Alex thundered behind me, yelling for me to wait up, but I didn’t. If I stopped, I knew I’d break down.
I arrived at my suite, breathless and panting.
Alex caught up with me and sat down on the step with his arms folded over his chest. ‘They’re awful people, don’t believe a word of it. You belong here as much as anyone.’
I slipped off my heels and stared at the floor. ‘I’m fine. I’m just … I’m not feeling so great … Tell Penny I’ve gone to bed sick … that my stomach hurts.’
‘Don’t let them ruin this for you. Come back to the party,’ he urged, taking my hand.
I let go as quickly as if I’d touched my finger to a hotplate.
‘Well, now I’ve seen everything,’ a voice snarled behind me.
I turned to see Edwina and Paulina glaring at us.
Paulina pursed her lips into her usual fish pout. ‘Getting in while she’s young, Alex? You know she’s only fifteen?’
‘Eighteen actually,’ I said. ‘And he wasn’t trying to get anywhere.’
Edwina put her hands on her hips. ‘Alex, you were about to walk into her suite — I saw it with my own eyes.’
‘That’s not even close to true. Ignore her, Jose,’ he said.
‘Ignore me?’ Edwina raised an eyebrow. ‘She’d be a fool to do that and she knows it. This is a small industry and I know everyone. You haven’t changed a bit, Alex. You’re an arrogant, slimy … You know what, forget it. But Josie, I expected more from you. For a prodigy you’re not that smart.’
‘Edwina, let me explain!’ I said, but she and Paulina had already stormed off.
‘Charming as always,’ Alex called after them.
‘I’m screwed,’ I muttered. ‘My career’s screwed.’
He scoffed. ‘Why do you care about Edwina?’
‘I just do, alright? I care. What did you do to her? You turned her into a monster!’
‘Nothing! We dated. We broke up. We moved on. It was over a year ago. And for the record, she’s perfectly capable of being a monster without my help.’
I paused, taking it in. Maybe he’d hit on her friend and never apologised. Maybe he’d written something scathing about her in one of his articles. Or, based on the way she was attacking him, maybe he’d broken her heart. Like Sophie said, a crappy break-up could change someone.
‘What happened between you guys?’
‘Were you just here? She’s shallow and conceited, and I don’t waste time on either. The worst part is she thinks she’s a saint.’ He stood up. ‘Look, we’ve missed the mains, but let’s see what rabbit food they’re offering for dessert.’
‘I’m going to bed.’ I reached into my handbag and fumbled around in the dark for the key to the suite.
‘I guess I’ll get back to the party then … Will you be alright?’
‘Sure, except for the whole Edwina-thinks-I’m-trying-to-hook-up-with-her-ex drama,’ I said. ‘Thanks for following me though … I bet I looked like a real idiot running through that restaurant.’
‘Well, if you did, then I did too. And thanks for the thanks … I have been sweet, haven’t I? Tell your friends — the hot ones. Rest up, Josie the journo.’ He gave me a little salute and sauntered off in the direction of the restaurant.
‘You’re not that sweet,’ I called out into the darkness. But the only reply was the sound of a kookaburra laughing in the trees.
The next morning, I rushed into the dining hall after sending the perfect — if I did say so myself — email to Darlene about Maxxy’s interest in the launch. A quick look at the clock on the wall showed it was 8.38 am. I was eight minutes late to breakfast, but there was no one else there — not even Penny. Maybe I had the wrong restaurant?
I took myself for a short walk around the resort, weaving through the maze of paths, but didn’t pass anyone except for a few gardeners who said hello as they trimmed the surrounding greenery. Stomach purring, I returned to the dining hall. Still no one had arrived. I heard a man’s voice yelling from kitchen and walked towards it. The chef and two apprentices were arguing.
‘Excuse me, do you happen to know where all the media guests are?’ I asked.
The trio hushed and swapped dark looks.
‘We’re supposed to be having a breakfast banquet,’ I went on.
‘I’m sorry, it’s been cancelled,’ the chef said.
He plopped some ready-made scrambled eggs and smoked salmon onto a plate and thrust it into my hands. ‘You wanted breakfast … please, eat up.’
I thanked them. Sure, my stomach was about to be happy, but that didn’t answer the question of where everyone was — or where I was supposed to be.
Unsure, I followed the path to the pool and sat down on one of the sun lounges. No one was there either — it was eerie, like it was the end of the world and I was one of the last people left.
I was lifting a spoonful of scrambled eggs to my mouth when a voice piped up behind me. ‘You’re brave to eat that. Brave … or stupid.’
‘Excuse me?’ I lowered the spoon and turned to see Paulina.
She pursed her lips. ‘Are you too lost in your Alex love-bubble to know what’s going on? Everyone’s sick — like, really sick. Throwing up, dizzy, white as a ghost … you name it.’
‘No way,’ I said, ignoring her comment about me and Alex. ‘Are you alright?’
‘I think so, it took me down early,’ she said, shaking her head. ‘They’re pretty sure it was the fish last night.’
The fish that Alex, Maxxy and I had missed out on because we’d been too busy gasbagging at the bar. Unless they’d eaten some later, while I was tucked up in bed.
‘That’s awful,’ I said, pushing away the scrambled eggs and salmon.
‘Even Penny’s sick,’ Paulina said. ‘She sent a group text to everyone to come to the pool and await further instructions if they’re feeling up for it. So far there’s only me … and you.’
No wonder I was out of the loop. I’d accidentally left my phone on silent in my handbag so hadn’t heard it beep. Better rescue it from the suite before I miss anything else, I thought.
Over Paulina’s shoulder, I saw a fair-haired woman walking towards us, but it was hard to make out who she was with the sun beaming down. As she moved closer, I could see it was Penny. There was a guy with her — and it didn’t take long to realise it was Alex, dressed in his board shorts and carrying a towel.
‘Well, look who it is … your little friend,’ Paulina muttered to me. ‘Enjoy yourself last night?’
‘You know what, I’ve had it,’ I snapped. ‘I have a boyfriend. Called James. Who I love. Yeah, he doesn’t know that yet, and he’s not perfect, but … look, you want to be a good sidekick to Edwina? Then tell her that. I slept alone last night.’
Paulina’s jaw had dropped. ‘Joey, I —’
‘It’s Josie,’ I said, taking a step towards her. ‘You know that’s my name. Or are you that stupid?’
‘Fine, I’ll leave it … Josie,’ Paulina said, talking as though she had a bad taste in her mouth.
Luckily, Penny and Alex reached us before she could call my bad-girl bluff; the adrenaline had almost worn off.
‘Morning, guys,’ Alex said. ‘Everyone feeling okay?’
‘I’m good,’ I said, before remembering I was supposed to have been sick when I left the dinner. ‘Er, my stomach’s better and headache’s a bit less, so … yeah. How are you both?’
Penny shook her head. ‘Not good.’ Her skin was a dull grey and she had black bags beneath her eyes. Even her lips seemed to have lost their usual colour. ‘We’ve had to cancel all the group seminars. But I want you to have a wonderful time here, so if you’re up for it please make the most of our facilities.’
I had to admire her: she was oozing every last scrap of professionalism when I was sure she would have preferred to be kneeling over a toilet bowl.
‘Personally I’d like to go home,’ Paulina said. ‘Can I get my flight changed?’
‘Don’t be like that!’ Alex said, gesturing around us. ‘You want to leave paradise?’
‘Honestly? Yes,’ she spat.
‘I understand,’ Penny said, somehow keeping her cool. ‘Due to the circumstances, we’ve brought everyone’s flights forward to this evening.’
Alex shrugged. ‘Well, that still gives us the day, so I vote we do something fun. Any ideas?’
‘Forget it,’ said Paulina. ‘I’ve got another wave coming. I’ll be in my suite.’ She clutched her stomach and bolted away.
Penny swallowed, and I couldn’t tell if she was about to say something or throw up all over us. ‘You know what … I think I’m going down again,’ she mumbled, grimacing. ‘There’s a great little café on the other side of the resort if you want food. Just put it on our tab. In the meantime, try to enjoy yourselves before we catch up tonight — there are pools, spas, the beach, a bowling alley, a merry-go-round, a maze, and a pitch-and-putt course. Think of this as your very own playground.’ She clasped her hand over her mouth and ran off in the direction of the suites.
‘Did she say bowling alley?’ Alex said. ‘Up for it?’
‘Stop looking so happy,’ I said, slapping him on the shoulder.
‘Don’t you realise what’s happened?’
‘Yeah! Everyone’s violently ill,’ I said. ‘This is so bad — Lavish will probably make the news for all the wrong reasons. I’ve barely had time to schmooze for Liani and I don’t even know if Maxxy’s okay. The launch is only a few days away — what if she’s not well enough to perform?’
‘You’re worried about Maxxy?’ Alex laughed. ‘Jose, relax, we’ve got a day off! It’s a holiday and we’re getting paid. Follow me: I’ll turn this day around for both of us, you’ll see.’