His 181St Second (Laverne and Marina) novel Chapter 48

**Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale**
**Chapter 48**

Marina took a deep breath, her voice steady yet tinged with tension as she replied, “Not yet. I’ve only managed to raise half of it so far.”

The weight of the situation pressed down on her like a heavy fog.

She eased her grip on the steering wheel just a fraction, her thoughts a whirlwind of strategies, desperately searching for a way to navigate the storm that lay ahead.

To her surprise, instead of the furious tirade she had braced herself for, the caller fell silent momentarily. When he spoke again, his tone dripped with mockery, a sneer evident even through the phone.

“Ms. Finley, you’ve had all day, and you still haven’t managed to gather one million dollars? Guess you’re not as capable as everyone claims.”

Marina felt her heart race, a mix of anger and frustration bubbling beneath the surface. She pressed her lips together tightly, the words forming a barrier against her rising emotions. “You know I haven’t been with the company for even half a year. Lavern hasn’t given me any dividends lately, so I simply don’t have that much cash on hand.”

The caller scoffed, his derision palpable.

Marina fell silent, the tension in the air thickening.

After a few agonizing seconds, the caller’s voice lowered, taking on a chilling edge that sent shivers down her spine.

“You have one hour. Don’t forget what I said. You come to Maple Retreat alone; if anyone else finds out about this, I’ll make sure the whole world knows by tomorrow.”

Panic surged within her, and she quickly interjected, trying to soothe him, “Relax, I haven’t told a soul. It’s just… You barely gave me any time, so I couldn’t pull together one million dollars…”

The caller snorted derisively, throwing in another barb for good measure.

“Wow, so that’s all you’ve got? Just bring your 500 thousand dollars and come over.”

With that dismissive remark, he hung up, leaving Marina staring at the lifeless screen, her heart pounding in her chest.

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she retrieved Lavern’s number and dialed, her fingers trembling slightly.

Tomorrow was supposed to be their wedding day, a day filled with joy and promises. Yet, for the past few days, Lavern had been almost glued to her side, desperately trying to win her forgiveness. But today, all he had sent was a brief message in the afternoon, and since then, he had vanished into silence.

The quiet was unsettling.

She refused to believe that he would actually heed her request to stay away.

Marina tried calling Lavern twice, but when he didn’t pick up, frustration gnawed at her, and she switched gears, dialing Robert instead.

Robert answered immediately, his voice cutting through the noise on his end.

“Ms. Finley,” he acknowledged.

Marina wasted no time. “Where’s Lavern? Don’t give me some vague answer. Are you covering for him?”

There was a pause, a silence that felt heavy with unspoken truths. Finally, Robert spoke in a hushed tone. “Mr. Hess and the others are throwing Mr. Ross a bachelor party at the club. He’s drinking, surrounded by plenty of pretty girls. Do you want me to get him on the phone for you?”

Robert, knowing he was on his way out, decided to lay it all out there without any filters.

Marina’s gaze turned distant, her voice dropping to a low, serious pitch. “Don’t tell him I called.”

“Got it,” Robert replied, his tone affirming.

Before hanging up, Marina added one final note, her voice firm.

“Robert, you’ve been with me for six years. You know how I operate. I’m giving you a chance to redeem yourself; don’t mess this up.”

There was no hesitation in Robert’s response.

Ever since he had ventured to the villa to retrieve Lavern’s suit, a seed of suspicion had taken root in his mind. Marina’s recent behavior only confirmed his growing concerns.

After their brief exchange, Marina ended the call, her heart racing with a mix of dread and determination.

Maple Retreat was an exclusive escape on the outskirts of town, a sanctuary reserved for the elite. If one wasn’t on the guest list, entry was impossible. Despite its low foot traffic, the establishment had somehow managed to remain operational for years.

As she parked her car in the lot, she couldn’t help but notice the sea of luxury vehicles, each one a mirror image of the other in color and style. Yet, in stark contrast, a shabby van sat awkwardly in the far corner, an eyesore amidst the high-end cars.

With a grim expression, she popped the trunk, retrieving the cash with a sense of foreboding, and stepped out of the car.

Upon entering the lobby, she was greeted by an entire wall adorned with relief sculptures that left her momentarily speechless.

The carvings were unabashedly risqué, depicting figures in various provocative poses, the dim amber lighting casting an even more suggestive glow over the display.

Marina cast a fleeting glance before quickly averting her eyes, feeling a flush of embarrassment wash over her.

Though she had never set foot in Maple Retreat before, the rumors that circulated about the place were impossible to ignore.

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