Chapter 5

The dress is ready by noon.

Serena chose a fitted silk gown with a long train and enough beadwork to keep three people busy for a week.

I check the measurements against the order.

Then I sign for collection.

The designer looks relieved.

"Will Miss Blake be coming in for the final fitting?"

"Her assistant will arrange it."

"And you?"

"I'm finished."

It feels good to say it.

Lucy carries the bag to the car.

We're halfway to the Whitmore estate when traffic stops outside my father's company offices.

A small crowd stands near the entrance.

Some hold signs.

Others are arguing with a security guard.

I lean forward.

"What's happening?"

Our driver slows.

I recognize a man near the curb.

Daniel Price.

He has worked with my father for fifteen years.

His arm is in a sling.

"Pull over."

Lucy catches my wrist.

"Audrey?"

"I know him."

I get out before the driver can come around.

Daniel sees me.

His expression changes from anger to alarm.

"Miss Bennett."

"What's going on?"

He looks past me.

"Where's your father?"

"I was about to ask you."

A woman beside him steps forward.

"We've been told the project losses are his responsibility."

"What losses?"

"That's what we want to know," Daniel says. "We finished the repairs. Your father stayed until the independent inspection was complete."

I pull out my phone.

My father's email is still there.

Sent two days ago.

A photograph of him beside the project team.

An attached report.

Final inspection passed. Coming home as soon as the handover is finished.

Daniel looks at the screen.

"That's the day."

"The day what?"

"We got clearance. Everything was signed off."

"Then why are they blaming him?"

He rubs a hand over his face.

"They're saying he left the site before the emergency work was done. That Serena Blake took over."

"That isn't true."

"We know."

A man behind him raises his voice.

"She was already back here posing for photographs. We were still out there."

I remember Serena's airport jacket.

Her luggage by Julian's door.

The ten wedding dates.

My stomach tightens.

"Has anyone spoken to my father?"

Daniel shakes his head.

"He came back this morning. Whitmore's people said they needed him for a debrief."

"What people?"

Before he can answer, two men come out of the building.

I recognize one of them from Julian's security detail.

He speaks into his phone, then looks directly at Daniel.

"We've asked you to move away from the entrance."

"We're waiting for an answer."

"You've been given one."

"By whom?"

The man's eyes shift to me.

"Miss Bennett."

"Where is my father?"

"Mr. Bennett is assisting with an internal review."

"Where?"

"You'll need to speak to Mr. Whitmore."

"Which one?"

He doesn't answer.

He doesn't have to.

Daniel steps closer.

"Call us when you find him."

I give him my number.

"Send me what you have. Messages. Photos. The inspection date. Don't delete anything."

He nods.

Behind us, the guard starts telling people to leave again.

I get back into the car.

Lucy is already holding out her phone.

"I've tried your father twice."

"So have I."

"Should we call Nathan?"

I look at the estate gates on the route ahead.

"I'm calling Julian first."

He doesn't answer.

I call again.

Nothing.

My father's message glows on my screen.

Home today.

He should be home.

He should be sitting at our kitchen table, complaining that Mrs. Ellis has made enough lunch for six people.

Instead, his employees are standing outside asking where he is.

The driver turns into the Whitmore estate.

I'm out of the car before Lucy has unfastened her seat belt.

Inside, someone calls my name.

I keep walking.

Voices come from the garden terrace.

Serena is standing beside a horse brought over from the stables.

A photographer adjusts his camera.

Julian holds the reins while she straightens the collar of a clean field jacket.

The image is already taking shape.

The woman who came home and saved the project.

Strong.

Capable.

Deserving.

"You won't have to worry about Bennett's people," Julian tells her. "I've dealt with it."

She touches his arm.

"All of it?"

"All of it. No one's going to take this away from you."

I stop at the terrace doors.

Julian looks up.

The smile leaves his face.

"Where is my father?"