Chapter 58

CHAPTER

FIFTY-EIGHT

NOW

Today hadn't gone as Maddie planned.

Between finding Logan dead on the beach, talking to Detective Kalani twice, and everything that happened with Nico, her day had flown by like a speeding bullet charging toward an unsuspecting target.

In between all the trauma and drama, she'd packed her suitcase. She would go to the airport early. The sooner she could get away from this place, the better.

Right now, she knew the gala was about to start. She didn't want to attend, but she was curious about the event. It was taking place on the Grand Lawn, the same area where they'd had the luau.

When Maddie knew the dinner had started, she wandered toward the Grand Lawn.

She'd donned some black dress slacks and a beige shirt for traveling along with some comfortable black canvas sneakers. The innocuous outfit shouldn't draw any attention. She didn't want to be seen—only to watch.

She reached the area and found some shrubs where she could stand just out of sight from most of the guests. She tried to look like she belonged there as she occasionally glanced at her phone. Hopefully she wouldn't draw any attention from the waitstaff.

People were seated at tables, wearing their fanciest clothing. She recognized several faces, but no one looked her way. At the front stood a stage with a podium and a large screen behind it.

She'd seen the schedule earlier. She knew the plan was for everyone to eat, and then after dessert the board would name the new CEO.

She scanned the crowd one more time. Her gaze stopped on Nico and his wife. Despite his brush with death, he was here.

He must have gone to the hospital and been cleared in record time.

Had he insisted on leaving early because he hoped to be named CEO?

She searched the crowd again, and her gaze stopped on Brody. He was at a table closer to the back and on the edge of the lawn.

He sat beside Adrienne. Were the two of them really together?

It didn't matter.

Bree wasn't here. She was probably still in her room or still doing everything possible to find Fowler.

Nico and several board members, including Darla and Tom, sat near the front with Josh.

Halfway through the dinner, Detective Kalani appeared, standing on the edge of the seating area opposite her.

He glanced her way and nodded.

Guilt filled her. He'd told her not to leave. But legally, he couldn't make her stay here.

A few minutes later, all the board members took place on stage.

This was it.

Would Josh get what he had always wanted and take over his father's company, or would his dreams disintegrate in front of everyone?

Maddie held her breath as she waited for them to make the announcement.

As Tom stepped in front of the lectern, the crowd quieted. "When this company was started thirty years ago, we had a different leader at the helm." An image of Josh's father appeared on the screen. "This man right here was a wonderful entrepreneur and innovator that put Benchmark on the map. His death was a great loss and left big shoes to fill."

Applause sounded.

As it did, Adrienne rose and slipped out.

Why was she leaving before the announcement?

It seemed strange, but she probably had a good reason.

Brody rose a moment later and followed her.

"I'm going to be honest and say that this week has been a tough one," Tom continued. "A lot has happened. We've had great losses. But I know all those we've lost would want us to go on. Everyone who works for Benchmark believes in our mission. But we can't continue forward without reflecting on these lives that were lost."

Pictures of Jared and Logan filled the screen as somber music played.

They had a moment of silence for the lost employees.

When an appropriate amount of time had passed, Tom continued.

"In a moment, after we announce our new CEO, we're going to introduce the new products we're so proud to launch. All of you will be the first to know about this innovative technology we've been working so hard to create. Benchmark is committed to remaining on the cutting-edge of the industry."

More applause.

"What do we do when we face adversity?" Tom continued. "Benchmark has seen its fair share of this in the past, and we'll certainly see it in the future. Just as we do with our projects, we learn from the past as we hope for the future. We mourn, but we move on. We use setbacks as steppingstones."

Using Jared and Logan's death as inspiration to move on seemed uncouth to Maddie. But no one had asked her.

"With that said, we're proud to announce the newest CEO of Benchmark Technologies. This person is someone who can continue moving us forward and remind us about what is important. Who has a vision for this company. Who has more focus than anyone I've ever met. Our newest CEO is . . ."

Maddie held her breath.

Then Tom McLemore announced, "Garrick Joshua Harding!"

Maddie wasn't sure if a gasp swept through the audience or if it was just her.

After all the plotting and planning on the part of others to dethrone Josh, he'd still gotten the position. The board either didn't know about his escapades or they didn't care.

She'd guess they only cared about the bottom line.

A round of applause swept through the crowd.

Josh's picture appeared on the screen. A picture of him with his perfect hair and winning smile. The picture of fake perfection.

Then Josh strode on stage looking as handsome and put together as ever.

Not that Maddie was surprised. Looking at him now, no one would guess that anything had happened. No one would guess that the woman he'd been sleeping with was killed. That his fiancée had broken up with him. That people who worked for him were dead or missing.

Nope, it was all business with Josh right now. He was the king of compartmentalization.

Before he could say anything, a video started playing that highlighted his accomplishments at Benchmark.

Maddie watched in curiosity before her stomach clenched with disgust.

Josh wasn't a good person. Maybe most people who got these kinds of positions weren't good people. Maybe in order to be powerful, people had to fight and claw their way to the top not caring who they hurt on the way.

Which just proved to Maddie that this wasn't the kind of life she ever wanted for herself.

She'd seen enough.

She turned to leave.

But she'd only taken three steps when the sound of the video changed.

She froze, part of her subconscious realizing what she was listening to. Another part refusing to accept it.

As if on autopilot, she slowly turned.

A video of her and Josh appeared on the screen

A video of them in his hotel room.

Arguing about their relationship. About Logan.

Her room wasn't the only one that had cameras planted in it. So had Josh's.

Their break-up had been recorded and was now airing for everyone to see.

"I didn't do anything to Jared," Maddie said. "You know that."

"It doesn't matter what I know," Josh shot back. "What matters is what other people think."

"I thought the most important thing for you would be me, not your reputation and how this would make you look. I was only trying to watch out for you when I didn't tell you."

"I've told you everything that's involved here!" Josh yelled. "It's almost like you want to ruin this retreat."

"I want to ruin your retreat? Why would I want to do that? I didn't even want to be here, but you talked me into coming. All so it would look good for you and increase your prospects for becoming CEO."

"When you tried to break things off with me, I explained I was going through a rough patch. I thought you understood and cared about me enough to give us another chance. I guess I was wrong."

"And I thought you cared about me enough to remain faithful," Maddie said. "But I guess I was wrong."

"What?" Josh asked. "What does that even mean?"

"It means I know about all your extra little rendezvous. I'm not stupid!"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Stop lying," Maddie said. "Let me start with you and Logan."

"What about her?"

"Don't play stupid. Everyone knows about the two of you, and you aren't even keeping your feelings a secret. I thought you were smarter than that. Or did you think I wouldn't notice?"

"What did you expect me to do?" Josh asked. "You became so cold and distant. Don't you realize how important sex is to a man?"

"Don't you realize how important it is to a woman that you respect her boundaries? That you remain faithful?"

Two board members ran toward the back of the Grand Lawn, waving at the tech guys to stop the video. But the guy behind the computer shook his head and threw his hands in the air as if things were out of his control.

Who had done this?

The video finally stopped, but the silence only emphasized the murmurs running through the crowd.

Maddie took a step back, embarrassed to face anyone.

She glanced at Josh. His cheeks were red, and his nostrils flared.

That barely controlled anger she'd seen so many times before had surfaced.

She needed to get out of here. Staying to watch any of this had been a mistake. She had to catch her flight.

Before she could turn away, a new image filled the screen.

This time it was a picture of her mugshot.