Page 96 of Stuart Woods' Golden Hour

“We’ve been told she underwent surgery last night and has been in intensive care since,” the male host said.

“I wish her a speedy recovery,” Tessa said.

“Yes, we all do,” the male host threw in quickly.

Before he could ask anything else, the female host cut in, “So, what projects are up next for both of you?”

When the interview ended, the male host shook hands with both Mark and Tessa and then left the studio as if he couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

As soon as he was gone, his cohost said, “I apologize for my colleague. He is ambitious.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Tessa said. “I was there, so it’s understandable that the topic would come up.”

“But this was not our agreement.”

“No harm, no foul,” Mark said.

The woman’s brow furrowed. “I’m sorry?”

“I mean you shouldn’t worry about it.”

“Ah.”

Mark’s phone vibrated. He pulled it out and saw it was a call from Vesna. “Excuse me. I need to take this.”

He moved to a quiet part of the stage and tapped ACCEPT. “Good morning.”

“You look good on TV.”

“You watched? Aren’t you supposed to be in Berlin?”

“There’s this marvelous new technology called the internet. Lets you see things from around the world. Perhaps you’ve heard of it.”

“It rings a bell.”

“I thought it might,” she said. “You asked me to call you.”

Between his late night at the hospital and early morning appointment at the TV station, he’d only had time to shoot Vesna a text, asking her to call at this time.

“I thought you’d like to hear about my evening.”

“Your evening? What did I miss?”

“Well, for one, your ex-boyfriend.”

“My ex—” She stopped herself. “Dieter was there?”

“In the flesh.”

He told her what had happened.

“I’ll catch the first flight and be there as soon as I can,” she said when he finished.

“I’d rather you stay in Berlin. I can handle things here.”

“Are you sure?”

“I am a highly trained agent.”

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