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Well, shit.

Every pair of eyes stares at their camera as they wait for me to answer.

An answer I don’t have but clearly need.

“I will make plans as soon as I can and have a date for you by the end of the week,” I tell them, and it seems to be what they needed to hear for the moment.

Everyone logs off, and I just sit here, staring at the screen.

That is, until I look up and find Grace watching me over my laptop.

Fuck.

Chapter

Twenty-Six

GRACE

They accepted it.

Holy shit.

The bridal company I pitched to accepted my proposal.

This is huge for the lodge.

I reread the start of their reply.

Miss Richford,

Our organization has always loved what your family’s company has had to offer, and with your fresh ideas and plans moving forward, we also believe your company would be a great fit to form a partnership.

My smile widens.

Me. My ideas. Not the fake engagement, not anything about the lodge’s past. Just. Me.

I have to tell Preston.

I rush out of my office to find him.

The lobby is buzzing with excitement the moment I walk into the room. I turn toward the reception desk to ask Mason about it, but it doesn’t take me long to look around the room and put the pieces together.

Cameras. Microphones. Lights. Lots of moving people.

Someone is here to film something, and I don’t remember seeing it on my schedule. “Mason,” I say once I get to the desk.

“Yes?”

His grin is stretched wide.

My lips tug to a smile, too. The look he’s giving me says he knows something that I don’t.

“Do you know what’s going on?” I nod toward the camera crew.

“They said they were here to interview you and Mr. King on your engagement?”

I suck in a breath. Oh, right. The exclusive with Kerri.