Chapter 245
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Chapter 245:
Carmen’s heart hammered. “I have a group dinner with the team,” she said. It was a lie. Panic flared — this was too intimate, too fast.
Justin looked at her. He saw straight through it.
“Cancel it p>
“I can’t,” she stammered. “It’s for… morale p>
“Fine,” Justin said, straightening. “Then I’ll wait p>
“Wait for what p>
“For you to stop being scared of a good thing,” he said quietly.
He reached into his pocket and set a business card on top of the IRS letter.
“Call me when morale is high p>
He turned and walked out.
Carmen stared at the empty doorway. Her pulse was beating fast in her throat. She looked at the letter that could have ruined her, and at the card sitting on top of it.
𝖸о𝘂𝗿 𝖽a𝗶𝘭у d𝗈se 𝗈𝘧 𝗻о𝗏e𝗹𝘴 𝗼𝘯
She picked up her phone. She sent Sarah a text cancelling the nonexistent dinner.
Then she dialed the number on the card.
He answered on the first ring.
“Pick me up at eight,” she said, her voice only slightly unsteady.
“I’ll be there,” Justin said.
The line went dead.
Aspen Schneider paced the length of her living room, her heels clicking aggressively against the hardwood.
“So he has a hidden mistress,” she said, stopping to look at Kieran. “And he’s parading Jocelyn around as his wife to throw everyone off p>
Kieran was on the sofa, nursing a glass of scotch. “He was hiding the woman’s face. Why hide a wife — especially one he’s truly invested in? He concealed her under his jacket like she was a dirty secret p>
“True,” Aspen agreed, chewing her thumbnail. “But Jocelyn is still dangerous. She has his ear. She has access to his money p>
“We need inside information,” Kieran said. “We need to know the terms of their arrangement. Is she just a placeholder? What’s her weak spot p>
Aspen’s eyes lit up.
After Kieran left, she reached for her notebook and thought of a name.
“Branden,” she murmured. “He’s a hospitality professional. He used to manage the VIP floor at The Plaza. He owes me for a legal matter I made disappear last year p>
She typed a quick message:
I have a job. The Wolfe Hotel. High priority.
Two hours later, in the HR office of the Wolfe Hotel, Jocelyn was rubbing her eyes. She had been staring at résumés for three hours. The hotel was understaffed, and gala season was approaching — she needed a Floor Manager who could handle the pressure.
A knock at the door.
“Come in,” she called.
A man entered. He was handsome in a clean-cut, non-threatening way, with a charming smile and an expensive suit.
“Branden Cole,” he said, extending his hand. “I believe we have an appointment p>
Jocelyn picked up his résumé. “Impressive,” she murmured. “The Ritz. The Plaza. Why leave p>
“I’m looking for a new challenge,” Branden said smoothly. He sat down and crossed his legs. “And I admire what you’ve built here. The way you handled the Q3 revenue dip by renegotiating with the linen supplier was brilliant. Turning this place around in the middle of a family crisis — it’s genuinely inspiring p>