Chapter 49

forty-nine

BEN

"Excuse me."

My shoulders slumped forward. I was hoping to leave the ballroom unnoticed, but everyone wanted to talk to me.

A woman who'd been sitting at the table opposite ours smiled. "Hi. I'm Amanda. Congratulations on winning the Wilson Award."

"Thank you. It was a big surprise." I kept walking toward the terrace.

"I was wondering if I could ask you some questions about being a jeweler."

I looked longingly through Bar SixtyFive and onto the large terrace. I'd told Daniel's granddad I was going to the bathroom, but all I wanted was a few minutes alone.

Most of the people at the award ceremony wanted to know everything about me. It didn't matter what I said, I was constantly on edge, worried I'd say something I might regret.

I glanced at my 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?"

My heart pounded. My worst nightmare was coming true and there wasn't a thing I could do about it. "I don't know what you mean."

Amanda's eyes narrowed. "Your legal name is Ben 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?"

I 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?"

My 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 Daniel 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?"

My stomach churned. If what the woman said was true, Daniel was no better than the people who'd condemned my dad before hearing the facts. I thought he was better than that, better than the shoddy reporting that almost broke my family.

"Daniel wouldn't have paid Emanuel's legal fees," I 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. "Daniel 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."

I 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 Daniel Devlin's 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?"

My 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 boy-next-door. To most of the world, you'll be seen as an overnight sensation. Daniel's making the most of the story his PR team's spinning. While you're boosting his image, profits will soar, and the board of directors won't fire him."

Daniel wouldn't use me to save his job. He had more integrity in his little finger than the woman asking me 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 headline for your story. Daniel 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 of The New York Times ."

A photo of me standing outside my jewelry store filled a third of the page. Andrew had taken the photo for Daniel before he'd left Sunrise Bay. It was only supposed to be used on the prestige website, not in a newspaper. Beside the photo was an article that talked about my life before I won the award and what working with Wilson Enterprises could do for my career. It made my life sound like a rags-to-riches fairytale.

"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."

"I don't have anything to say to you."

"And what about the chief executive of Wilson Enterprises? Will he keep his job?"

I knew how easily words could be twisted. If I answered any of Amanda's questions, it could make everything worse. So instead of giving the reporter what she wanted, I took a deep breath and pulled back my shoulders. "If you have any questions involving Mr. Devlin, I'd suggest you ask him. Good night." And with my head held high, I walked out of the ballroom.