Chapter 46
FORTY-SIX
HILARY
Hilary could tell from the crazed look in Marissa’s eyes that this conversation was not going to go well. She had done her homework. She was making the right decision, but that didn’t mean it would be easy.
When the mayor’s call had interrupted her attempt at reconciliation over dinner with Ben, she had gone straight to his office.
A tip from an anonymous contestant had come in, claiming that William and Marissa had “insider information.” Hilary had dismissed it at first. It sounded like the mayor was still on a quest to shut down Passport to the Holidays, but as it turned out, this time, he had evidence to back up his claim.
According to the tipster, William and Marissa had received guidance from the owner of Smith Rock Wine, a premier sponsor of Passport to the Holidays.
Hilary had reviewed the rules and regulations with the city’s lawyer, which specifically stated that no one associated with sponsorship could influence the race in any way, shape, or form.
She didn’t have a choice. William and Marissa were disqualified, immediately.
“Hi.” Hilary smiled as she approached the young couple, but her face faded quickly because Marissa cut her off, nearly tipping over her wine glass in the process.
“Why are we disqualified? What did we do? We followed the rules to the letter.” Her voice was shaky and shrill.
“Unfortunately, we have evidence to the contrary.” Hilary couldn’t believe she was booting a team. Never in the planning process had she imagined this outcome, especially a Graff.
“What evidence?” Marissa crumpled her paper crown in her hand.
“Did you visit Smith Rock Winery?” Hilary asked, keeping her tone even.
“Yeah.” Marissa glanced at William for help. “Why would that matter? We weren’t allowed to visit a winery?”
“You weren’t allowed to get help, hints, any sort of advantage or leg up from sponsors of the scavenger hunt,” Hilary countered.
“What? We didn’t,” Marissa protested.
Hilary frowned. “We were informed that Parker directed you to the next clue.”
“Parker?” Marissa gasped. Then she punched William in the shoulder. “No. I told you. I told you we shouldn’t go.”
“So you admit it?” Hilary asked. It wouldn’t change the outcome, but it would be easier if they accepted their disqualification gracefully.
“No, no, it wasn’t like that.” Marissa’s face was blotched with color.
“I take complete responsibility for the situation,” William said, clearing his throat, his tone turning serious.
“Marissa didn’t have anything to do with it.
She’s right. Marissa was adamant that we not visit the winery.
Parker is a family friend. We stopped by to see if there happened to be a clue there. ”
Hilary frowned. “I’m afraid that doesn’t change anything. Your team is officially out of the race.”
Marissa buried her face in her hands. William tried to console her, but she pushed him away.
“Honestly, you can take me out of the race,” William pleaded with Hilary. “Marissa shouldn’t have to suffer from my mistake. Can’t you put her on a different team or something?”
Hilary was impressed. Clearly, chivalry wasn’t dead with William. “I’m sorry, but it’s too late for that. We’re judging crowns and sashes tonight and tallying up the winner tomorrow.”
“She needs this, though,” William insisted. “She’s worked so hard. She followed all the rules. She’s going to use the money to expand Yes, Cheese.”
“Yes, Cheese?” Hilary felt this conversation was going off the rails.
“Her cheese board catering business,” William explained.
“Sorry. There’s nothing I can do.” Hilary gave them an apologetic smile.
She felt terrible for them. They genuinely seemed like a lovely couple from the way they couldn’t seem to tear their eyes away from each other, and how William stood next to Marissa like her personal guardian.
But it was out of her hands now. Her only goal was to finish the dance, tally the results, and name the winner.
Then she could figure out what to do about her personal life.
Marissa tossed her crown on the ground and fled the ballroom.
William started to follow her but stopped. “Are you sure there’s nothing I can do? I feel terrible. I’m the one who suggested we go to Parker’s. She an old friend.”
“Is she?” Hilary raised her brow. The initial “anonymous” tipster had come forward after being pressed by the mayor.
“Do you know something I don’t know?” William asked, glancing at Marissa with despair. “What are you hinting at?”
“Our tip came from Parker.” Hilary felt like he had a right to know, and she didn’t owe Parker anything.
In fact, Hilary had visited the winery to speak with Parker in person.
She wanted to make sure that she had all the facts before she eliminated a team from the hunt.
Parker had said the right things, claiming she felt her “duty” to come forward in the name of honesty and competition, especially during the holiday season.
Nothing about Parker had seemed genuine to Hilary.
Hilary sensed that Parker had come forward for one person—herself.
She had seen William and Marissa together, and despite the pitiful state of her love life, she knew jealousy when she saw it, and William and Marissa were clearly falling for each other.
She suspected Parker also knew it and had used the information to sabotage them.
She couldn’t help agreeing it was pretty unfair.
Parker was not the kind of friend she wanted in her life.
“Parker turned us in?” William stared at her in disbelief. “Why?”
Hilary shrugged. “No idea. You’ll have to ask her yourself.” She wouldn’t want to be Parker. William looked like he was ready to fight and out for blood.
“Thanks for letting me know. You’re sure there’s nothing else I can do to keep Marissa in the game?”
Hilary shook her head.
“How close were we?”
“Close,” Hilary answered truthfully, her gaze drifting to the floor when Marissa had tossed her paper crown. “Depending on how many points you would have been awarded tonight, you had a good chance of taking home the cash.”
“Damn.” William let out a whistle under his breath.
“Sorry. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“No. It’s better knowing, thank you.” William sighed. “You don’t happen to have any upcoming catering gigs that need cheese boards, do you?”
Hilary thought for a moment. An idea started to take shape. “The Chamber’s events are already booked through the end of the year, but I might have a personal catering project.”
“She’s so good,” William gushed. “Let me show you her work. She’s amazing.”
He proceeded to pull up Marissa’s social media profiles. Hilary didn’t need any extra convincing. She needed to do something big to prove to Ben that she would fully invest in their marriage. For a man who loved food, maybe cheese was the best way to show him.