Chapter 66

“Don’t you know?” he asks in reply.

“If I knew, I wouldn’t have asked,” I say.

He chuckles a little. “Well. You are the journalist, Esther. I’m sure you’ll figure it out.” Someone calls out for him, I hear it through his line. “I have to go. Talk soon.” He hangs up.

For a while longer, I sit in my car and stare at my phone. I built myself up to ask that question and braced for any response. I did not anticipate a non-answer.

Maybe I should have.

My daughters are going to a friend’s house for the night, so rather than to return to my quiet room to sit alone for the evening, I drive to Cynthia’s. She is already dressed in a shimmering purple dress that makes my work clothes look positively drab in comparison.

“You’re just in time,” she says and hooks her arm with mine.

“Where are we going?” I ask. “I’m underdressed…”

“You’re fine,” Cynthia says. “I’m taking you out to celebrate.”

Cynthia drives us across town to a popular wine bar. The clientele is older than the clubs we frequent, the atmosphere more relaxed. A jazz band plays in the corner but they aren’t so loud we can’t hear ourselves talk.

Following Cynthia toward the bar, I stop when I recognize Hugo already there with a glass of red in front of him. Despite Hugo’s kindness, it’s awkward as hell to run into my boss at a bar. I grab Cynthia’s wrist and think about hiding, but Hugo spots me first.

His eyes brighten. “Esther! What a surprise?”

Shit. Now I have to go over.

“Friend of yours?” Cynthia asks me.

“Hugo Harbinger,” I tell her.

Her eyes light up like Christmas morning. “Of Harbinger News Company.”

“Yes,” I tell her. Because she seems more excited than put out, I add, “My boss.”

“You never said he was so handsome.”

“Just don’t touch him, okay? He doesn’t like it.”

“Oh?” Cynthia lifts one brow.

I shoot her a warning look.

At the same time, we approach the bar.

Hugo glances between us, and I realize how rude I’m being. “Hugo, this is my friend Cynthia.”

“Nice to meet you, Hugo,” she says. She starts to reach out her hand, but must remember what I said, because she immediately returns it to the bar.

“The pleasure is mine,” Hugo replies. His kind smile is disarming. Cynthia gapes at him for a full five seconds before returning to herself.

“What are you drinking? Can I buy you one?” Cynthia asks, a subtle flirtation.

“That’s not necessary,” Hugo says, a not as subtle rejection.

Cynthia handles it well, though. She laughs it off and says, “It was nice meeting you. Esther, I’ll find us a table.”

“I’ll be there in a minute,” I reply.

As Cynthia skirts away, Hugo watches her a moment before looking at me. “I hope I didn’t offend her.”

“She’s okay,” I tell him.

We stand in awkward silence for a few seconds. I think about excusing myself.

Around this time, Cynthia comes storming back. My eyes go wide. What is she up to? Why does she suddenly look so pissed off?

“His handsomeness distracted me,” Cynthia says to me. To Hugo, she says, “You are the worst kind of boss, letting Esther’s editor steal all of her work!”

“Cynthia!” I gasp, mortification grasping me in its ice cold clutches. Hugo may be nice and polite, but he’s also my boss! She can’t just go and say those things!

Hugo doesn’t seem offended though. In fact, he perks up now more than he did when Cynthia had tried flirting.

“This is the first I’m hearing of theft,” he says. “I’ve suspected of course, but…” He turns his curious and worried eyes on me. “Esther, is this true? Has Lila been stealing your work?”

I open my mouth, close it, open it again. I don’t know how to answer this.

Yes, I want Lila to be caught and held accountable for everything she’s done to me and others, but this feels a lot like snitching.

“She is,” Cynthia says.

“I need to hear it from Esther’s mouth,” Hugo tells Cynthia gently.

Cynthia turns to me expectantly. “Go on, Esther.” When I continue to hesitate, Cynthia sighs. “You have to say something or she’s just going to keep doing it.”

“She’s right,” Hugo says. “I can’t help you if you don’t come forward.”

“I don’t want to ruin her life,” I admit.

“She ruined it herself by not being honest with her work,” Cynthia says bluntly.

Hugo is softer. “She’s stealing your recognition and hard work, Esther. If she’s allowed to continue, she’ll do it someone else. She’s likely done it before you. To stop her, and to protect your co-workers, you have to tell me the truth. Has Lila been stealing your work?”

I close my eyes a moment and breathe in and out. I wanted to take care of this myself, but with Lila, there’s only so much I can do. She’s my supervisor. I could never call her out publically.

Maybe telling Hugo like this is the best way for everyone involved.

“Yes,” I say at last. “Lila has been stealing my work. Even since the beginning.”

Hugo nods. “Yes, I suspected the sudden improvement in her writing ability wasn’t a coincidence. Thank you, Esther. This gives me enough cause to move forward with an investigation. I will take action and see this resolved, you have my word.”

Slowly, Hugo reaches out and places his hand on my arm near my elbow. It’s a soft touch. I don’t expect it to linger, but it does.

I know the weight of this moment, how hard this gesture is for him.

“Thank you, Hugo,” I tell him

He smiles at me.

“Uh, oh,” Cynthia says, looking sharply at the door. I look too, and see Miles standing there at the entrance.

He’s staring right at me. Rather – at where Hugo is touching my arm.

Hugo notices as well and immediately retracts his hand. It’s too late though. Miles has seen.

Miles flashes a smile but his posture is tense, his back ramrod straight. As he saunters over, he must be aiming for casual, but with how smoothly he moves, he looks more like a predator stalking its prey.

When he reaches us, he stands at my side, squaring off against Hugo.

“Esther,” Miles says. “I had no idea you would be here.”

“We’re just having a girls’ night,” Cynthia says. “We happened to run into Hugo.”

“Is that right?” Miles asks, all teeth.

“Good thing we did,” Cynthia says. “He had no idea that Esther’s editor is stealing her work.”

Miles sharp gaze flashed to Hugo. “Yes, I wanted to talk to you about that as well. The article published under Lila’s name about my assisting a tavern was entirely written by Esther. I gave her that scoop, and I’m annoyed that someone else is taking the credit.”

“I’ll look into it,” Hugo says.

“This isn’t the first time you’ve dropped the ball on this, Hugo. I don’t need to remind you that Amber nearly tried to steal the interview I promised Esther.”

“You do not,” Hugo says.

“Miles,” I say calmly, hoping to placate his annoyance.

He turns his head from Hugo and refocuses on me. Then, right in front of Hugo, he reaches up and cups my cheek.

“You deserve to be protected,” he says.

I glance sideways at Hugo.

Hugo’s watching us with wide eyes.

Miles! What are you doing?! Why here?!