Chapter 8: Ghosts Behind Doors

There was something different about the way people looked at Zane Blackwood. Not just with admiration. With lots of caution and reverence, as if he was fragile and made of glass. Every assistant paused when he passed. Every glance lingered a second too long. No one corrected him. No one contradicted him.

And then, the rumors. The elephant in the room. There were whispers everywhere.

“He doesn’t remember anything before the accident,” one of the coordinators whispered to another when they thought I was out of earshot. “Total blackout. Poor man.”

“He’s lucky he doesn’t remember the scandal,” the other whispered back. “Imagine waking up to your entire legacy in ruins.”

“And the wedding planner, isn’t she the one who…” the voice cut off.

“Yeah. The Nigerian lady, right? She did all that to him and then she comes back into his life five years later? So shameless.”

“I heard Ms. Voss hired her as payback. She gets to watch the love of her life get married to her former best friend. That’s crazy.”

I didn’t breathe until I’d turned the corner.

So lots of people knew about what went down with Sera, Zane and I. And Zane’s amnesia… it had to be real, right? If Zane truly didn’t remember me… did he remember us?

That question clawed at my insides like a restless ghost, one I couldn’t put to rest until I knew for sure. But every time Zane looked at me with that frustratingly blank expression, I felt like I was the ghost instead.

I caught myself staring at my own reflection in the hallway mirror and quickly looked away.

I had a job to do.

##

Leah was just outside the main ballroom, tablet in hand, her brows scrunched in concentration. The moment she saw me, she said, “The venue manager’s insisting we decide on the backup rain plan by tomorrow morning.”

Her words barely registered. “You can handle that, yeah?”

“Sure,” she said slowly, studying me. “Are you okay?”

I nodded, even though I wasn't. “I just need to walk around. Clear my head.”

“Try not to punch anyone,” she teased gently.

“Only if they deserve it,” I muttered, and left.

I walked towards the corridor leading toward the groom’s quarters which was dimmer and less polished. It was where the hotel stored extra chairs, crates of bottled champagne. At that very moment, behind one half-closed door, there were two familiar voices arguing. They were whispering, but their voices leaked through the open doors.

I knew I should’ve turned back. I knew eavesdropping was wrong. But I couldn’t help it.

“I told you hiring her was a mistake,” Mr. Wade snapped. His voice was low, like he was trying not to be overheard. “She doesn’t belong here.”

“She’s the best,” Sera’s voice replied. I’d recognize that icy sharpness anywhere. “And because she won’t dare do anything reckless with me watching.”

My breath caught. I remained frozen in place Were they talking about me?

“You’re playing a dangerous game.”

“She’s not a threat,” Sera said dismissively. “Not anymore.”

My blood ran cold.

What were they trying to protect Zane from? Me?

“I told you she’s already suspicious,” Mr. Wade said.

“Then keep her busy,” Sera snapped. “We can’t have her digging around. Not now.”

Suspicious? Digging? My chest tightened. I should have walked away. I should have pretended I never heard a thing. But I didn’t. I needed to hear more. I was sure they were talking about me.

“She won’t stop until she gets answers,” Wade muttered. “She’s already asking questions about the past.”

“She’ll only find what we want her to,” Sera said with cool certainty. “Just make sure she doesn’t remember what’s best left buried.”

My breath hitched.

“Zane doesn’t even remember her,” Wade added after a pause, “and that’s the only thing that’s saving us.”

Zane doesn’t remember me?

I took a shaky step back, the hallway tilting slightly beneath me. I must’ve made a sound, because suddenly the door creaked wider. I rushed to hide just before Sera’s head poked out of the room. She scanned the area, lips flowing as she didn’t see anyone in the corridor. She went back in and shut the door completely.

I took a deep breath and let it out. That was a close call. I was so thankful they didn’t see me. But as I walked away, their words echoed like a second heartbeat in my head.

He doesn’t even remember her...

I barely felt my heels click against the marble floor as I made my way back toward the planning suite. If it were just Zane's odd behavior, I might have doubted myself. But now, with Sera and Mr. Wade basically confirming it, how could I?

Zane Blackwood, the man who once knew me better than I knew myself and traced constellations across my bare skin... had forgotten me?

I closed the office door behind me and leaned against it, fingers gripping the handle like it was the only thing keeping me grounded.

The worst part wasn’t the amnesia. It was how easily he looked through me now, like I was a stranger in a story he’d never read. And the worst part? I was starting to believe it.

I felt the tears gathering in my eyes. But I wouldn’t cry. Not again. I had cried enough five years ago to last a lifetime.

Leah glanced up from her tablet when I entered. “You okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I hesitated. “More like I overheard one.”

Leah raised a brow but didn’t press. She knew better. Instead, she offered me a cup of coffee and a distraction. “You have a tasting tomorrow, and the florists need confirmation on the centerpiece structure. The tall gold stands or the suspended glass globes?”

“Gold stands,” I said automatically, still half lost in the fog.

“Right.” She wrote it down. “You sure you’re okay?”

I nodded. “Yeah. Just tired.”

“Try not to let the client get under your skin,” she said with a small smile. “Even if he looks like a Calvin Klein model come to life.”

I couldn’t answer without breaking down, so I just nodded.