Page 139 of Sapphire Sunset

You could have heard a pin drop. For a second or two, Connorthought the woman might have hung up.

“I’m not sure I appreciate the in—”

“Fine. How about this, Nicole? Why don’t you take theafternoon to see how the world reacts to the fact that Sylvia Milton attacked aten-year veteran of the Marine Corps who saved a child’s life this week? Andthat she did it using terms she’d never use to describe a straight couple in amillion years. Why don’t you kick back, see how all that unfolds on social media,and then you can decide whether yourliteracyorganization should bedragged into the middle of this woman’s media war?”

Gloria and Jonas were both statue still during the silencethat followed.

“Nicole?” Connor asked.

“Let’s touch base this evening,” she said. “When everything’scalmed down some.”

“Sounds good.”

“My assistant will reach out to Jonas and set a time.” Shehung up without a goodbye.

Connor rose to his feet, head spinning, shaking with anger.He moved to the office’s floor-to-ceiling window and stared out at its viewwhile only seeing red.

“May I ask what happens if Lighthouse walks?” Jonas asked.

“We can operate out of cash reserves for several months. Butif we don’t raise occupancy, and if their cancellation inspires others, a saleis inevitable.”

“Christ,” Gloria whispered.

No one said anything for a while.

“Did I screw up?” Connor finally asked.

As the silence wore on, he figured they might be toohorrified to answer, but when he turned, he saw they were both staring at theirphones.

“Oh, God,” Connor moaned, “what now?”

“Check your email.” Gloria had tears in her eyes when shelooked up at him.

The newest message in his inbox was from Logan. He openedit, saw the other addresses it had gone to. All of the department heads, andLois at the bank.

The words in the subject line smashed into Connor like asledgehammer:Letter of resignation.

Connor was prepared for a fight, a fierce battle ofwords, or a heated discussion that might push the two of them close to thebrink for the first time since they’d declared their love for each other. Buthe was not prepared for Logan to already be out of uniform, not fifteen minutesafter submitting his three-sentence resignation letter. Logan was also calmlyremoving his blazers and khakis from the penthouse suite’s closet, folding themneatly and tucking them inside his now bulging duffel bag. The finality of thisscene tossed kindling on the fires of Connor’s panic.

“What the hell are you doing?” Connor cried.

“What needs to be done.” He avoided eye contact as hecontinued to pack. “Make Keoni interim security director. He’s a solid dude,and he won’t hesitate to call me if he has questions.”

“You sent a letter of resignation to the bank withouttalking to me first?” Connor asked.

“I’m making it easier, okay?”

“For Sylvia Milton, maybe.”

He hurled the blazer in his hands to the duffel bag at his feet.“Foryou, Connor. For you.” Regretting his flash of anger, it seemed,Logan looked to the floor. “What was the 911 from Jonas about?” he asked.

“Logan, we just need to sit down with everyone and figure—”

“The first event’s in three weeks. You haven’t had an urgenttext from your special events director since you started here. Why did you getone five minutes before that press conference?”

Connor couldn’t bring himself to say it.

“They’re saying the same thing, aren’t they?” Logan asked.

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