Page 19 of Vacation Friends

How tragic, she mused. How very, very tragic.

“His name was Jared Kline,” Josh continued. “He was Darla Bowman’s executive assistant. She personally paid his way because she needed his assistance with part of the presentation she’s doing. Usually assistants don’t come.”

Darla Bowman was the Assistant Director of Development. Maddie had never cared for the woman, and Darla had made it clear she didn’t care for Maddie either.

It might have something to do with the fact Darla used to date Josh—right before he dated Maddie, actually. Maddie wasn’t sure what had happened between the two of them. She’d never asked.

She only knew that Josh had said several times that it was a bad idea to mix work and pleasure. His eyes always darkened when he said the words as if he had personal experience.

Even though Josh and Darla were cordial to each other, Maddie could always feel the tension simmering between them when they were in the same space.

“I’m sorry to hear he worked for Benchmark,” Maddie finally said. “I know this is a big loss for you all.”

“It is, indeed.”

She thought again about that text she’d received.

I know something you need to know. Someone is out to get you. I need to explain in person and not through text. Meet me at 5:30 a.m. on the beach. Tell no one—trust no one. Delete this message.

Knowing what she did now, should she mention the text to Josh?

No, Maddie decided. He had enough on his mind. Another part of her wanted to hold tightly to her secret until she had more information.

Just then, Josh’s phone buzzed, and he glanced at the screen.

His gaze darkened.

“Everything okay?” Maddie resisted the urge to look over his shoulder at the screen to see for herself.

He nodded, but his eyes remained dark. “It’s fine. Just some work stuff.”

He slipped his phone back into his pocket.

But Maddie didn’t believe him. He’d been preoccupied with something lately, and he wasn’t opening up to her.

She was certain her fiancé had some type of secret.

That fact left her feeling unsettled.

CHAPTER

EIGHT

Maddie wasn’t ready to let the subject drop yet. “You don’t look fine.”

Josh waved her off, a flicker of annoyance in his gaze. “It’s nothing.”

Maddie wondered if his bad mood had something to do with Derek Bonner.

Josh had fired Derek two weeks ago, and the man had gone ballistic. He’d made threats and caused a scene, so much so that security had to escort him out of the building.

Josh didn’t talk about it a lot, but Maddie knew the incident bothered him.

Unhinged former employees had a way of doing that.

She’d overheard a conversation between Josh and Benchmark’s Vice President of Technology, William Wright, last week. Josh had said something about proprietary information Derek had. He was worried the man might do something foolish with it.

The company could sue Derek if he did. But by then it would be too late. The information would already be out there.

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