I was also brooding about the hypothetical leak. When the Palace office had insinuated that it might be someone from Honey Bee, I’d been furious and outraged, but I’d also done a little quiet investigating—and I’d turned up nothing.
While Aline, Sir Todd and Lady Marjorie might have pictured me chatting up the other Honey Bee employees around the proverbial water cooler, I actually never gossiped or even had personal conversations with my co-workers. I certainly wasn’t confiding my deepest, darkest secrets in anyone here.
“I think that went well today, didn’t you?” Serena Kessel rounded the end of the conference table, smiling at me. “Seems as though we’re on the right path with this new berry supplier.”
“Oh, yeah—I think we are.” I hesitated. “Serena, could I have a quick word with you before we go?”
She frowned slightly. “Of course. Is everything all right.”
I shut the door and leaned against it. “I hope so. I’m not quite sure how to ask this, but Serena—you’ve been with this office since my grandparents opened it. You know everyone pretty well, don’t you?”
“I’d like to think so.” Serena nodded. “This has always been a wonderful group of people Low drama. Hard workers. Everyone’s committed to the cause that your family has championed.” Her brow furrowed. “Why do you ask? Are you having trouble with someone?”
“I don’t think so.” I leaned against the back of one of the tall chairs. “I hope I don’t need to say that I’d prefer that nothing we discuss would go beyond this room.”
“You don’t.” Her voice was even and her face serious.
“Good.” I kept my own tone level. “Unfortunately, right now my personal life is bleeding over into my professional. There have been some stories in the press that the Palace feels are the result of a leak to the media, and some there suspect the leaker might be at Honey Bee.”
When Serena’s eyes flashed with surprised, I hastened to add, “I don’t think that’s the case. I don’t share things here, and I trust everyone, but I need to be very sure when I go back to the Palace and tell them absolutely that the information isn’t coming from my office.”
“I can assure you that no one here is sharing with the press, Kyra.” Now, she was all steel. “Before you started your job, we had conversations with each and every department, impressing on all of the employees the fact that you must feel completely safe in this environment. We also ran extensive background checks. I promise, any leak is not coming from Honey Bee.”
I sagged a little with relief. “Thank you, Serena. That as all I needed to know. And I apologize if it sounded like I was doubting you or anyone here.”
Serena was quiet for a moment. “I can’t imagine how difficult all of this has got to be for you. Not knowing whom you can trust, always second-guessing yourself ... well. Anyway, I hope you can find the problem.”
“So do I,” I said with feeling. My cell phone buzzed, and when I checked the screen, I saw that Sophie was calling. “Oh, I’m sorry, Serena, but I do need to take this.”
“Of course.” She smiled. “Let me know if there’s anything else I can do.” She slipped out, closing the door behind her as I hit the button to accept the call.
“Talk to me, Sophie.”
“All right.” Sophie was speaking low. “I spoke to Garrett, and he reached out to the reporter on the, uh, the pregnancy story.”
I grimaced. “And?”
“And she said that information is most definitely flowing out of the Palace.” Sophie sounded grim and deflated. “She didn’t know who it was precisely, but she gave him enough tidbits that I think, perhaps, I might be able to do some digging and figure out the culprit.”
“Be careful, Sophie.” I nibbled the corner of my lip. “The last thing I need is you getting into trouble.”
“I’m nothing if not discreet,” she assured me. “I thought that you’d want to know about this, but please try not to worry. Oh, and you might like to know that Princess Daisy was asked about your so-called blessed event on her way into the gym today, and apparently, she blasted the reporter. Told them that it was ridiculous and all a fabrication, and that you were no more pregnant than the Queen is.”
“Oh, my God, she didn’t.” I wasn’t sure if I should laugh or cry. “Well, thank you, Daisy.”
“And other papers are saying that it’s a fake story, too, so that one should die down pretty quickly.”
“Let’s hope so.” I paused for a beat. “Listen, Sophie, I have to run now, but would you do me a favor and pass on a suggestion to Garrett Smith?”
“Ah ... sure.” She sounded cautious but curious.
“Tell him that he should submit his interview request to Honey Bee Juices. Tell him that he should specifically state that the story will involve food sourcing.” I took a deep breath. “I think he’ll find the way is smoother than it has been at the Palace.”
“Oh, Kyra.” Sophie’s voice was awe-filled. “I’m not sure whether this move of yours is gutsy or insane, but ... I’ll pass it along.”
“Thanks. See you tomorrow.” I hung up and then dropped into a nearby chair.
Gutsy or insane, huh? Well, I guessed we were about to find out.
