“She’s been out to sabotage you, Dane. And she’s been pretty sloppy about it. Sloppy enough that when I asked someone to look into it for me, it led right back to her. I’m sure your security team will figure it out as soon as we get them on it. But I wanted you to hear it from me as soon as I found out.”
“How do you know all of this?”
“I have friends in dark places, too.”
“This isn’t funny, Devi.”
“I know it’s not. I know you care about Laurinda. I could see it when she was at the penthouse, when I walked in. I knew she was someone important to you. I mean, that’s why I got all jealous before I found out she was your aunt. And… she had an opportunity there, Dane. To plant a bug.”
“She wouldn’t do that,” he said, but he didn’t sound so sure. I could tell he was thinking it over.
“Those friends of mine I just mentioned?” I said. “They really didn’t have to dig very hard. They accessed security footage from the penthouse parking lot. And we don’t want to ask how they did that, trust me. But it shows a vehicle that was rented out to Laurinda in the parking garage yesterday. I guess she thought it would be that easy? Maybe she thought you’d never suspect her? I don’t know. But it was her. Lex brought her to talk to me, Dane. When he found out she was behind this… he was not happy. And she told him everything. He made her tell me. And… unfortunately, she had help.”
“Help? From who?”
“Rolf.”
Dane was silent for a long, chilling moment. And I felt so bad for him.
“You’re telling me my bodyguard helped her plant the bug? And left that recording for you?”
“Why did Laurinda come see you that night at the penthouse?” I asked him, wanting him to connect all the dots for himself.
“She just dropped by. She’d read about the wedding. She wanted to congratulate me and meet my wife.”
“And yet she darted out when I came home.”
“I just assumed she was uncomfortable. She knows I’m not supposed to be talking to her…” He swore softly. “Fuck, Devi. Am I really this blind?”
“No. You know this shit can happen. You told me so. But you trusted her. You let her into your home and she betrayed you. And Rolf definitely accessed the apartment to leave that gift box for me. There’s no security footage of her entering the apartment yesterday. Just Rolf.”
“Christ.” I could hear him pacing. The rhythm of his breath, his feet on a stone path or something. I wanted to be there with him, so bad. “He thought we’d never put two and two together or something?”
“Well, several of your staff were in and out yesterday. Maybe he just didn’t think there was any reason you’d suspect him. Or maybe they had other plans. I don’t know exactly what Laurinda’s whole plan was other than discrediting you, to try to manipulate her way back into your grandmother’s good graces. I don’t know how far they were willing to go with all of this. That part, she didn’t say.”
“How do we know for sure it was Rolf, though, and not someone else on staff?”
“Because… she told me, Dane. And Lex and his… friends… picked her up at Rolf’s hotel. She was staying there, just around the corner from the penthouse.”
“Devi… What the hell is going on?” I could hear the struggle in his voice. “Why didn’t you tell me about this as soon as it happened? You should’ve told me about the audio recording as soon as you found it in the penthouse.”
“Because, frankly, I didn’t know who to trust.” I felt bad telling him this now, but it was the truth. And the only way we’d ever have a chance together was if we started building trust between us. “And… I was scared,” I confessed. “And the only thing I could think of to do when I was scared and didn’t know where to turn was to turn to my best friend, andhersecurity. She has people who keep her safe. And I’m sorry, Dane, but I trusted those people more than I trusted your team. It was gut instinct, and I went with it. And now I’m glad I did. Because if I went to you, Rolf would’ve found out, and it would’ve kept them one step ahead of us.”
Dane didn’t say anything, except, “Jesus.”
“Where is Rolf?” I asked him, knowing the answer.
“He stayed back in Vancouver. He had an emergency dental surgery that couldn’t wait…”
“Right,” I said. “After I walked out on you, and you decided to go back to Toronto, I guess they saw that as their opportunity to strike. You know, hit us while we were vulnerable. I’m sorry, Dane. Are you pissed?”
“Yes. I’m fucking pissed. But I’m not pissed at you, Devi. I get it. You needed to go where you felt most safe. And… you don’t trust me.”
I sighed. “I was scared. And you’re far away right now. And we haven’t spoken in three days. I had no idea where you were at with anything, including our relationship. I didn’t know if I could talk to Darrell or Rolf. They’re strangers to me, Dane.” When he said nothing, I said, “Dane?”
“I’m still reeling over here.”
“I know.”
