Page 86 of Forking the Billionaire

“Even when you’re alone, no one can do it all by themselves,” Sage said. “It takes a village and all that.”

“I can,” I said. “I can do anything without help.”

“Well just in case, you know where to find me. I always wanted a daughter.”

The warmth in her words and in her smile drew a smile out of me in return.

A bang pulled my attention to the door.

Mona Maloney stormed toward the bar with even more I-need-to-speak-with-the-manager vibes than usual. I hadn’tthought much about her over the past few days. I’d hoped she’d left the island by now.

“This should be good.” Sage took a long sip through her straw and turned to watch Mona.

Good? Probably not. Interesting? For sure.

“Someone thinks they’re a comedian.” Mona pulled out her phone from her purse and flashed the screen at Sage and then me. On it was a familiar sight: the tiki statue Jasper and I had found on the resort roof. Mona’s cat-eye glasses were propped awkwardly on the tiki man’s face.

Currently, those glasses were on Mona’s face, though they did look a bit crooked. That was new.

“I didn’t take your husband for having a sense of humor,” Sage said. “He always seems stunned and confused.”

“He is,” Mona said. “Fred did not do this.”

“Congratulations on finding your glasses,” I told her.

“Someone else is responsible,” she said, ignoring me. “They must be brought to justice.”

“The most obvious answer is usually the correct one,” Sage said. “Fred had access and motivation.”

“Motivation?” Mona scowled at Sage. “If you’re implying my husband wants me to be upset, you’re dead wrong.”

“Then you’ve accepted the obvious conclusion,” Sage said.

Mona crossed her arms over her chest. “And what exactly is that?”

With another sip of her drink and a small shrug, Sage said, “Ghosts.”

I held back a snort, but just barely. “That would explain the statue. Those things are ridiculously heavy. I hear the one by the door here had to be brought in by crane.”

“Actually, it broke the crane and they had to build the bar around the statue,” Sage said. “I saw it with my own two eyes.”

“I hate this place.” Mona glared at Sage before turning her ire on me. “Make me a pitcher of piña coladas.”

“Sure,” I said, and started prep.

“It’s the only way to keep my sanity,” Mona said.

Sage rolled her eyes, rested her chin on her hand to hide her expression, and mouthedshe lost that a long time ago.

I pressed my lips together and did not laugh.

“I’ll be waiting on the patio,” Mona said, and sauntered out the back. It was an angry, stompy saunter.

Sage smirked at me. “You should spit in her drink.”

“Probably,” I said, “but I don’t do that.”

“I’ll give you five bucks if you let me do it.”

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