Chapter 339
"Michael! Why aren't you and Miss Thorne answering your phones?" The vice president of Thornfield Industries paced anxiously outside Mooncrest Manor, his eyes scanning Michael Sterling from head to toe. "This is an emergency! You need to wake Miss Thorne immediately!"
Michael ran a hand through his tousled hair, embarrassment coloring his features as he stepped aside to let the executive in. "Unless the company's burning down, I don't see what could be so urgent."
"You two didn't hire a celebrity spokesperson last night, did you?" The vice president followed Michael inside, his voice rising with excitement. "Eric Montclair just endorsed our Tempest series! Do you realize who he is?"
All traces of sleep vanished from Michael's face as confusion took over. "You're not making any sense."
"Good lord! Eric Montclair - the pop icon who disappeared three years ago - just posted about our drones on social media! Our customer service lines are jammed, and new orders are coming in faster than we can process them!" The vice president's cheeks flushed with exhilaration. "I've never seen anything like this!"
When repeated calls to Evelyn and Michael went unanswered, he'd driven straight to the manor.
Michael's instincts prickled with unease. Something wasn't right.
He rushed to the master suite, knocking sharply before entering - only to find the room empty. "Evelyn's not here," he muttered. "Her phone's really off?"
The vice president shook his head vigorously. "I called both of you before ringing the bell. Straight to voicemail."
Michael disappeared into his room, emerging minutes later dressed in fresh clothes. "I looked into Montclair. He vanished from public life years ago. Yet suddenly he defends our company, and all the online trolls magically disappear? His fanbase is terrifyingly powerful."
"I know who he is. Evelyn used to be a huge fan," Michael said, his mind clearing. "But why he'd help us? Only Evelyn would know."
"Didn't she mention where she was going?" The vice president wrung his hands. "My phone's been exploding all morning. I've had to keep it on airplane mode just to function!"
Michael arched an eyebrow. "Is it really that bad?"
Sweat beaded on the executive's forehead. "Worse! Everyone thinks we orchestrated Montclair's comeback! They're demanding to know how much we paid him! My teenage daughter won't stop pestering me for his autograph!"
Michael could only stare in stunned silence.
Meanwhile, at the Oceanview Grand Hotel, preparations for Dominic Blackwood and Zoe Montgomery's engagement party were in full swing.
Zoe stood resplendent in her custom designer gown, her makeup flawless, her smile perfectly practiced. She'd been waiting since dawn for Dominic's arrival.
As nine o'clock came and went without word, her composure began to crack.
"Let's go to the venue first," Eleanor Blackwood suggested, patting Zoe's arm. "I tried calling Dominic earlier, but his phone was off. I'm sure he'll call back as soon as he sees our messages."
Zoe maintained her gracious smile, but misery coiled in her chest. They'd agreed Dominic would pick her up from the family estate. This was their engagement day - how could his phone be off? The painful truth was Dominic didn't care about her at all.
During the tense car ride, Zoe scrolled through her phone and froze at Eric Montclair's latest post. Her brow furrowed. Why would he help Evelyn Thorne? Without his intervention, Thornfield Industries would have collapsed soon enough.
A terrible realization struck her.
Was Dominic's absence connected to Evelyn?
With trembling fingers, Zoe dialed Evelyn's number.
"The number you have dialed is currently unavailable."
Zoe's carefully constructed composure shattered. Dominic's phone was off. Evelyn's phone was off. Were they together right now?