Pete, the security guard, held out his hand.
“Sorry about this, Ms. Pine.” He looked like he’d rather be doing literally anything else.
She unclipped the badge and handed it over. “It’s fine, Pete.”
It wasn’t. But there was no point making his day harder than it already was.
Jolene appeared the moment Pete walked away. “I’m running the schedule, but I’m not running you out.” Her voice was low. “You’re still on staff. This is temporary.”
“Temporary.”
Margot glanced toward the pavilion. A vendor spotted her, hesitated, then looked away.
Word had traveled.
“It is,” Jolene said.
She squeezed Margot’s arm once, brief and firm, then headed toward the kitchen.
Margot walked through the lobby toward the elevator.
Dana the florist gave her a tight smile.
Lou was standing in the kitchen doorway. He lifted a hand. “Hey.”
She stopped.
He held out a paper bag. “Cinnamon stars. Just came out.”
“Lou, I’m not really—”
“Take them.” His voice was gruff. His apron had three colors of icing on it. “You’re good people, Margot. Everybody here knows it.”
He gestured vaguely toward the lobby, the pavilion, the entire mess. “This is going to work out.”
She took the bag. “Thank you, Lou.”
He nodded and disappeared back into the kitchen.
The cookies were still warm.
She carried the bag against her chest as she crossed the lobby.
Tessa was on the terrace filming.
When she spotted Margot, she lowered her phone and mouthed, “Are you okay?”
Margot nodded.
Tessa didn’t look convinced.
Neither was Margot.
Her phone buzzed.
Evan.
Are you okay?
