Chapter 2

Rachel walks to the window.

For a moment, she just stares.

"That car?"

Nobody answers.

She turns back.

"That's a new Porsche."

"Yes," I say.

Her eyes narrow.

"He told me he couldn't afford the house we wanted."

I almost laugh.

The house.

How many promises has he made with money that isn't his?

Rachel faces the employees.

"Who owns it?"

The man who called me a new hire looks at the floor.

"You knew," she says. "All of you knew."

Paige comes around the desk.

"Rachel, let's take a breath."

"Don't tell me to take a breath."

"I'm trying to help."

"Then help."

Rachel points at the people gathered near the elevators.

"Whoever's covering for her can explain it to Evan. I'll make sure he hears every name."

That gets a reaction.

The woman in the gray cardigan looks at Paige.

Paige gives her a quick glance.

Then she lifts her own handbag.

"There's an easy way to settle this."

She empties it onto the counter.

Wallet. Lipstick. A packet of tissues. An ordinary key ring.

"Whoever drives it has the key."

Rachel looks around.

"Well?"

One employee opens his bag.

Another reluctantly unzips hers.

"This is ridiculous," I say.

Rachel turns on me.

"Then you won't mind."

"I mind you searching people's belongings."

"Of course you do."

Paige gathers her things.

No one else produces a car key.

Rachel looks at my bag.

"Your turn."

"My driver dropped me off."

"Then open it."

"No."

She grabs the strap.

I catch it, but she pulls hard enough to drag the bag off my shoulder.

"Give it back."

Rachel tips it upside down.

My wallet hits the floor.

So does my appointment folder.

Pens roll across the tile.

Paige drops to her knees beside the bag.

"I'll check."

"Get away from my things."

I step forward.

Rachel shoves me back with her palm against my shoulder.

"What are you hiding?"

I knock her hand away.

"You don't get to put your hands on me."

"Then stop acting guilty."

Around us, phones stay raised.

Nobody picks up my wallet.

Nobody tells her to stop.

Paige reaches into the bag.

Then her hand comes out.

A key fob.

Pink leather case.

She holds it up.

"Oh."

I stare at it.

"That isn't mine."

Paige stands.

"Really?"

She points it through the glass and presses a button.

Outside, the Porsche's lights flash.

Rachel turns toward the car.

Then back to me.

The silence lasts just long enough for Paige to say, "You could have saved us all the trouble."

"That wasn't in my bag."

"Of course it wasn't," Rachel says.

The man beside the elevators steps forward.

"I saw her get out of it this morning."

I turn.

"No, you didn't."

He looks away.

"Check the entrance cameras," I say. "My driver dropped me at the curb."

Paige lowers the key.

"We don't need to waste security's time."

"You have a camera directly above this desk."

Rachel steps between us.

"Still trying to talk your way out of it?"

"Move."

Her palm hits my face.

The sound cracks through the lobby.

"You spend ten days in a honeymoon suite with my husband, then come here and lie to my face?"

I touch my cheek.

Ten days.

Christmas through New Year's.

Evan's messages come back one by one.

Long day.

Client dinner.

Can't talk.

I'll make it up to you.

"What honeymoon suite?"

Rachel pulls out her phone.

"I found the reservation. Ten nights. Two guests."

She pushes the screen toward me.

An oceanfront resort.

One room.

Not the hotel Evan sent me.

"He told me it was business," I say.

Rachel gives a bitter laugh.

"I'm sure he did."

I look at Paige.

She's holding the pink key fob so tightly that her fingertips have gone pale.

When she sees me looking, she slips it onto the counter.

"You heard her," Paige tells Rachel. "She admits she knew about the trip."

"That is not what I said."

"Then what are you saying?" Rachel demands.

"That your husband and my husband appear to have a third woman neither of us knew about."

Her mouth twists.

"You really think I'm that stupid?"

I look at the key.

At Paige.

At the employees who suddenly have nothing to say.

"I'm beginning to understand how this works."

Rachel reaches for me again.

I step back and raise my phone.

While she turns to tell the crowd what she's found, I send three messages.

To my executive assistant.

Come to the lobby now. Bring the group team and security.

To the group's counsel.

I need you here. Evan has been presenting another woman as his wife.

And to our operations director.

Preserve all lobby and entrance footage from this morning. Do not let anyone delete it.

A reply appears.

On our way.

My assistant, Claire, calls a moment later. Building security has been told to stay out of a "family disagreement."

She's bringing the group's security team herself.

I bend to pick up my wallet.

Paige moves as if to help.

"Don't touch anything else."

She straightens.

Then a familiar voice comes from the entrance.

"Rachel? What's going on?"

My mother-in-law walks into the lobby.

Rachel goes straight to her.

"Diane. Thank God."

Diane takes both her hands.

"Tell me."

"I found her. The woman Evan spent Christmas with."

Diane pats her arm.

"Don't worry. Whatever he's doing, you're the only daughter-in-law I recognize."

Then she turns.

And sees me.