Daniel and I had just left the hotel ballroom when he stopped in the middle of the pavent, holding up his phone.
‘Mira, look! Rowan’s been papped again. This ti they actually got a clear shot of the guy’s face. It’s the CEO of LGH!’
My stomach clenched. ‘What did you just say?’
He shoved the screen under my nose. ‘This photo. Sa guy from before. I knew it. No way they’re just friends.’
I looked.
Ashton was in the fra, a full-body shot from the front almost as if he was looking directly at the cara, face inscrutable, mid-stride.
He wasn’t even close to Rowan.
Nothing about it scread scandal.
Still, I kept staring.
‘When was this taken?’ I asked.
‘About half an hour ago.’
I recognised the restaurant right away.
The Corner Table.
The last ti, I’d let it go because Rowan didn’t appear to gain anything from it.
But now...
Ashton had been to a hundred dinners with people more famous than her.
Not once had he been photographed like this.
And yet with her—twice in one week?
Daniel was scrolling, eyes bright, reading the comnts out loud.
‘People are going crazy. They’re saying they look good together. That they’re secretly engaged. That she only ca back to the country to marry him.’
I didn’t think Ashton was lying when he told there was nothing between him and Rowan.
But the longer I stared at that photo, the more it pressed behind my ribs.
‘Can I borrow your phone? I need to call soone.’
Daniel looked up. ‘Um, sure. Who’d you need to call?’
I tried to recall Ashton’s number but failed.
No one morised phone digits nowadays.
‘Never mind.’
Daniel returned to his screen.
I didn’t have my laptop.
No tablet either.
And without my phone, I couldn’t even check the bloody news.
I looked up.
The moon was thin, high, too bright.
‘What ti is it?’ I asked.
‘Ten-sothing,’ he said.
‘It’s that late already?’ I muttered.
The event organisers had promised a new phone by tomorrow if I didn’t mind it wasn’t the latest model, but that was hours away.
I couldn’t wait.
Ashton must’ve tried calling. Probably more than once.
He’d be losing his mind.
I turned to Daniel again. ‘Can you check if there’s anywhere nearby selling phones?’
He stopped walking and tapped at the screen. ‘Everything’s closed.’
‘What about online? Maybe express delivery?’
‘Let check.’
He opened the shopping app, but I could see in his face he already knew the answer.
He lifted the screen. ‘Earliest is tomorrow morning. You’ll get one before noon, I’m sure. Just wait for the organisers.’
That should’ve been fine. It really should’ve.
But it wasn’t.
One night felt like too long.
I needed Ashton to know I was all right.
Even a two-word text would do.
‘Can you check the delivery apps? Maybe one of them sells phones.’
Daniel hesitated, then opened the delivery app.
I leaned closer to see the screen.
‘That one delivers!’ I jabbed a finger at the listing. ‘Order it.’
The listing showed a delivery window—orders placed before eleven would arrive within thirty minutes.
It was already past ten-thirty.
Daniel whistled. ‘Now I know why they’ve still got stock.’
‘Why?’
‘You sure you want this one?’
‘It’s the only one still available.’
‘Yeah, I an, do you really want it, like, right now?’
I tapped a foot on the pavent. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘It’s 1,199 bucks.’
‘I saw the price. Co on, just get it now before the window closes.’
He scratched the back of his neck, head down. ‘Thing is... I’m broke. I’ve already spent my pay. I don’t have the money.’
‘You don’t have a thousand dollars?’
He looked sheepish. ‘Not right now. My cards are all maxed out.’
‘I can—’ I reached for my wallet. ‘Damn it, I’d switched to digital wallet.’
I only carried enough cash for tips or the occasional snack.
The digital wallet was in my lost phone.
Everything was locked behind fingerprint or passcode.
No one could spend a cent without cracking it.
But I couldn’t either.
‘Damn,’ I muttered, then straightened. ‘Call Priya. Ask her to lend you money.’
‘Priya probably doesn’t have that kind of money,’ he mumbled.
‘She does. She’s stingy as hell with herself, always packing food and skipping cabs. She saves everything. A grand won’t kill her. Just call her.’
‘She’s probably asleep.’
‘Then send a ssage and find out. If she’s awake, call her. I’ll talk.’
It was ten-forty.
Eleven was the cut-off.
After that, no phone tonight.
I felt my pulse climbing.
Daniel typed out: [You up?]
We stood on the pavent, a few feet from the edge, watching the screen.
The display dimd.
Still nothing.
‘She’s probably out cold,’ he muttered. ‘She told she sleeps at ten sharp.’
I exhaled, disappointed. ‘Fine. We’ll try again tomorrow.’
We turned towards the hotel. Hadn’t even gone ten steps when his phone pinged.
‘Your phone just went off,’ I said. ‘Check if it’s her.’
He unlocked his phone.
It was from Priya.
I saw her profile photo flash on the screen.
‘Perfect.’ I jabbed his arm. ‘Call her. I’ll talk.’
He hesitated but tapped the icon.
The line rang once before she picked up.
‘Priya? You’ve got a sec?’
‘Mira? Yeah, what’s going on?’
‘I lost my phone,’ I said quickly. ‘No idea where. I’ve got nothing on , no card, no cash, can’t buy a new one right now—’
‘I’ll transfer Dan the money,’ she said before I could finish. ‘You grab one tonight.’
‘Yes, thank you. You’re the best. I’ll pay you back as soon as I get ho.’
‘No rush,’ she said.
I was about to hang up when I rembered. ‘Wait, do you have Yvaine’s number?’
‘I do.’
‘Tell her my phone’s gone. Ask her to ssage Ashton. Just let him know I’m okay, and I’ll reach out once I’ve got a new one.’
‘Got it. Leave it to .’
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