She was in the most beautiful place she’d ever been. They should have been working together, enjoying everything about this place—the turquoise waters, the waves, the honeymoon cottage with a butler so she’d never have to lift a finger. Here they were arguing. It was hopeless.
Cold and emotionless, Marcus said, “I should have known from the beginning. I saw you hesitating to agree to dinner.” He let out a hollow laugh. “Work wives. How did I not see through that?”
“I was just trying to find a workable compromise.”
They’d compromised until there was nothing left. A vision of Naomi laughing at her on a paddleboard came to her. Why did she think she could handle more than anyone she knew when she couldn’t even operate a paddleboard?
“I want you, Markus, but I also want a career, and I alreadyhave a family I need to take care of.” Overwhelmed, she added, “I just don’t know how to have it all.”
“Did you think you could have it all?” he asked, his question more of an accusation.
For a hot second, she did think she could have it all. All she needed was better planning. That color-coded schedule she had worked so hard on. Ten minutes for kids in the morning. Phone calls in the car. Romance at lunch hour. A tight schedule, clear boundaries, and labels—that’s how women did it. Not to mention, strategic compromises: a work wife instead of a boyfriend. Working out for fifteen minutes before she left work.
She couldn’t even have it all playing pretend in the Azores in a honeymoon cottage.
Gabby had always thought she wasn’t good enough for Markus—not in his league with too much baggage—but tonight she knew that had been her insecurity talking. She was enough. There just wasn’t enough of her to go around.
Coldly, he said, “Valentina’s coming.”
“Why?” Her voice came out in a squeak.
“Her ass is on the line for trusting us.”
Suddenly, Gabby was just tired. All her anger was spent, all her suspicions from the last week out in the air. And there was still more mess to mop up.
As they walked back to the cottage, Gabby said, “There’s still the matter of Naomi and Jasmine. They are willing to provide testimony against G in exchange for immunity.”
Markus groaned and walked a few more steps. “Fine,” he said. “We might as well throw that Hail Mary.”
She nodded. “It’s our only chance to come out of this employed.”
“New plan,” he said. “Get their testimony, save our jobs, and get the fuck out.”
“Even though they’re taking G down?”
He nodded. “If he’s guilty, he’s guilty. I can’t save him.”
Gabby had almost had it all for about two minutes. Now she had no romance, but at least she had her partner back.
Steely eyed, she said, “Let’s do this. What’s next?”
“We need to go get ready,” Markus said.
“For what?” Gabby didn’t have energy for anything anymore.
“You have to be at a bachelorette party in an hour.”
At that, Gabby started laughing. “Fuck me.”
1600 hours, Inner-G resort, the bachelorette party
Gabby’s bachelorette party had started two minutes ago. Markus had just broken up with her. What fresh hell was this? She wanted to turn on Sarah McLachlan, cry, and lie in bed. That was not a luxury she could afford at the moment.
Work and romance—she should have known better. She’d jumped headfirst into the deep end when she’d known damn well she should have kept it at a coffee date. She squeezed her eyes shut to keep from crying. That fucking Inner Beauty mascara probably wasn’t even waterproof.
Gabby needed to pull it together. It was time for a bachelorette party.
But she couldn’t bring herself to get dressed up. She could show her face, but it wasn’t going to be pretty. Any inner beauty she had was going to be natural, and she was wearing Jasmine’s “refined loungewear.” She hadn’t double-checked while getting broken up with, but if she remembered right, the party was at Jasmine’s.
