Page 27 of Beautiful Revenge

“Don’t!” She gasps. “They can’t know about this.”

“But this is their job. Dad missing is a doozy. They’ll appreciate being able to get out in front of it when the story breaks. And trust me, Patrick Madison missing might be a bigger story than my canceled wedding.”

“This is the worst week ever,” she cries. “When are you coming home?”

“In case you forgot, I don’t have a home. I extended my stay until I have a plan. I need to make those calls. Let me know if you find him.”

“No, wait—” she tries to keep me on the line.

“I’ve got my own wounds to lick after yesterday. Don’t call me unless you find my father.” I don’t give her a chance to beg or whine more than she already has.

I grab my hat and sunglasses. I made a reservation for one in the main dining room for dinner, but I have a few hours to kill. I slide my new keycard into my pocket and head for the door. I think I’ll put off that call to PR until tomorrow. Janie deserves to stew on this as she waits for the news to hit.

I have a life to resuscitate.

My solo journey begins now.

Devon

“No shit?” I lean back in my office chair and listen to my sister drone on.

“Nope, not one. Not a single shit. I had Ozzy double check the records. It’s true,” Bella says. “I’ve got to hand it to the woman. She’s up to something and knows how to cover her tracks. Even Ozzy was impressed. That hardly ever happens.”

I thread a pen through my fingers as I process what Bella just told me. “It’s odd, but it’s impressive.”

“Now you can get back to your normal routine of hiding in your office as you update your bottom line by the hour. Hurry up and hire a general manager. I bet you’ll be booking events left and right. The news about the American Princess ditching her prince at the altar is all over socials. They might be chewing the fat about the jilted groom, but they’re also talking about the manor. It doesn’t matter that no one saidI doat the end—the pictures are stunning.”

I ignore talk of my bottom line. “Any media is good media in this case. Still, what you told me only creates more questions.”

“Why do you care? The Madison woman has moved on.”

I toss the pen to my desk and stand to pace my office. “Not exactly.”

“How is that? I thought you said there was no availability.” And in an instant, Bella’s tone changes. “So help me, Dev, if you bumped my newlywed friends?—”

I stop mid-pace. “What kind of arsehole do you think I am? I didn’t bump anyone.”

“Oh, sorry. I shouldn’t have assumed that. The Monroes are family friends. We just returned home from their wedding. I assume someone else canceled to make room for the Madison woman?”

“Something like that. I was able to make it work for her.”

“Huh.” Bella proves our minds work the same way, because she says what I’ve been thinking since she delivered the information that Ozzy uncovered. “That’s peculiar—that she’d do what she did and stay in Winslet. But I guess she has enough money to spin her own tornadoes, should she wish.”

“You’re not wrong, and that’s exactly what she’s done ever since she stepped foot on my property. Thanks for the intel. Tell Ozzy I owe him. The next time he’s out this way, he’s got a room—if there is one.”

Bella laughs. “You might have the so-called American Princess on your property, but don’t forget Ozzy is married to an actual princess. Her mountains of money rival that of Daddy Madison.”

“Then I’ve got nothing else for him.” I slide my wallet into my pocket and head for the door. “I’ve got to go.”

“That’s it? I dig up that kind of dirt on the woman and you’re not going to tell me what you plan to do with it?”

“I’m not going to do anything with it. It’s none of my business.” There. A lie and a truth.

“None of your business, my arse. That may be the first time I’ve ever heard those words fall from your lips. I need to alert the masses. No one will believe it.”

“Tell the family hi. I’ll talk to you later.”

“You can tell them yourself when we see them. Mum just let me know that she and Dad will come here first and we’ll travel there together.”