finding that someone who can give me my first orgasm that wasn’t solo.
“You free for lunch today?” I ask Sloane as we both grab our coffee and head back toward the front of the hotel.
The spa is on the third floor with this stunning infinity pool overlooking the ocean. It’s nothing like the place I worked in New York, but I’m really enjoying it. All the luxury and the quiet spa environment with snacks and drinks, a little café that serves sandwiches and salads to the guests.
All the employees have their own entrances and breakroom areas, but even those are beautiful, with gorgeous views and everything we could want.
“Yeah, probably around twelve if that works for you,” she replies. “Want to grab lunch at the café?”
“Sure, that sounds great.”
“You can give me the rundown on your night and your morning,” Sloane jokes. “Sounded like things went really…” She stops, opening her mouth into an O shape, closing her eyes, and I can’t help but laugh at her.
“Yeah, it was—” I’m cut off by Sally, the owner of the hotel, coming up to us.
“Quinn, there’s someone here to see you,” she says, and I quickly check my watch, making sure I haven’t killed too much time. She points to a man sitting on one of the couches in the lobby, but he doesn’t look at all familiar to me.
“Oh, thank you. I’ll go see what he wants, and then I need to get up to the spa. I don’t want to be late for my first client.”
“You’re good,” Sally says, smiling sweetly. “He didn’t say who he is, but if I had to guess, he looks like a journalist. They’re in here all the time doing write-ups on the hotel. Maybe he wants to interview our newest employee.”
She’s joking, but she has no idea that he’s here for exactly that, and it has nothing to do with the hotel. Kai is the only person I’ve told about my divorce and the NDA, and really about who my soon-to-be ex-husband is.
I’m shocked they don’t already know. It’s probably spreading like wildfire through the gossip mills and tabloids.
Her words stop me in my tracks.
It’s starting, and I have no idea how to handle this. Honestly, I want to run and hide. I wasn’t built for this, and depending on the media outlet, they could want my story, or they could be here to support Sean.
Either way, it doesn’t matter because I’m not ready to participate in this. That doesn’t mean I’m going to sign the NDA, though. I will never give up my right to speak about my own life.
“You okay, Quinn?” Sloane asks, and I can feel my face lose all its color, my hands growing clammy.
Both she and Sally are looking at me, the fear written in every expression, every movement.
“No, I’m sorry. It’s a long story, but I don’t know how this person found me, and they aren’t here for anything good.”
