Chapter 3
Marcus’s face drained of color.
I heard Diane inhale.
I didn’t move.
“What file?” Marcus asked too quickly.
Priscilla turned toward him.
The look she gave him was completely different from the one she had brought through the door.
“What did you tell me her last name was?”
Marcus stared.
“What?”
“Your wife.”
“You knew her name.”
“You told me Caroline Hartwell.”
My voice was calm.
“I never changed my legal surname.”
Priscilla looked at me again.
That answer seemed to confirm something.
Diane stepped closer.
“I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
Priscilla did not look at her.
“What is this?” Marcus demanded.
She finally faced him.
“Caroline Voss is named in a legal review involving Hartwell Development.”
The silence that followed was different.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Marcus glanced at me.
For the first time that night, I saw fear.
Real fear.
I folded my hands in front of me.
Diane laughed weakly.
“There must be some mistake.”
Priscilla shook her head.
“No.”
“How would you even know about that?” Marcus asked.
Priscilla’s expression hardened.
“My family’s investment firm was approached regarding one of your financing arrangements.”
Marcus stopped moving.
That told me he understood immediately.
I didn’t.
Not completely.
But Rebecca had warned me not to volunteer information.
So I stayed silent.
Priscilla continued.
“There were documents undergoing review because an ownership authorization was questioned.”
Diane looked at Marcus.
“What authorization?”
Marcus snapped, “This is business. It has nothing to do with dinner.”
Priscilla stared at him.
“It has everything to do with dinner if the woman standing in front of me is the Caroline Voss named in those documents.”
Marcus looked at me.
“What have you done?”
There it was.
Not what happened.
Not what documents.
What have you done?
I almost laughed.
“I hired an attorney.”
Diane’s hand went to her chest.
“You hired a lawyer?”
“Yes.”
Marcus stepped closer.
“Without telling me?”
I looked at him.
“You introduced your girlfriend to your mother without telling me.”
His jaw tightened.
“That’s different.”
“No,” Priscilla said suddenly.
Marcus turned toward her.
She looked disgusted.
“No, Marcus. It really isn’t.”
He stared at her.
“Can we talk privately?”
“About which part?”
“Priscilla.”
“About the marriage you said was already legally finished?”
The room went absolutely still.
I looked at Marcus.
He had told her we were divorced.
Of course he had.
Priscilla’s voice sharpened.
“You said your divorce was complete.”
Marcus lowered his voice.
“It practically is.”
I laughed.
I couldn’t help it.
Four people turned toward me.
“Practically?” I asked.
Marcus looked furious.
“You know what I mean.”
“I’m interested to hear this definition.”
Diane stepped between us.
“Everyone needs to calm down.”
I looked at her.
“Why?”
She blinked.
“For once, Diane, why should everyone calm down?”
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Priscilla turned back to Marcus.
“You told me Caroline had moved out.”
“I said we were separated.”
“No. You said she moved to Tucson.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“Tucson?”
Marcus closed his eyes for half a second.
That tiny reaction told me everything.
Priscilla looked at me.
“You didn’t move?”
“No.”
“Are you still living together?”
“Yes.”
Priscilla’s face hardened further.
“Same house?”
“Yes.”
Marcus interrupted.
“We’ve been emotionally separated for months.”
I looked at him.
“You slept in our bed Tuesday.”
Diane’s mouth dropped open.
Marcus went red.
Priscilla stepped backward.
“You told me you were sleeping in the guest room.”
“He does,” I said. “When he comes home late and thinks I’m asleep.”
“Caroline,” Marcus warned.
“What?”
“You don’t need to humiliate me.”
I stared at him.
It was almost impressive.
He had brought another woman to dinner with his wife and still believed humiliation belonged to him.
Priscilla grabbed the strap of her handbag.
“I’m leaving.”
Marcus immediately reached for her.
“Wait.”
She pulled away.
“Don’t touch me.”
Diane panicked.
“Priscilla, please. This is obviously a misunderstanding.”
Priscilla turned on her.
“You invited his wife here.”
Diane’s face tightened.
“Well, technically—”
“Technically?”
“I thought everyone understood the situation.”
“No,” Priscilla said. “You thought Caroline would sit here quietly while you legitimized an affair.”
That surprised me.
Diane looked offended.
“Marcus loves you.”
Priscilla stared at her.
“That is not the defense you think it is.”
Marcus ran one hand through his hair.
“This is getting ridiculous.”
I heard myself laugh again.
This time Priscilla almost did too.
Marcus pointed toward me.
“This is exactly what she wanted.”
I tilted my head.
“I cooked a casserole.”
“You know what I mean.”
“No. Explain.”
“You wanted this to happen.”
“I didn’t invite your girlfriend.”
Diane whispered, “Caroline, enough.”
I turned to her.
“No.”
That single word changed something in the room.
Diane had spent eleven years assuming I would eventually obey whatever tone she used.
Not tonight.
“No,” I repeated. “You invited a woman my husband has been sleeping with into your home while I am still married to him. Then you asked me not to embarrass your family. You no longer get to decide when enough is enough.”
Diane’s face went rigid.
Marcus looked at me with open anger.
Priscilla looked thoughtful.
Then she asked the question that took the evening in an entirely different direction.
“Caroline, did you authorize a transfer of marital equity into Hartwell Strategic Holdings?”
Marcus spun toward her.
“Priscilla.”
She ignored him.
I answered carefully.
“No.”
Marcus swore under his breath.
Diane looked confused.
“What does that mean?”
Priscilla’s eyes remained on me.
“There was a document with Caroline’s signature.”
“I know,” I said.
Priscilla went pale again.
“You disputed it?”
“Yes.”
May you like
Marcus stepped forward.
“You need to stop talking.”
