"A bomb threat? Are you a police officer?"
Thomas shook his head. "Private investigator. Listen, Lauren, I wish I could explain but I've got to get people of the ballroom."
He was already hurrying away. Lauren watched him go, fear gripping her throat like a vise. Dex was nowhere to be seen so Lauren walked quickly to the lobby where a group of frightened people were clustered in small groups, talking feverishly. There were at least a dozen police officers stationed around the perimeter.
Suddenly, there was a huge blast. Lauren fell to the floor, covering her head. Behind her, screams and shattering glass. She looked down the hall and saw smoke pouring out of the ballroom.
"Oh my God!" she cried.
Now panicked people were stampeding out of the ballroom. All the Internet Influencers and their fans were flocking to the lobby. Lauren wanted to get out of the hotel entirely. Even the lobby with its police presence didn't seem safe.
She followed the crowd out of the hotel's main entrance and into the icy night air. She turned to look behind her, to scan the crowd for Mikayla. But it was mayhem. Through the smoke and crowds she saw Thomas carrying a woman to safety. Even from a distance, she could admire his strong arms and the effortlessness with which he wove through the crowd.
As Thomas drew closer, Lauren realized that the woman he was carrying was none other than Hilary Barnes, the famous Instagrammer.
"We need an ambulance!" Thomas was shouting.
No ambulances had yet arrived although Lauren could hear sirens in the distance. The crowd parted to let Thomas through. Hilary's face was covered in blood. Her arms hung limply. Who could have done this horrible thing? And why?
"Lauren! Lauren!"
Lauren turned to see Dex pushing his way through the crowd.
"Have you seen Mikayla?" Dex asked, frantically.
"No," Lauren said.
"We got separated in the ballroom. There were so many people. And now I don't know where she is!" Dex appeared to be on the verge of tears.
"I'm sorry, I haven't seen her," Lauren said, feeling genuinely upset on his behalf. She, too, was worried about Mikayla.
An ambulance pulled up to the curb. Lauren turned away from Dex and watched as the paramedics load Hilary Barnes into it. Thomas, his shirt spattered with Hilary's blood, shut the doors as soon as Hilary was safely inside. Lauren ran up to Thomas.
"Thomas, what happened? Was that really a bomb going off?"
Thomas turned to face her his face was grim.
"We got tipped off on the bomb threat just minutes ago. We couldn't evacuate the ballroom in time. Lauren, please stay outside until the authorities say it's safe to go back inside."
"There's no way I'm staying here tonight!" Lauren said. "As soon as they let us back in, I'm getting our bags and going to a different hotel!"
"OK, well once it's all clear, call my cell phone and I'll escort you to your room and out of the hotel. Just to make sure you're safe." Thomas handed her his business card.
"Thank you, Thomas. I really appreciate that."
"No problem. Now if you'll excuse me, I must get back inside."
"I'll call you as soon as they let people back inside," said Lauren.
Thomas nodded and disappeared into the crowd.
She couldn't have known it then but the next time she would hear from Thomas was when she would be called down to the police station for questioning.
YOU ARE READING
The Unwanted Affair
ChickLitCOMPLETED! Lauren was a popular blogger, happily making a living on her inspirational lifestyle blog. She never intended on having an affair. She didn't even want it. But once the bomb went off at the hotel where she was staying, she became an alibi...
