Page 84 of Nothing Breaks Like A Heart

"But you don't think it's fine?"

"I suspect there's more to the story, but that's above my pay grade and yours. What I need is a distraction, and that's going to be you and Andrew all day long, selling your story, generating interest and conversation. We don't want any of our events to be marred by what happened at the villa."

"I understand. We'll do whatever you need us to do."

"Good. I texted you both the schedule for today."

"I saw that."

"We'll have the ribbon cutting at eleven thirty, lunch on the patio at noon, resort tours in the afternoon, and a myriad of other social activities for the press and our arriving guests. We're also hosting small, intimate cocktail parties starting at six thirty each night this week in the old lighthouse. Andrew and you will host tonight's party for VIP guests."

"Okay." My mind spun from all the events. "Is that it? Will the lighthouse party be the end of our official duties?"

"At the moment, that's the last thing I have you doing. Where is Andrew?"

"Uh, he went out to grab some pastries," I lied. "He'll be back soon."

"Let him know I need you two to be very engaging. I want them talking about your love story, not what happened at Victor's villa. And try to look like you're infatuated with each other. Yesterday, I could feel the tension between you two, and while it might not be evident in photographs and videos, it will definitely show in person, and we cannot have that."

"We'll do our best. This has been a lot, Megan."

"Well, from what I hear, you're getting a promotion at the end of it," she said, an irritated note in her voice.

"Really? Who told you that?" I asked in surprise.

"Victor said we should reward you for being such a great representative for the brand. So don't let him down. Do your job."

"I will," I promised, excited about a promotion but wondering if whatever came my way from Victor wouldn't turn Megan and Bennett into my enemies. That didn't bode well for a long, successful future with the company. My job security was as fragile as my marriage security.

After Megan left, I grabbed my phone and called Ethan. Each ring stretched my nerves tighter until his rough voice came through.

"It's Lauren." The words tumbled out. "How are you? I heard you're at the medical center."

"I'm waiting for the doctor to release me," he replied tersely.

"What happened, Ethan? How did you get hurt?"

"What have you heard?" His question was careful, measured.

"That there was an electrical problem at Victor's villa that resulted in a lot of smoke but no fire and that no one was hurt but you." I paused. "Is that true?"

"It's the story the Carringtons will tell today."

"Can you tell me what really happened?"

"I don't know, Lauren. Can I trust you?"

My fingers tightened on the phone. "You can trust me, Ethan." My voice softened. "I care about what happened to you. I'm so sorry you got hurt, and I really need to know if Andrew was involved."

"I don't know if he was involved, but I suspect he was."

"Tell me what happened."

"The thieves disabled the villa's main alarm system," Ethan said, frustration evident in his voice. "But they missed something critical—the diamond's display case was on a completely separate circuit with its own power source and cellular connection. At one thirty-seven, that sensor triggered, sending an alert directly to my phone. No one else got it because the regular security network was down."

He paused, then continued, "When I arrived at the villa around one forty-five, I found the perimeter guard unconscious near the back door. His keycard was missing. I called resort security and told Demora to contact the sheriff's office, but I couldn't wait for them all to arrive." His voice hardened. "I should have, though. I'd barely made it inside when the smoke hit me—thick and disorienting. The last thing I remember was a sharp pain at the base of my skull. When I came to, the deputies and resort security were there, and the gallery had been cleaned out."

"Oh, my God! Did they steal the diamond?"

---