“If you’ll excuse us,” Maddox told them, “we need to greet our other guests.”
As they started to walk away, Jeff added, “Your assistant must be heartbroken, Maddox.”
Maddox stopped.
“Isn’t that right, Mila?” Jeff said. His eyes glimmered wickedly as Mila turned back to look at him. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Tiffany cut her brother an annoyed look. Maybe he was messing up Tiffany’s plans?
She tried to keep her expression flat, but she wasn’t sure what he was talking about. Nothing had happened between her and Parker when she worked for Maddox.
“Keep moving,” Maddox whispered and nudged her along, but she was distracted the rest of the evening.
When she met with Savannah and her grandmother for lunch the next day, she still had trouble paying attention. What Jeff said kept coming to mind because of the smallest things.
How would Jeff even know about Parker? And why would he think anything happened between them?
“Mila?” someone called. “Is everything all right?”
Mila shook herself out of her reverie. Her eyes shifted between Savannah and her grandmother, and she swallowed. “I don’t know. Everything seems fine, but…” She couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong. But something was.
Savannah put a hand on her arm. “Did something happen at the party last night?”
Mila nodded. After taking a breath, she explained what Jeff said and insinuated.
Savannah made a face. “He’s probably bluffing, hoping he’ll rattle you into making a mistake.”
Mila stared into her coffee mug. “I’ve replayed it in my head, and he sounded like he believed he knew something.”
Savannah’s grandmother leaned forward. “Savannah might be right. He’s probably shaking the tree to see what comes out because he doesn’t have anything.”
Mila wanted to believe that, but something didn’t feel right. “It’s been quiet until now since I moved to San Francisco. But I don’t think it’s because they’ve forgotten about me.”
Savannah and her grandmother exchanged a glance. “Probably not,” Savannah said quietly. “Are you sure nothing happened that could be misconstrued…or slanted?”
Mila rubbed her forehead. “We went out for pizza once. But we came separately and left separately. That’s the only thing we ever did together outside of work.”
Savannah sighed. “If they think they have something, they will use it. You should be prepared. I’m sure they’re more desperate now that you’re engaged to Maddox.”
Mila nodded slowly. She knew she wasn’t prepared, and that realization scared her.