Page 57 of The Restaurant on Plum Island
Ethan glanced at his wristwatch as he exited the makeshift studio and strode purposefully toward the conference room that had been assigned to Alex. His brother should be there at this time. Ethan stopped before the room’s door, gathering his composure so he wouldn’t storm in and throttle his twin.
Ethan knocked on the door and pushed it open. “Alex!” he called, stepping into the room lit with the early evening light. “We need to talk.”
He stopped and glanced around, realizing he was talking to an empty room. Ethan frowned. Alex liked to work at this time of the day when they weren’t filming. His eyes fell on the partially opened glass door, and he saw Alex sitting on the sand, staring out over the ocean. Ethan breathed and pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to get a handle on the document’s implications in his hand.
Ethan squared his shoulders and his resolve.I will not soften. Alex had gone too far this time.
He walked out the door and across the sand, ignoring the sand filling his shoes. Ethan stopped beside his brother, who shared the same face as him but obviously not the same moral compass.
Alex looked up, eyebrow raised, “Are you here to confiscate my view now?” He dusted the sand off his hands and rose. He was about an inch taller than Ethan’s six-foot-three. It was something that Alex loved to use to his advantage at times. “Well,brother, I have news for you. You might be able to manipulate many things, but nature isn’t one of them and is free for everyone to enjoy.”
“That’s debatable,” Ethan pointed out. “But I’m not here to discuss nature or take anything from you.” He shoved the document at Alex. “I’m here for an explanation of this.” He shook his head as he watched Alex’s surprise when he took the document. “You know impersonating me is one thing, but that.” He pointed to the page. “That’s fraud. What has Carlyeverdone to you that you’d have her exposed on television like this?”
Alex was quiet. His eyes were glued to the document in contemplation. When he lifted them, they were filled with hurt and resignation. A look Ethan had never seen on his brother made Ethan’s heart squeeze. He realized that he had accused rather than asked Alex about it. Ethan had just joined the ranks of everyone who only saw the worst in Alex.
“Wow!” Alex shoved the document back at Ethan. “It’s nice to know what you really think of me.” He shook his head and sighed. “To answer your question about Carly, I have nothing against her but everything against someone who’s intent on destroying our family.”
“Seriously?” Ethan gaped at him. “That’s why you did this?” Disbelief spread through him, and he felt disappointed as he took Alex’s reply as an admission of his guilt. “Let me get this straight…” He held up his hand and swallowed. “You humiliated her on television because you’rejealousof my relationship with Carly. Do you feel she’s getting in between us?”
“What?” Alex spluttered, his face crumpled in confusion. “No!” He shook his head. “Firstly, if you looked at that signature youaccusedme offorging,you’d see there was no way I’d have signed it.”
Ethan looked at the signature, and his heart dropped as he looked at the signature again. Shame washed over him as he realized it was not his brother’s handwriting. Alex wasn’t that neat, and his E’s were always what their mother called confused.
“Another little fly in your accusation is that I didn’t know about Stella Hart’s interview until I bumped into your ex-girlfriend and her crew setting up the interview.” Alex tilted his head to the side as he observed his brother. “The date on that email is time stamped last night.”
“Anyone can forge a time stamp,” Ethan pointed out before he could stop the words.
“Sure.” Alex nodded. “Blame me.” He shrugged. “Only I wouldn’t have had the time to send that, and I have a solid alibi from around seven-thirty last night until around eleven.” He glanced toward where his yacht was docked and pulled a business card from his pocket. “Here, call the police captain. He’ll tell you I was with them going through my house and boat that was broken into and ransacked last night.” His eyes narrowed. “I’m fine, by the way. Thanks for asking. I’ve also been wrapped up at the police station since early this morning.”
“Alex—“ Ethan began, but Alex held his hand up, cutting him off.
“You know, Ethan, not once have you asked me to sit down and explain what happened three years ago,” Alex pointed out. “You’ve thrown accusations at me and your own forgone conclusions but haven’t stopped to hear me out.” He shook his head, sadness shadowing his blue eyes. “Instead, you’ve made your allegiances clear, and they’re not with me. So, yeah, I have a problem with Carly coming for our family. Intentional or not.” He shoved his hands in his pants pockets. “I’ve asked Bailey to swap assignments, and Dad’s on board with it. Bailey needs experience in all departments of Blackwell Productions. I can’t work with you anymore.”
“Alex,” Ethan began again, but his brother gave him a tight smile, turned, and walked away.
Alex stopped as he neared the hotel and turned back. “The most obvious person to have forged those questions would’ve been your ex-girlfriend. Did you even think to question her?” His brows rose when he read the expression on Ethan’s face. “No, of course you didn’t. Because Trinity Woodrow would never be jealous of your new love interest. But I’m the family’s troublemaker, so I was youronlytarget.”
Alex turned, walking back into his makeshift office, leaving Ethan staring after him. He felt like the worst human on the planet because Alex was right. Many other people could’ve forged this document, including Trinity, whom Ethan had dated two years ago. Ethan was still left with unanswered questions from Alex and doubts about his part in what was happening. The one thing he was sure of was the rift between them, which felt like a chasm now—wide and insurmountable.
Shaking his head, Ethan turned away from the spot where Alex had been moments before. Things were starting to spiral out of control. Harley’s words were becoming more and more real—whoever was doing this had designed it to tear not only his life apart but his family, too. The worst part was that it was working, fuelled by Ethan’s own pigheadedness and tendency to react rather than respond to situations that remotely involved Alex.
He blew out a breath, looking at the document in his hand. Ethan would have to deal with Alex when his brother had had a chance to cool off because going after him now would only make matters worse. Ethan shifted his attention to another urgent matter—finding Carly to explain this to her, as the show should be over by now.
After finding the temporary studio empty, Ethan took the lift to the top floor where Harriet’s suite was, hoping Carly had gone back there. A knock at the door had Jennifer popping her head out as she barred the door with her slender frame.
“What do you want?” Jennifer’s icy eyes and cold words made Ethan take a tentative step back.
“I’d like to talk to Carly,” Ethan told Jennifer. “I need to explain these questions.”
“I think they were self-explanatory,” Jennifer pointed out. “You and yourex-girlfriendwanted to humiliate Carly on national television.“ She folded her arms. “Was this some twisted revenge to get back at Carly for disappearing three years ago?” Her eyes narrowed. “Or was it just a jealous mud-throwing spectacle from your scorned ex?”
“Who told you about Trinity?” Ethan’s heart sank as he was the one who needed to explain everything to Carly. “None of those scenarios are the truth, Jennifer. Please, I need to talk to Carly and explain.” He held up the document. “I never signed this nor sent it to the show.”
“Then who was it?” Jennifer looked at him mockingly. “Rumplestiltskin?” Her brows raised. “Did you get his name wrong and then refuse to give him your firstborn child after he’d afforded you all your success, so now he’s wreaking havoc and forging your name to documents?”
“Funny!” Ethan said through gritted teeth. “I haven’t figured out yet who did this, but I will, and I need to explain to Carly.”
“Well, Carly doesn’t want to see you right now,” Jennifer stated firmly. “On advice from her managers, PR firm, and attorney.” Her eyes widened. “Did you know that Stella Hart is a client of Paige Garland’s?”
