Page 130 of Vacation Friends

But the man in front of her—was he a bodyguard?—looked dead serious.

And Garrick still hadn’t turned around or acknowledged her.

Nothing made sense.

Cecilia had no idea what she would do to make things better.

CHAPTER

FIFTY-EIGHT

NOW

Today hadn’t gone as Maddie planned.

Between finding Logan dead on the beach, talking to Detective Kalani twice, and everything that happened with Nico, her day had flown by like a speeding bullet charging toward an unsuspecting target.

In between all the trauma and drama, she’d packed her suitcase. She would go to the airport early. The sooner she could get away from this place, the better.

Right now, she knew the gala was about to start. She didn’t want to attend, but she was curious about the event. It was taking place on the Grand Lawn, the same area where they’d had the luau.

When Maddie knew the dinner had started, she wandered toward the Grand Lawn.

She’d donned some black dress slacks and a beige shirt for traveling along with some comfortable black canvas sneakers. The innocuous outfit shouldn’t draw any attention. She didn’t want to be seen—only to watch.

She reached the area and found some shrubs where she could stand just out of sight from most of the guests. She tried to look like she belonged there as she occasionally glanced at her phone. Hopefully she wouldn’t draw any attention from the waitstaff.

People were seated at tables, wearing their fanciest clothing. She recognized several faces, but no one looked her way. At the front stood a stage with a podium and a large screen behind it.

She’d seen the schedule earlier. She knew the plan was for everyone to eat, and then after dessert the board would name the new CEO.

She scanned the crowd one more time. Her gaze stopped on Nico and his wife. Despite his brush with death, he was here.

He must have gone to the hospital and been cleared in record time.

Had he insisted on leaving early because he hoped to be named CEO?

She searched the crowd again, and her gaze stopped on Brody. He was at a table closer to the back and on the edge of the lawn.

He sat beside Adrienne. Were the two of them really together?

It didn’t matter.

Bree wasn’t here. She was probably still in her room or still doing everything possible to find Fowler.

Nico and several board members, including Darla and Tom, sat near the front with Josh.

Halfway through the dinner, Detective Kalani appeared, standing on the edge of the seating area opposite her.

He glanced her way and nodded.

Guilt filled her. He’d told her not to leave. But legally, he couldn’t make her stay here.

A few minutes later, all the board members took place on stage.

This was it.

Would Josh get what he had always wanted and take over his father’s company, or would his dreams disintegrate in front of everyone?

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