Chapter 5

Chapter 5
Just around the corner, Tanya stood half-hidden behind a pillar. She’d seen everything.

Her eyes widened in confusion.

“That’s Henry Duke,” she whispered. “If Anna went into Room twenty… why is he in Room twenty?”

Her confusion deepened, and the questions piled up fast.

Something wasn’t adding up.

Michelle was already walking away from Room twenty, trying to play off her awkward encounter with Henry Duke. She straightened her hair and adjusted her dress, then leaned toward one of the reporters trailing behind her.

“No matter what,” she whispered, which was loud enough for Tanya to hear, “you guys stay close to this floor. Lurk around the hallway if you have to. She went in there, I know she did. The moment she steps out, record it. I want her to make headlines tomorrow.”

The reporter gave her a quick nod and moved toward the far wall, pretending to scroll on his phone while adjusting his camera lens.

Tanya’s jaw clenched.

“Wow,” she muttered under her breath. “She’s really terrifying.”

She backed away, trying not to draw attention to herself. Her heart felt heavier with each step.

"If Anna really is in there with Henry," she thought, "maybe it’s for the best." Judging by how evil her fiancé is and the kind of public mess waiting for her outside, maybe not showing up is the smartest thing she could do.

But another thought hit her. What if Anna’s not even in there? What if Michelle has the wrong room? What if Anna walks out and those vultures outside film her?

Tanya pulled out her phone and tried Anna again.

Still no answer.

The line was dead.

Her eyes scanned the hallway again. Reporters were still loitering around the corridor, pretending not to look suspicious—but Tanya saw right through it. They were just waiting for their moment.

Her fingers twitched.

Then it hit her.

Henry Duke.

If anyone knew what was going on in that room… it would be him.

Without wasting another second, Tanya quickly moved away from the hallway, slipping into a quieter part of the floor, well out of earshot from the reporters.

She dialed Colby’s number.

This time, he picked up almost immediately.

“Baby,” he said, his voice low. “I was just about to call you back. I’m sorry, I got caught up with an important call....”

“Forget all of that,” Tanya cut in. Her voice was urgent. “I need Henry Duke’s number right now.”

Colby paused. “Wait, what? Why?”

“It’s not what you think,” Tanya said quickly. “It’s about Anna. I think she’s with him. She’s in serious trouble, Colby. I need to help her.”

There was another pause.

Colby’s tone changed. “What kind of trouble?”

“She went to Room twenty.... some guy was waiting there. I think she was set up. Her cousin and her fiancé… they planned something awful, and now the press is waiting to humiliate her.”

Colby exhaled heavily. “Do you want me to call Henry myself?”

Tanya hesitated. “No. Please. I need to speak to him. Just send me his number.”

Colby was quiet for a second, then said, “Okay. I’ll text it to you now.”

“Thank you,” Tanya said softly, already pulling up her messaging app.

The moment she received Henry Duke’s number, she didn’t waste time. She opened her messages and quickly typed:

Hello. My name is Tanya Tanner. I’m Colby’s wife. I’m about to call you, it’s urgent. Please answer. Someone’s life depends on it.

Upstairs, Henry had just tossed his phone on the dresser, trying to clear his head, when it buzzed again.

He read the message, his brows furrowing. “What the hell is going on today?” he muttered. “Why is Colby’s wife trying to contact me?”

The phone rang before he could even process it.

He picked up. “Hello?”

“Henry, it’s me. Tanya,” she said, breathless.

“I know,” he replied, still trying to make sense of everything. “Is everything okay? Is your husband fine?”

“Yeah, yeah, he’s fine,” she said quickly. “Listen, I need to ask you something important. Is there a girl with you? Her engagement is today. She is wearing a red dress....her name is Anna. She’s my friend.”

Henry paused for half a second.

“Oh, you know her?” he said, surprised. “Well… good. That makes this easier. You need to come to Room twenty and help her out. Her dress has been completely torn.”

“No, no, no, I can’t come there,” Tanya said sharply.

He raised a brow. “Then what exactly do you want me to do?”

“Just listen,” Tanya pleaded. “Someone framed her, Henry. And now they’re trying to ruin her publicly.”

Henry ran a hand over his face. “Yeah, I figured something was off. She’s hiding in the restroom.”

“Okay, that’s exactly the problem,” Tanya said. “There are reporters outside the room. They’re waiting for her to come out. If they get even one picture of her, it’s going viral by morning. It’ll destroy her.”

Henry exhaled. “And what exactly does this have to do with me?”

“If she walks out of that room,” Tanya continued, “everyone’s going to assume she cheated on her man with you. That’s the story they’ll tell. Your name’s going to be dragged through this too. You’ll be the guy who slept with the bride-to-be the night before her wedding.”

Henry closed his eyes and let out a low groan. “What the hell is all this supposed to mean? Besides, who cares about what the public thinks?”

“I’m begging you,” Tanya said, her voice shaking. “You said her dress is torn, right? Let her stay. Just for now. Don’t let her leave the room. Please.”

Henry glanced at the closed bathroom door.

“I trust you,” Tanya went on. “You’re Colby’s friend, and that means something. You’re a good man, Henry. I’ll personally bring her a new dress first thing in the morning. I’ll wait until the coast is clear, and I’ll make sure no one sees her. Just… don’t let her walk into a trap tonight.”

He was silent for a moment.

“You’re asking me to be locked in here with a crying woman, while my night plans fall apart?” he asked flatly.

“Yes,” Tanya said without hesitation. “Please, please. Do this for me. Colby and I will never forget it. I swear.”

Henry looked around the room, then toward the door. Then back at the bathroom.

He sighed, long and heavy. “Fine,” he muttered. “Alright. Goodbye.”

He hung up without another word, staring at the wall for a second like it had personally betrayed him.

Then he turned toward the restroom, rolled his eyes, and shook his head.

“Damn it,” he muttered. “I knew I shouldn’t have come to this hotel.”

He thought about the escorts waiting for him....the ones he’d already paid for....and groaned in frustration.

“Of all the nights I could’ve played hero, it had to be the one I booked twin blondes for pleasure.”