Page 56 of The Restaurant on Plum Island
“Where is he?” Carly said through gritted teeth.
“Who?” Jennifer acted innocent.
“Seriously?” Carly shook her head. “And here I was about to apologize for how I spoke to you earlier.”
“Hold on.” Jennifer held up her hand and tilted her head forward to examine Carly. “To be clear…” she raised her eyebrows, “I’m speaking to Carly Donovan right now?”
“Okay, I deserved that,” Carly relented. “But what I didn’t deserve was to be betrayed by Ethan and…” She frowned, looking around. “Where is Harriet?”
“She went to take a phone call,” Jennifer told her. “Something about her brother.” Her brow furrowed. “I hope everything’s okay.”
“Oh!” Another wave of guilt hit her for immediately thinking Harriet took off in support of Ethan.
She was about to ask after Ethan again when one of the phones in Jennifer’s hands bleeped. Jennifer looked at it and frowned.
“What is it?” Carly’s eyes were filled with concern. “Bad news?”
Jennifer shook her head handing Carly the phone. “No, I think it’s a threat.”
“Who’s threatening you?” Carly asked, alarmed.
“Not me.” Jennifer shook her head. “You! That’s your phone.”
Carly froze as she glanced down at the anonymously sent message.
I warned you about getting involved with Ethan Blackwell.
CHAPTER 14
Ethan leaned forward in his chair, a frown etching deep lines into his brow as the interview on the screen took a turn he hadn’t anticipated. The room around him faded to a dull hum, his focus narrowing on the distress clearly visible in Carly’s expressive hazel-green eyes. Questions meant to be innocuous probes into her life as a restaurateur on Plum Island had become invasive missiles, each striking closer to a scandal she had buried long ago.
Ethan clenched his hands into fists. He had seen the pre-approved list of questions, but none of the questions Trinity asked were on it. Carly’s response was poised, but the ambush dimmed her usual vibrancy. Ethan shot up from his seat, anger burning through him at the ambush on Carly. His strides were long and purposeful as he found Mark, the show’s producer.
“What is going on with these questions, Mark?” Ethan demanded, his eyes narrowing on the man.
Mark looked at Ethan with confusion, glancing at a clipboard in his hands. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand?”
“What part of my question didn’t make sense?” Ethan said through gritted teeth. “Did I start speaking a different language?”
Mark’s frown deepened. “No. I don’t understand why you’re getting upset when…” He pulled a sheet from the clipboard. “You sent me a revised andapprovedcopy of questions last night.”
“Revised questions? I never—“ Ethan took the sheet.
His eyes widened at the page filled with questions about Carly’s past, the scandal, and topics they advised Trinity to stay away from. Ethan’s eyes dropped to the bottom of the page, where his name was scrawled in a signature resembling his own— but it was not.
His heart was pounding, and Ethan’s mind raced. The implications of this forgery were clear and troubling. Someone was playing with them again and trying to threaten the fragile bond he was building with Carly. Ethan swallowed down the bitter pill of finally facing the truth about Alex. He was the only one who would’ve had access to Ethan’s files. Alex also made no attempt to hide his contempt for Carly and his disapproval of them working together, let alone starting a relationship.
“Ethan?” Mark looked at him curiously. “Is something wrong? Did we get these questions in error?”
“Yes,” Ethan said, nodding. “And I suggest you stop Trinity asking them.” He glanced back toward the set before looking warningly back at Mark. “You should’ve come to me at the show’s beginning with these.” He flapped the page in Mark’s face. “That’s not my signature, and I wouldneverhave approved these questions.”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t pull them now,” Mark told him.
Ethan’s eyebrows shot up. “I very much advise you to. Stella Hart may have been out of show business for three years, but that doesn’t make her a pushover, and trust me, youdon’twant to deal with her PR or legal team.“ Mark paled at his threat. “Or mine, for that matter.” He turned to go, throwing one last word of warning at Mark. “At least not if you want this show to continue running.”
He turned and stormed off. Ethan’s eyes were pinned to the document as it reeled. Ethan would give anything to stop the show and pull Carly out of it, but he knew that would only do more damage than good. Ethan glanced at the set as he got to the room door. Pride swelled within his chest at how well she deflected Trinity’s attack.
After the show, Ethan would find Carly to explain that he had no part in this betrayal. His eyes fell on the forged document in his hand.Trust was a currency he could ill afford to lose with her, and right now, it seemed like someone was determined to bankrupt him.
