His Rival Fixed What He Broke novel · Chapter 12 of 24

Chapter 12: The Photograph

"Thank goodness," Claire said again, to the cameras. "We've been so worried about you."

A reporter pushed a microphone toward Margot's chin.

"Mrs. Whitcombe, is it true you've been living in Elias Brubaker's suite?"

"Is that his door behind you?"

"Did you spend last night here?"

Margot looked at the lens of the nearest camera.

Behind her the suite door opened, and Elias stepped into the corridor with his shirt buttoned wrong and his hair still damp.

He saw the crowd and did not retreat.

"I left my husband a week ago Wednesday," Margot said. "He planned to have my grandfather committed against his will, and he lied to me about it for months."

"And last night?"

"Last night I slept where nobody had sewn a tracker into my suitcase."

Claire's face stayed pleasantly still.

"Margot, you're upset. Let's not do this in a hallway. Let me get you home."

"I'll answer every question on the twenty-sixth, in the boardroom, with the board listening," Margot said. "Thank you."

She walked through the camera lights to the suite door.

Elias put a hand at her back, and she let him.

The door closed.

On the other side she stood with her forehead against the wood for a long moment.

"That," Elias said, "was Otto's photograph."

"I know."

"The shirt. The dress. The time stamp."

"I know."

"He'll put it on every front page by morning."

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