Chapter 177
Chapter 177:
As expected, the Grangers had kept a tight lid on the situation. No mention of Catherine anywhere. The wedding cancellation was being blamed on some hotel emergency.
Still, it was hard to believe that Clive or Rhys hadn’t already lost it and confronted Caroline and Franklin directly.
A few minutes later, she sent back: Booked it, 8 p.m. at The Corner Table, Room 108.
Got it.
I shoved my phone into my bag and headed home. I needed to change.
I got in at half-past six. As I kicked off my shoes in the foyer, I called out, “Geoffrey, Ashton and I won’t be home tonight. Skip dinner prep p>
“Noted, Mrs. Laurent p>
I darted upstairs, took a quick shower, and did a full face in twelve minutes flat. I went for the grey tweed dress with the square neckline and fitted waist. At seven-thirty, I was ready. The Corner Table was about half an hour across town, so I had Geoffrey call the car.
The driver took a side route, and we pulled up at seven fifty.
I got out and headed through the glass doors. Despite the name, The Corner Table wasn’t a diner. Crystal lighting, slate floors, velvet walls—everything in the place smelled like bergamot and polished wood.
I had barely stepped inside when the maître d’ approached. “Good evening, miss, do you have a reservation p>
“Mira.” Someone on my left spoke.
I turned. “Ha, didn’t expect to see you here p>
Ashton was dressed in black. His tie was loosened, and there was a faint scent of vetiver when he stepped closer.
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“Yeah, meeting a few people for dinner,” he said, sounding relaxed. “We can head home together afterward if you want p>
“Sure p>
He tipped his chin. “Which room p>
“108.” I glanced at my phone. “I’m running late. Catch you later p>
I smiled at him, then followed the waiter down the corridor.
Just outside Room 108, I paused and checked my reflection in my phone screen. I adjusted a loose strand of hair and straightened my back before stepping inside.
There was no Caroline. No Miss Davis.
Instead, three men were seated. On the left was Franklin, arms folded, leaning back. Cousin Preston sat on the right, straight-backed and smug. The man in the center, however, I had never seen in my life.
He had a thick neck, a pink face, and thinning blond hair slicked straight back. His eyes tracked me in a way that made my back immediately stiffen.