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My phone chirps again. A text from Autumn with the same screenshot that Margo sent me earlier. I imagine I’ll see it from various sources several more times before the day is through. “The engagement is all over Page Six already.”
“Par for the course, being attached to such a powerful man. I’m afraid it’s something you will have to tolerate, to some extent, anyway. And some of those reporters will do anything for a juicy story.” Raj empties the carton of eggs into the holder. “One offered me twenty thousand dollars for details on Scott Wolf’s death. He wanted to know why he came here.”
To rape me. And worse, possibly. “Obviously, you didn’t take the payday.” Those details have not been leaked by anyone yet.
“Mr. Wolf pays me well for not only my services but my discretion. These people think they can wave dollar bills and get whatever they want. That is not the case. At least, not with me. And some things do not need to see headlines. It is enough that it ended the way it did.” Raj wipes the counter of a few errant crumbs. “So, tell me about this Momzilla problem of yours.”
I savor my coffee as I download on Raj. It turns out, Henry’s housekeeper is an excellent listener. By the time he’s heading to collect Henry’s clothes for dry cleaning, we’ve devised a plan of attack to deal with Mama that I think—I hope—will work.
I’m reaching for my phone to message Henry when it rings with an incoming call from an unknown number.
“Hello?” I answer warily.
“Abbi! Hey! Congratulations on the engagement!”
“Uh … Thanks.” I frown, the man’s voice unfamiliar. “Who is this?”
“It’s Luca, from theTribune.”
A newspaper reporter.Great. “How did you get this number?”
“Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?”
While avoiding mine, apparently. My wariness grows. “Actually, I need to—”
“With Henry’s grandparents, father, and brother dead, and mother long since estranged, the entire Wolf empire sits on his shoulders. He must be feeling especially lonely these days. Could that explain the hasty proposal?”
“It wasn’t hasty,” I blurt without thinking.
“You’ve only known each other since May, though.”
“Well, I mean, yes, it was fast. But he gave it thought,” I stammer.Hastyis a terrible word. It sounds rushed and poorly considered.
It sounds like a mistake.
“So you’re not worried he’ll regret it and break off the engagement?”
“I … no?” Should I be?
“You’re his assistant, correct?”
“Was. I haven’t worked for him for months.” I wish the papers would get that part right, at least.
I hear a page flip. “According to sources, your romantic relationship began while you were working as Henry Wolf’s assistant at the Wolf Alaska location, despite a strict corporate policy against it. Is that correct?”
Henry and I figured this question might arise. Now that his father is gone and Henry owns the hotel, it no longer matters, but I know it’ll bother him if his reputation is dragged.
This Luca guy said he has sources. “Who told you that?” Belinda and Ronan know, but neither of them would stoop so low as to sell me out to a reporter.
“My sources wish to remain anonymous. Are you confirming it?”
“No!” Jed knows Henry and I started long before I came home from Alaska. He would definitely spill under questioning. I’m going to strangle him if he fed information to this guy.
“So, you’re denying it, then.”
“No, I’m …” I’m flustered, is what I am. Who is this guy, what is his angle, andwhyam I still entertaining his questions? “I have somewhere I need to be—”
“Tell me about your coworkers … Connor Brien and Ronan Lyle.”
