So, I punched it in, and I called.
“This is Gretchen speaking. How many I help you?”
I turned on the waterworks and sniffled, trying to mimic a cry as best as I could. I couldn’t call the woman out of thin air and expect her to believe I was calling as his personal assistant. So, I used the only other excuse we had in our arsenal.
I used the girlfriend lie.
“Gretchen? Is this, um, Gretchen Lancaster?” I asked.
“Yes. This is. Ma’am, are you okay?” she asked.
“Look, I know you must not recognize my voice, but I’m, uh, well.”
I sighed as I drew in a shuddering breath.
“I’m the girl who was in Derek’s room in Vegas.”
“This is his personal assistant?” Gretchen asked.
“Um, well, that’s sort of the thing. We’re using that as a cover to keep our relationship under wraps for now.”
“Relationship? Oh my gosh. You and Derek are dating. I knew it. I knew a personal assistant wouldn’t be in his room in a towel. That is not the Derek I know.”
“And it’s been eating me up inside why one of his exes showed up at his hotel room in Vegas. I just ... I can’t sleep. I’m sorry. I know I sound crazy, but I care about him so much. I needed to call and talk to you.”
“No, no, no, I totally get it. And I’m sorry if it’s spooked you this badly. It was a tip for a story gone bad. Someone told me Derek would be there with someone else’s wife, and that wasn’t what happened. It was dumb. Just me trying to chase a story and tug on a string I once had in my life. I promise you, nothing’s going on between us. Derek doesn’t operate that way.”
“Who would tell you something like that?” I asked. “That’s terrible. Panicking me and sending you on a wild goose chase. Derek’s a good man. Why would they do that to him?”
“Honestly? I don’t know. It was an email that came through to my office sent from someone in his company. That’s why I figured it was legit,” she said.
“Someone in his company? That’s ...”
I turned on the waterworks again and it kicked up Gretchen’s mouth.
“No, no. Please don’t cry. Look, I had my tech guy verify the email came from there, but it was a bogus tip. It was nothing. I promise you. I even went to his company and tried to double-check the email through their systems. They didn’t have a log of that email in their system, so I figured it wouldn’t hurt to go to Vegas to check for myself. By the time I got to you guys, I was chasing no more than a protective hunch.”
“Protective?” I asked with a sniffle.
“Look, you seem like a wonderful girl, and it’s obvious Derek cares for you. I mean, the chemistry between the two of you in that hotel room was apparent, even if you were standing there with a gun.”
I rolled my eyes as I faked another sniffle.
“There’s nothing going on. I have no interest in dating Derek. He’s a good man, but he lives in a world I have no interest being in. It’s what did us in when we first dated. I was the one who left him, not the other way around. But the email I got? Fraudulent. Probably someone in his company trying to be an asshole or cash in on a quick money opportunity.”
“The email didn’t belong to anyone?” I asked.
“Nope. My tech guy said it came from their servers, but the security guards at the desk told me they didn’t have that email in their system linked to any personnel.”
“Does Derek know this? Is this something he should be worried about?” I asked.
“I figured it was some sort of corporate prank. He and Jacob are always going back and forth with crap like that. They’re linked at the hip when they aren’t being professional. Should I send this to him?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know how he would even feel about me calling,” I said.
“How did you get my num—? You know what? Never mind. I’ve been there. Women who believe they’re being scorned are better at sifting for information than the FBI.”
I put on my best girlfriend giggle as I drew in one last choppy breath.
“Are you gonna be okay?” Gretchen asked.