Chairs scrape, places get added. Henson immediately launches into some story about Amira’s uncle threatening him for not liking arak. Amira smacks his arm.
It’s loud, warm, and exactly the kind of scene I wanted Mya to see.
Entrées come out: roast sea bass, summer vegetables, and risotto. Mya is talking to my dad about her project again, explaining the scope of the rehab project without sounding like she’s showing off. He’s impressed. I can tell. Bri keeps leaning into her, while showing Amira something on her phone. My mother watches it all, and it softens her whole face.
It’s going well.Toowell.
My phone buzzes in my pocket.
I ignore it. It’s Saturday night. We’re in Nantucket. Everyone I care about is here, and nobody from the office calls me on weekends.
It buzzes again.
I glance down and see Dre’s name.
I frown. She knows I’m out of town. I let it roll to voicemail.
A third time. Then a text.
Dre:
Call me back. It’s an emergency.
My stomach tightens.
I dab my mouth with my napkin before pushing my chair back. “Excuse me. Work thing.” I catch Mya’s eye. She lifts a brow and mouths, “Everything okay?”I nod and head inside.
In the study, I close the door and call Dre back. She picks up on the first ring.
“Worth,” she says, voice already in crisis mode, “look at your email.”
“What is it?”
“Just look.”
I pull it up on my phone. Top of the inbox:FW: URGENT — have you seen this?from PR. Another from Legal. Another from Dre.
I open the first one and my heart drops.
A big masthead I know too well. Headline in all-caps:
BILLIONAIRE WORTH MILLER’S “SECRET” MARRIAGE WAS A BUSINESS DEAL — INSIDER SAYS NEW WIFE IS “BROKE” AND “IN IT FOR THE MONEY.”
There’s a photo of me and Mya at the gala. Another of her leaving the office. A third of us at the courthouse yesterday. And under it is an entire speculative mess about our “sudden” wedding, the “convenient” timing before a custody hearing, and some trash quote from an “anonymous former employee” about “being in his office just last week.”
Fucking Shaina.
“Worth? You still there?”
“Yeah,” I manage to choke out.
“Is it true?” Dre asks, though her tone says she already knows the answer.
“I can’t talk now. Call PR. Full response. Loop Ryan in. I need to talk to Mya before she sees it.”
“It’s already on socials,” she answers quietly.
I end the call.