Page 52 of The Billionaire's Masquerade Ball

“I don’t know. She wouldn’t tell me. But she came up with a story for Olivia to use instead to get her off this one. Here’s what Olivia was going to publish.”

Wyatt pushed a folder across the table.

Xander reached across and opened the folder. From the first line, his stomach clenched. He stopped reading after the first paragraph. It was clear that Olivia didn’t find out the full story. Yet.

But if Cynder was trying to shift Olivia’s focus, she must have found out somehow.

Naming the Foundation after Sarah and Ryder was an indulgence he shouldn’t have allowed himself. He knew it might come back to him, but thought it was rare or unlikely anyone would care that the story he made up was fake. It only felt right to put their names on it. But it was too risky and now it was coming back on him.

“Where is Olivia now?” There was ice in Xander’s voice.

“She’s gone. But she isn’t publishing that, so don’t worry. Xander, can I ask what’s behind that article? It doesn’t say much. Nothing that would matter. I don’t even know that the Tribune would publish it. But both you and Cynder seemed to see a significance. What am I missing?”

“What did Cynder say?”

“She told Olivia that it was part of marketing—the whole creating a story around something. But I know there was more she didn’t say.”

“It’s nothing,” Xander said.

Wyatt studied him and Xander found himself turning to look out over the city. The clouds that usually hung low and gray over the city during winter had disappeared, leaving a clear sky and amazing sunset. The sun was hidden behind another building, but the light bounced off windows with a brilliant flame of red and orange.

“If it was really nothing, then you probably won’t be happy with Cynder’s solution.”

Xander spun back around. “What did she do?”

Wyatt had another folder in front of him. He clutched it, like he was afraid to let it go. “She gave Olivia another story. One that was likely already on the website before she even left the building. It’s going to be everywhere. With social media, it probably already is. I’m sorry.”

Xander felt a shudder of panic. Wyatt’s face was impassive, but he could feel the younger man’s hesitation. What could possibly be worse than having to publicly share what had been, until now, a private grief?

“Let me see.”

Wyatt’s fingertips still rested on the folder, holding it back. “Before you get angry, realize that this is really brilliant, even if you hate it. Cynder managed to solve the two problems you gave her with one solution. She kept the story out—for whatever actual reasons you wanted it quiet—and it will help you find the mystery woman if she wants to be found.”

Xander didn’t wait for Wyatt to pass the folder, but snatched it from the table and turned to read it facing the window. He had given up too much already and didn’t want his face to give away more to Wyatt. When he finished reading it, his tongue felt thick and heavy in his mouth. He read it again to be sure he understood.

Closing his eyes, he spun back to the table, clutching the folder so tightly that it bent in his fist. “You didn’t try to stop this?”

Wyatt met Xander’s cool gaze with a heated one. “You let Cynder make the call. You told her you trusted her. I followed your lead and figured you both had your reasons.”

“Where is Cynder right now?” Xander’s voice held a deceiving calm, barely coating the opposite of the swell of emotion building up inside of him.

“She said she was headed home. But I last saw her in your office.”

“Thank you.”

“Xander?”

“What?”

Wyatt sighed. “I wanted to say that you shouldn’t be angry, but that would be pointless.”

“Yes, it would.”

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