"Like what things?"
"Like pretending to be in the FBI. Snooping in his house."
"Oh. Yeah, you have been suss." She grins. "Will it be that bad playing his fake girlfriend?"
"No, I guess not. I asked him if anyone was going to be mad that we were making out, and he was like no, but I still feel weird."
"Let me ask you this," she says. "Do you really think he's married and would do that?"
"I would hope not. I mean, no, I don't, actually."
"If he's not married or engaged, then where did he go? Do you think he was in jail?"
"Jail?" I ask her. "For what?"
"I don't know. That's why you are investigating, and I'm not."
"Shit. Maybe that's why the paparazzi is in town." I lean back and stare at her. "Do you think I should tell Holly?"
"I mean, you're going to have to tell her something. If she thinks there's no story coming, you're out."
"I know. I guess I got to do what I got to do." I'm about to ask for her opinion on whether she thinks Hunter likes me, when Holly barks at all of us.
"Listen up, everyone, let's have a brief recap of the headline stories that we have running in next week's edition, and then I would like some pitches. Gina, I really hope you have some great suggestions for me when we talk in private later, okay?" There’s a tightness to her tone, that makes me wince inside.
"Yes, Holly," I say. I’m in trouble. BIG TIME.
"I hope you've got some good news for me." I don't know what to say, but then I see Jenny S. smirking at me with her perfect blonde hair. She looks so smug and annoying that I just want to take that disgustingly frustratingly beautiful expression off her face.
"I have some great news for you, Holly. I've got what I think could be the breakout article of the year," I say as Emma claps.
"She's not joking. This could be Pulitzer Prize-winning," she says, and my eyes widen.
"Great. Great," Holly says, looking pleased. "I can't wait to hear about it." She continues talking, and I lean over and whisper in Emma's ear.
"Oh, my God. What are you doing, Emma? Why would you say that?"
"Because something just occurred to me." Her eyes are glowing. "Something that really could make this an amazing story."
"What?"
"What ifHunter were in jail?"
"What?"
"Maybe he's a thief. Maybe he disappeared because he went to jail. It would make sense as to why he wants to keep everything hush-hush," she says softly. "What if he's the one who stole his grandma's necklace?"
My mind is doing mental gymnastics. Could Hunter be a thief? The jail time would make sense. But there is just no way. Is there?
"Nowthatwould be a story."
I nod slowly. The thought is crazy. It would be a groundbreaking story. The sort of thing that would be in a documentary.Billionaire Heir Steals Own Family Heirlooms.It would be an outrageous headline, but I just don't think it's true. I think she's nowhere close to the truth, but it would make sense. The truth of the matter is, I don't know what to think. I just know that I'm going to have to tell Holly something to make her happy, and I have about an hour to figure out what I'm going to say.
"It went as well as it could," I tell Emma as I drive through the gates and head back towards the mansion. "Holly wants me to send her an update in a week."
"Did you tell her about the fake dating?"
"No way. Just that Hunter has a secret, and I'll be able to crack it soon." I pull up outside the house and park. I'm not sure what I'm going to say when I reenter the house. I have two missed calls—one from Preston and one from Hunter—and I know they're wondering where I am. I told them that I'd gone to the market to get some fresh fruit.Shit, I think to myself as I look at my empty passenger seat. I forgot to pick up fruit in my hurry to get back. There is no way I'll be able to tell them that I’ve been at a meeting at theWhisper Cove Guardian. There is no way I could tell them that I'd been informing my editor in chief that I thought I had an exposé on the Waverly family that was going to blow everyone away.
