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I nod, knowing in my gut it isn’t. I could understand her phone being off if she was upset with our relationship, though that seems extreme. But that doesn’t explain why mine is too. Or why the message says they’re disconnected. She has zero control over our phone plan.
But I know someone who does.
“Have you heard anything about the buyout of Montague Media recently?” I ask, that unsettled sensation in my stomach growing stronger.
He scratches at his jaw. “Not any new developments. It’s still on track as far as I know. Why?”
I’m silent, mulling it over in my head.
“You think this is related to the buyout?” he asks, making the connection.
My fists clench reflexively. I have no proof other than a gut feeling, but I’d bet anything that private investigator found questionable activity from Montague Media.
“I don’t know.” I tap my leg with my thumb, my insides crawling with worry, even knowing it will take a bit for Lori to make her way over to my apartment. “Can I trust you with something?” I murmur, not wanting the driver to overhear.
“Of course,” he says without hesitation.
“This stays between the two of us.”
He swallows but nods. “I understand.”
We pull up to the hotel and I indicate for Connor to follow me to my room.
“I feel like I’m in a spy movie,” he comments as I stick my key card into the slot, the green light flashing.
A part of me feels that way too. Except this is real life. I bolt the door behind us and take a seat on the bed, still holding his phone in case Lori calls.
He pulls the single chair from the corner of the room over by me, settling in. “What is it?”
“I think Dad might be the one doing all this.”
“Dad cut your phones off? Why?”
“Remember how I told you last week about the department at Montague Media I suspected is fake and Dad hired a private investigator to look into it? That he wanted me to distance myself from Serena until we find out the truth?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, I didn’t distance myself. I basically told him I wouldn’t ignore her. That my marriage isn’t only business anymore. That was my first mistake. Then he got mad when some gossip site posted another pic of us.” I mean, admittedly, we were making out on the street, but still. “That’s when he sent me over here.”
“I thought you were here to help with the bribing case.”
I throw my arms out. “What am I actually accomplishing by being here?” I swear Dad’s been throwing busywork at me to keep me occupied the last couple days. “You’re more than capable of handling this.”
His lips twist, acknowledging my point.
I take a deep breath, heading into conspiracy territory. “What if he really told me to come here to separate us?”
I have to give Connor credit because he connects the dots fast. “He wants to cut off communication between you two. Not in close proximity, opposite schedules, now no phone. Why’s he so serious about it?”
“He must be considering killing the deal.” It’s the only explanation I can come up with. “Why go to these lengths, though?”
“You’ll have to ask him.”
“Ask him? No. If he was the one who shut my phone off… he can’t know I’m on to him.”
“What, does he think you won’t notice your phone doesn’t work? Come on.”
“I’m keeping my cards close for now. If he’s going this far, I don’t know if I can trust him.” Did I ever, though?