“It’s okay, I’m checking out today anyway,” Keira replied, as she mulled over Heather’s words about the budget being tight.

Keira ended the call, satisfied that the ever efficient Heather would sort everything out. Then she lay back in bed, trying to coax herself back to sleep. But thanks to her jet lag there was no way her body was going to be convinced that it was still nighttime and she should be sleeping. Instead, she scrolled idly through her phone, looking at all the pictures of Shelby and David’s engagement party on Instagram, feeling more than a little jealous of their happiness, and also sad to have missed out on the celebrations.

As she was looking through her phone, it lit up with an incoming call. To her surprise, it was Elliot’s name flashing at her. She answered the call, confused as to why Elliot would personally be getting involved over the tour guide issue.

“What’s this I’m hearing about the tour company?” he asked. From his tone of voice, Keira thought he seemed very stressed.

“Nothing,” Keira told him. “The guide is sick so Heather is arranging another one. That’s all.”

“But she just asked me for the go-ahead to use another company. A more expensive one. What was wrong with the one I picked?”

Keira’s frown deepened. This wasn’t like Elliot, barking down the phone at her. This attitude was far more reminiscent of Joshua! She prayed this was not the beginning of something unwanted.

“Well, I didn’t feel that the one we had was providing a good service,” Keira explained calmly. “He was quite rude and impatient, and he took me to an Internet cafe to do my interviews, insisting that all the romance I’d need could be found there. I don’t want you wasting your money on them if they’re not going to provide us with what we need.”

There was a long pause. Then finally, Elliot spoke.

“You’re absolutely right,” he said with an air of resignation. “I was trying to cut corners. But your point is valid. We’re not in a position to be throwing money at things that won’t be giving us good results.”

Keira frowned, wondering what Elliot meant by the statement. She coupled it together in her mind with the comments Nina had made in the coffee shop about Elliot being bought out by another company. Was that why he was getting involved in something that was clearly within Heather’s jurisdiction to resolve, when it was evening in New York City and he should be enjoying some downtime? Was there something going on at Viatorum?

“Is everything okay?” Keira asked.

Ever since Ireland, she and Elliot had had a cordial relationship, but it wasn’t like they were friends in any way, or the type of acquaintances who got involved in each other’s personal affairs.

“Of course. This is just a very important assignment and you’re a valued member of the team. I don’t want anything going wrong.”

Keira felt like she’d been suddenly thrust into the position of needing to reassure Elliot. But in reality, she was the one in need of reassurance. Her day yesterday had been a disaster. This one hadn’t started off any better. Was it a bad omen? And if the fate of Viatorum was resting on this article, what was fate trying to tell her? That the trip was cursed? The magazine doomed?