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I just had to learn the hard way.

Work does exactly what I need it to, until about noon. That’s when more notifications keep popping up about us. The comment sections are going crazy, and I’m clearly a glutton for punishment, because I’m starting to believe everyone who posts and says that I’m desperate.

They’re right. I was.

“Do you have a moment?” Mason pokes his head into my office. I brush the tears off my cheeks and nod.

“God, yes, I need a work distraction,” I say and point to the seat across from me. “Please sit.”

“I’ll stand,” he says, and when I turn to look at him, he looks away.

All right. This can’t be good.

If he’s standing, so am I.

“What’s going on?”

“It was me,” he says, still refusing to look at me.

“What was you?” I’m trying to remember if something with the lodge, outside of my current scandal, is amiss. I don’t recall anything.

“I’m the close family source from the article,” he says quickly.

I take a deep breath, and I let his words sink in.

He’s … he …

“How?” is all that manages to come out of my mouth.

“That one reporter, the one who is getting married here, she kept coming in and asking me questions. Do you remember that one day, the one where you and Preston met with the first reporter?”

I cross my arms. “Yes.”

“Well, Preston made a comment about you needing to act as if you like him.”

Shit.

I knew his I left the toilet seat up comment wouldn’t fool Mason.

I also thought Mason wouldn’t remember that. He’s always been so discreet about our lives here.

“Okay.” I can’t think of anything else to add.

“After it slipped out, she asked about your past together, and she seemed to know a lot. She said you and her fiancé used to date, and it was all so … I don’t know, she was convincing and tricky, and I fell for it, and I gave too much away. I didn’t know if it was true, but when I finally remembered who I was talking to, it was too late.”

I process his words, and I know I’m supposed to be mad right now, but all I can think of is how I want to tell Preston about this and that despite what I say, I know I should be communicating with him on how to fix this. I just don’t want to mess it up again.

“Why are you telling me this?” I ask. “There is a chance I would have never found out.”

He sighs. “I saw the article on how the board might rescind their offer of CEO to Preston, and I⁠—”

“What? Show me.”

He pulls his cell from his back pocket and clicks around before showing me the article.

King Enterprises to Reconvene After CEO Announcement.

Is Preston King the right person for the job, or has he finally shown us his true character, one filled with lies and deceit?