One of the finalists sitting at their table tapped a spoon against a crystal glass. “I’d like to propose a toast. To C.J. Davis. Congratulations on winning the award. May you have a long and successful career.”
As everyone around the table raised their glass, Cassie forced a smile. After tonight, she would slip into the background, create beautiful jewelry, and make her dad even more proud.
“Excuse me.”
Cassie’s shoulders slumped forward. She was hoping to leave the ballroom unnoticed, but everyone wanted to talk to her.
A woman who had been sitting at the table opposite hers, smiled. “Hi. I’m Amanda. Congratulations on winning the Wilson Award.”
“Thank you. It was a big surprise.” Cassie kept walking toward the terrace.
“I was wondering if I could ask you some questions about being a jeweler.”
Cassie looked longingly through Bar SixtyFive and onto the large terrace. She’d told Noah’s granddad she was going to the bathroom, but all she wanted was a few minutes alone.
Most of the people at the award ceremony wanted to know everything about her. It didn’t matter what she said, she was constantly on edge, worried she’d say something she might regret.
She glanced at her watch, hoping Amanda took the hint. “I was going outside to make a phone call. I could meet you back at your table in ten minutes?”
Amanda didn’t move. “I spoke to someone who knows your dad. Did his trial have anything to do with your decision to enter the award?”
Cassie’s heart pounded. Her worst nightmare was coming true and there wasn’t a thing she could do about it. “I don’t know what you mean.”
Amanda’s eyes narrowed. “Your legal name is Cassie Harper. Your father was accused of stealing a design from Emanuel Ricardo’s new collection. Did you enter the award to prove your jewelry is as good as those of the other designers? Or did you want people to know you don’t hold a grudge against Wilson Enterprises?”
Cassie was genuinely confused. “My father didn’t steal anyone’s designs. And as for Wilson Enterprises, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“The person who accused your father of stealing his designs was working for Wilson Enterprises. Doesn’t that worry you?”
Cassie’s head was spinning. Emanuel Ricardo was an independent designer. He created jewelry for high-end department stores in London as well as making individual pieces for private clients. “Emanuel worked with three companies. He was a contractor, not an employee.”
“I have a source close to Wilson Enterprises who told me Noah Devlin paid Emanuel’s legal expenses. Your new boss believed the design was stolen and he wanted to make an example of your father. What would you like to say to the people who thought your father was guilty?”
Cassie’s stomach churned. If what the woman said was true, Noah was no better than the people who had condemned her father before hearing the facts. She thought he was better than that, better than the shoddy reporting that almost broke her family.
“Noah wouldn’t have paid Emanuel’s legal fees,” Cassie choked out. “If he did, Emanuel would still be working for his company. As far as I’m aware, his contract was terminated after the trial.”
Amanda’s amused smile was even more upsetting than her questions. “Noah Devlin made a mistake. After the judgment against Emanuel was made public, Wilson Enterprises wanted nothing to do with him, and neither did anyone else.”
Cassie still didn’t believe her. But if there was the slightest chance she was right, how did she uncover the information?
“My source also told me that Noah Devlin is working through a crisis with his board of directors. After the bungled trial, they don’t have confidence in his ability to manage the company. How do you feel about being used to bolster his performance as chief executive?”
Cassie’s eyes widened. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. If you’ll excuse me, I need to—”
“I’ll be blunt. You’re the ideal girl-next-door. To most of the world, you’ll be seen as an overnight sensation. Noah is making the most of the story his PR team is spinning. While you’re boosting his image, profits will soar, and the board of directors won’t fire him.”
Noah wouldn’t use her to save his job. He had more integrity in his little finger than the woman asking her questions. “Who do you work for?”
Amanda pulled a business card out of her pocket. “The New York Times.You don’t realize what you’ve gotten into, do you?”
“You don’t care what I think. All you want is a scandalous angle for your story. Noah isn’t using me. You are.”
Amanda pulled a sheet of paper from her pocket. “This is an article that will appear in tomorrow’s edition ofThe New York Times.”
A photo of Cassie standing outside her jewelry store filled a third of the page. Willow had taken the photo for Noah before he’d left Sapphire Bay. It was only supposed to be used on the prestige website, not in a newspaper. Beside it was an article that talked about her life before she won the award and what working with Wilson Enterprises could do for her career. It made her sound like a rags-to-riches damsel in distress.
“I didn’t mention your father in this story, but he’ll be in the next one.” Amanda took a notebook out of her bag. “Tell me about Tony Harper.”
