“Let’s go with option two.” Viv squeezed her arm. “Thank you. For everything today.”
Charlie nodded, throat tight. Many clients treated you like you were furniture. Some even got belligerent when all you were trying to do was protect them. Viv had treated her like she mattered beyond just the security she provided.
The elevator doors opened on their floor. After saying their good nights, Viv, Rowan, and Maddie headed for their rooms. Charlie turned and found Ben standing beside the elevator, hands in his pockets, looking uncertain.
“I should probably—” he started.
“Yeah, I need to—” Charlie said at the same time.
They both stopped. Ben's ears went red.
“You first,” Charlie said.
“I was just going to say I should head out. Let you get back to work.” He shifted his weight. “Unless you need me to... I don't know. Stick around?”
Yes. Stay. Please.
“Shane's coming to brief me on what he and Elissa found,” Charlie heard herself say. “But thanks for today. You were really helpful.”
Helpful.God, could she sound more like she was thanking a coworker?
Ben nodded, that uncertain look still on his face. “Right. Yeah. No problem.”
He was leaving. He was going to head down to the lobby and she’d eat room service alone until Shane arrived, and the next time she saw Ben they'd do this awkward dance again and?—
The elevator doors opened and Shane stepped out, Pete at his side. His eyes went from Charlie to Ben and back again, and that knowing smirk appeared.
“King. Moose.” He nodded at both of them. “Perfect timing. Let's debrief.” He looked at Charlie. “Your room?”
“Yeah. There’s a decent-sized table we can use.” Charlie's professional mask slammed back into place. “This way.” Charlieled them down the hall, hyper-aware of Ben behind her. She unlocked the door and they filed in. The room was nice but generic—table, chairs, queen-sized bed, small fridge, and a credenza.
Shane pulled out one of the chairs and sat down. Charlie started to take the one beside him when Ben reached past her and grabbed it. It took her a second to realize he wasn’t claiming the chair for himself, but pulling it out for her. When was the last time anyone had done that for her?
Shane took his laptop out and set it up on the table. “Okay, so Elissa and I have been digging into the online chatter. Found something interesting.”
He pulled up screenshots and turned the laptop around. “There's a figure coordinating the Caidansworn. Calls himself 'The Chronicler.'“
Charlie and Ben exchanged looks. “It ties back to Caiden Bramble's role in the books,” Charlie said. “He's supposed to be the one who chronicles Aldric's legend. The loyal companion who records everything.”
Ben nodded slowly. “In the books, Caiden keeps a journal. It becomes a holy text for the Embersworn after he's believed dead.”
Shane smirked. “Yeah, Elissa already explained it to me. Y’all are nerds.”
“Asshole,” Charlie and Ben said at the same time. The surprised expression on Ben’s face when he looked at her made Charlie bark out a laugh.
Totally worth it to see him laugh, too.
“Takes two to know one,” Shane told them.
“The Chronicler is the perfect handle for someone leaking information,” Charlie said. “Any luck finding him?”
“Nope. Problem is, we can't find The Chronicler's actual account. He doesn't post himself. Other fans reference himinstead. 'The Chronicler says,' 'The Chronicler knows,' that kind of thing. He's feeding them information somehow, but we can't trace the source.”
“Duke Holloway?” Charlie asked.
Shane's expression darkened. “Can't prove it's him. But can't prove it'snothim either. The timing lines up—whenever Duke's on set, new 'Chronicler intel' appears within hours. But if it’s him, he's careful. He's got someone else doing the posting, and it always seems to be someone new breaking the news.”
“Maybe he’s using different accounts?”
