Is that what it’s going to take to save the hotel?
Was Phoenix lying or was he telling the truth?
Daddy wouldn’t keep something this significant from me. I’m his only daughter. He’d confide in me. Surely, he’d seek my help?
Gah.
I’m going to drive myself crazy if I keep having conversations with myself.
Daddy, you’ve got some serious explaining to do.
I circle around the hotel in search of a shaded area before I fry like bacon on a cast iron skillet. My phone rings, bringing my rushed steps to a halt.
I look at my screen.
It’s about time.“Daddy.”
“Hey, ladybug. How’s LA?”
How can he be so calm?
“Daddy, please don’t pretend you don’t know why I left you fifty voice messages and sent you as many texts. What’s going on? Why is my life all of a sudden breaking news? And more importantly, why is my name associated with a perfect stranger?”
I expect him to say something, but he remains silent on the other end.
“I just came from Phoenix König’s office––”
“You went to see him?” My father’s tone is incredulous.
“I needed answers and I couldn’t get through to you. What was Thana thinking? This fake wedding shenanigan is going to hurt the hotel’s reputation. Once people find out it’s a lie, we’re going to come across like bullshitters.”
No response.
“Thana is behind this, right?”
My stepmother Thana Annunziata is the bane of my existence. She started at the hotel as the accountant after our long-time bookkeeper retired. It took her a month and a half before she wiggled her way into my father’s bed. In the two years she’s been part of my father’s life, I’ve made a valiant effort to get along with her for Daddy’s sake, to no avail. Our personalities are like water and oil—they don’t mesh.
Daddy is still as quiet as a monk, so I come to my own conclusion.
“I knew Phoenix lied to my face. He kept telling me he didn’t know Thana, and he swore up and down you were the one behind this media circus. What a preposterous claim.” I roll my eyes at the phone. “He also said all sorts of unbelievable––”
“Thana isn’t behind this.”
“Why is everybody protecting her?” I’m exasperated. “She did this.”
“No, I did.” With those three words, my father pulls the rug from under my feet. “I’m the one who hired a publicist. Not Thana.”
I’m stunned into silence.
“Right after signing the contract with Phoenix, I put my plan into action. The fact you were in LA made everything so much easier.”
“Wh—what? How could you keep something like this from me?” I sound hysterical.
“Take a breath, ladybug.”
“I can’t take a breath when my whole world is crumbling around me.”
“It was the only way out, Michaela.”
