Dolores answered with a deep, cheerful laugh. You better believe it! The competition s organizing team reached out to me this morning. They even sent a ticket for the live event, so I get to see you on stage with my own eyes!

For a moment, Linsey couldn t even process what she had just heard. The news seemed too incredible to be real.

Barely able to find her voice, she whispered, You mean I actually get to compete in the International Designer Competition? This isn t a dream, right?

The sound of Linsey s disbelief brought tears to Dolores eyes. She could hardly speak, overcome with emotion. Linsey, nobody deserves this more than you. You ve put in years of hard work, and now it s finally paying off. I am so proud of you! Honestly, you ve done wonders for my company, too. I m so grateful. I m so happy, I can t even think straight.

Quiet sobs floated through the phone, and Linsey s heart swelled with emotion. This was the moment she had imagined for so long, and it had finally arrived. Wiping away her tears, Linsey tried to steady herself. Alright, I get it. This is truly incredible news.

She sniffled, collecting herself, then said, What about the bad news? Don t tell me the email was just someone s idea of a joke?

Dolores was quick to put her at ease. No way! There s nothing fake about this.

A heavy pause filled the line before she finally let out a sigh. Honestly, I don t even know if you d call this bad news. But it s all because of something Dustin pulled!

Confusion flickered in Linsey s eyes. What did he do? Did you two get into an argument?

All the excitement from earlier faded from Dolores voice, and disappointment crept in. Joanne slipped away.

Those words made Linsey s heart skip a beat. Wait Joanne got away? She was only there one night. How did she manage that?

Frustration grew as Dolores explained, You can blame Dustin for this mess. He locked Joanne up at one of his hotels last night, put guards outside her door

Dolores thought everything was handled. But when they went to bring Joanne breakfast this morning, all they found was an open window. She d tied sheets and blankets together, made a rope, and vanished right out the window.

The details hit Linsey hard, and she blurted out, What floor was she on?

There was a short silence before Dolores answered, Third floor.

Linsey s patience nearly snapped, and she clenched her jaw. If I were Joanne, I d have jumped too! That s barely a climb. Was Dustin actually trying to help, or was he giving her an easy escape?

An exasperated sigh escaped Dolores. I demanded answers from him. He insisted that he had no idea Joanne would have the guts to crawl out a window.

She let out a tired breath. He s out there now, searching for her with a whole team.

Linsey pressed her fingertips to her forehead, her headache growing. Each time something good happened, something even messier seemed to follow.

She remembered how stubborn Joanne had been last night, and still, Dustin had underestimated her. Regret lingered as Linsey realized she should have just let Collin take charge last night. At least Collin would have put Joanne somewhere safe, not in a third-floor hotel room.

Dolores heart tightened with guilt as Linsey remained silent far longer than she had expected. Linsey, she said, her voice low and remorseful, I m really sorry. I should ve warned Dustin Now that Joanne s vanished, there s no telling what kind of chaos she might unleash next.

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