The kitchen was bustling, the catering staff already at work in preparation for the day’s events. We got a few odd looks as we walked through, but no one stopped us. I followed as Alex led me through the house, pausing at the bottom of the stairs we’d seen Victor come down the afternoon before.
“Up these stairs and to the left,” Alex said. “You’ll pass through a set of French doors and then the master suite is on your right.”
I nodded. “Got it.”
“All you have to do is push the button here”—he motioned to his ear—“and it will call me. My number is already pulled up on your phone.”
I nodded. “Okay.”
“And your phone is in your bag?”
I nodded, gripping my clutch a little tighter. “Yep.”
He gave my hand one final squeeze. “Good luck.”
Chapter Thirty
Alex
I watched her climb the stairs, hoping against hope she’d be able to get to the dress without too much groveling. I hated the thought of her kissing up to Sasha, especially knowing what Sasha really was.
Dani paused at the top of the stairs and turned back, her hand gripping the railing. She looked beautiful. I smiled and offered her a nod of encouragement, then reached up and tapped my ear, a reminder that I was only a phone call away. She nodded, then disappeared down the hall.
Seconds later, my phone buzzed with an incoming call. I pulled it out, smiling to see Dani’s picture filling the screen. I had my own tiny Bluetooth paired to my phone, so I tapped the earpiece once to answer the call.
“In trouble already?”
“What if you stay with me the whole time?” she asked me. “Just in case.”
“A good plan until you’re talking to Sasha at the same time that I’m talking to Alicio. That would be a lot to keep straight.”
“I know. You’re right,” she said, with a grumble of complaint. “I’m just freaking out a little.”
“You’ve got this, Dani,” I said. “I’ve got to go back to the pool house to get the folder, then I’ll find Alicio.”
“You left the folder?” she whisper-yelled. “Out in the open?”
“Relax,” I said. “It’s in my suitcase.” As soon as I said the words, I wondered if they were true. Was it in my suitcase? Or had I left it on the counter when I helped Dani put in her Bluetooth? The fact that I couldn’t remember said a lot about how distracted I was. I was a perfectionist. A planner. The guy who always remembered the details. I swallowed my doubts. Either way, it was too late to do anything but go get it. I couldn’t confront Alicio without it.
Elaine emerged out of the kitchen, a mug of coffee, and a plate of muffins in her hand. She shot me a questioning look. And rightly so. I wasn’t going anywhere, just standing in the hallway talking to myself.
“You need anything?” she said.
“Actually, I was looking for Alicio. Do you know where he is?”
“He isn’t here. He and Victor went to play an early round of golf this morning. They should be back by noon.”
“Ah. Okay. Maybe I’ll wait for them in his study.”
“Could you possibly—?” Elaine held up the coffee and muffins. “These are for Sasha. That woman’s been bossing me around all morning, and I have a thousand other things to do to make sure the house is ready. If I walk this upstairs, she’ll find something else to ask me to do.”
I hesitated. “So you want me to carry them up?”
“Say yes!” Dani whispered into my ear. “Bring them to me and I’ll take them in.”
“Actually, sure,” I said to Elaine. “I’d be happy to help.”
She shot me a weird look, but it didn’t last. She was clearly happy to be free of the unwanted obligation. “Thanks. She’s in the master suite upstairs.”
“On it,” I said.
Halfway up the stairs, I paused. “You still there?” I said to Dani.
“Yep,” she whispered. “Coming to meet you. You gotta work on sounding more casual.”
“What? All I did was ask where Alicio was.”
“But your voice sounded like you were elbow-deep in the cookie jar.”
“We are elbow-deep in the cookie jar.”
I found her at the top of the stairs; she smiled and reached up to end our phone call. “This is perfect,” she said, taking the coffee and muffins from me. “I’ve been hiding in the hallway, trying to muster up the nerve to knock on Sasha’s door.”
“And you say I need to be more casual? When you’re hiding in an upstairs hallway?”
She grinned. “No one saw me; it’s fine. And now—” She held up Sasha’s breakfast. “I have an excuse to be here.”
“Be careful,” I warned her again. “And stay in touch.”
She nodded, then disappeared down the hallway one more time.
I quickly headed back to the pool house to retrieve the folder of evidence I’d prepared for Alicio, which was, gratefully, still in my suitcase. I dropped off the bag, as well as Dani’s, in my car—we likely wouldn’t have time to retrieve them on our way out—then went to Alicio’s study, settling into one of the leather wingback chairs to wait for his return. I hadn’t had a conversation with Alicio since I’d walked out of his New York office, not unless you counted our brief encounter on Christmas Eve.
I half wondered if he’d even give me the chance to show him what I’d discovered. It was possible he’d shut me down before I began, especially if Victor was with him when the conversation took place. It would be better if the two of us were alone, but how could I guarantee that would happen? I could always ask to speak to him privately, but would he allow it?
If he didn’t, or if I couldn’t manage the conversation before Dani was ready to leave, would I be willing to walk away? I could always send the information to the authorities without confronting Alicio directly. In a follow-up email full of additional implicating evidence, Angelica had offered to do just that. But my pride had made me say no.
I wanted to see Alicio’s face when I showed him the truth, when he saw that I had been right all along. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew it probably wouldn’t make me feel better. It wouldn’t fill the gaping hole left by my lack of family. It wouldn’t make the LeFrancs the kind of people I even wanted as my family. But I still had to try.
Chapter Thirty-One
Dani
The door to Sasha’s room was slightly open, so I pushed it with my knee, stepping into the lavish bedroom and trying to look like I belonged there. “Good morning,” I said, my voice light. “I ran into Elaine downstairs and she asked me to bring this up to you.”
Sasha looked up from where she lounged by the fireplace wearing a silk robe. “Dani? Oh, thank God you’re here. I’ve been completely surrounded by idiots all morning.”
An older woman wearing glasses and a tight smile sat across from Sasha. “I’m actually still sitting right here, Sasha. I can hear what you’re saying.”
I placed the muffins and coffee on the small table next to her. “Well, I don’t mind sticking around a little while if you need some extra help.” I looked at the woman wearing glasses. “I’m Dani. I used to work with Sasha.”