"Next month, on the 5th-it''s Memorial Day," Miranda said, checking her calendar.


    "That''sing up fast," she continued, ncing at the date. "It''s already the end of this month. Did you ask Forrest what the n is? The whole thing with him and the Lockwood family should be wrapping up soon, right?"


    M replied, "I''ll ask him when I get home tonight."


    "Good, hurry up and get on it! At least find out what the details are so we can get ready," Miranda urged, her voice anxious.


    "M, we really need to move quickly. I have to leave the country before Rnd starts hounding me again. My parents absolutely cannot find out about any of this. It took me forever to get them to ept that I don''t want to get married, and if they discover what I''ve been up to... I''m done for!"


    M sighed. "Then why are you doing this?"


    It''s one thing to hook up with a guy, but why did it have to be such aplicated one?


    Miranda fell silent, cursing herself for the thousandth time for not stopping when she''d drunkenly run her hands over those abs that night.


    M was about to say something else when a sound behind her caught her attention. She turned to see a maning down the garden path toward her.


    "I have to go. I''ll text you tonight after I talk to Forrest," she said, ending the call.


    M turned around and finally got a good look at who it was—and was surprised. "What are you-?"


    Nathaniel took a few steps closer, a little embarrassed. "I saw you on the phone just now-you looked upset. I was worried something was wrong, so I came over."


    M gave him a strange look. She and Nathaniel weren''t exactly on caring-what''s- wrong terms.


    He seemed to realize this too, and quickly pulled out his phone. "Oh, right—


    there''s something else. Remember how you asked me to look into a ruby auction?


    I found one. Is this what you''re looking for?"


    Oh, right. She''d almost forgotten. M was searching for a ruby for one of her designs for Fashion Week.


    She took his phone and nced at the screen. It disyed a private auction catalog, every item high-end and outrageously expensive.


    Her eyes immediatelynded on the highlight of the list: a pair of dazzling ruby and diamond earrings. Starting bid: seventy-five million.


    Exactly what she needed.


    M nodded. "Thanks. Really."


    Nathaniel lit up. "No problem. I''ve already arranged for your entry pass. I''ll send you the e-ticket, so you can go straight in and bid. Or, if you want, I can handle the bidding for you?"


    M shook her head. "I can do it myself."


    The auction was in three days. She still had time to pull the funds together.


    With the entry pass sorted, they walked back toward the ballroom. On the way, Nathaniel hesitated before finally asking about her recent divorce and sudden disappearance.


    M didn''t want to discuss such personal matters with an outsider, so she deflected and mentioned Julian, who was also here, asking if Nathaniel wanted to say hello.


    And just like that, the topic was dropped.


    Meanwhile...


    Inside the ballroom, Leonard was in the middle of a conversation when he felt his phone buzz. He excused himself, stepping off to a quiet corner to take the call.


    On the other end, Harper''s voice trembled with barely contained anxiety.


    "Mr. Leonard, sir just came home unexpectedly. He found out that ma''am hasn''t been home these past few days. He wants you back right away."


    Leonard''s fingers tightened slightly around his phone, though his expression stayed calm. "Understood."


    Harper hesitated, then added, "Sir looked pretty angry. Please... be careful what you say."


    "I will," Leonard replied quietly.