Chapter 3

Diane's hand falls from Rachel's arm.

Her mouth opens.

Nothing comes out.

I lower my hand from my cheek.

"Go on."

She looks at the redness spreading across my face.

Then at the phones.

"Natalie."

Rachel turns toward her.

"You know her?"

I take a step forward.

"Tell her how you know me."

Diane moves back.

Rachel catches her elbow.

"Don't let her scare you. She's been threatening everyone."

I keep my eyes on Diane.

Six years.

Six years of birthdays, dinners, appointments.

I paid for the kitchen she shows off to her friends. I drove her to physical therapy when Evan said he was too busy. I listened while she complained that keeping my surname made our marriage look temporary.

At our anniversary dinner last year, she raised a glass and called me family.

Now she won't look at me.

"Tell her," I say again.

Diane straightens.

"You need to leave."

Rachel's grip loosens.

Her face brightens.

"You heard her."

I barely hear Rachel.

"Diane."

"This isn't the place."

"You just said she was your daughter-in-law."

"And you're causing a scene."

"I was standing here when she came in."

Diane looks at my phone.

"Put that away."

"Why?"

"Because this is embarrassing."

"For whom?"

Rachel steps between us.

"She doesn't owe you an explanation."

I look around the lobby.

No one seems troubled by the fact that Diane knows my name.

They've already chosen the version they like.

The newcomer is a mistress.

The familiar woman is the wife.

Everything else can be made to fit.

Paige speaks from behind the counter.

"Mrs. Cole, should I call security?"

"Yes," I say.

She looks at me.

"Please do."

Diane's eyes widen.

"No. We can handle this."

Rachel shakes her head.

"We're past that."

She picks up my wallet from the counter, where someone has placed it.

"Maybe we should send her picture to the other offices, too."

I take it out of her hand.

"You've already been told not to touch my things."

Rachel looks at Diane.

"See how she talks to me?"

Diane folds her arms.

"Natalie, apologize and go."

I stare at her.

For a moment, I remember sitting beside her after her surgery.

She was frightened of the pain medication. I stayed awake to make sure she didn't miss a dose.

Evan called once.

She told everyone he took such good care of her.

I should have understood then.

"You know exactly who I am."

Diane's jaw tightens.

Rachel points at me.

"She thinks because Evan bought her a car, she gets to run the place."

"I didn't drive that car."

"The key was in your bag."

"Ask Paige how it got there."

Paige gives a shocked little laugh.

"Are you accusing me?"

"Yes."

A murmur passes through the employees.

Rachel steps closer.

"Don't try to drag someone else into this."

"She searched my bag."

"Because you refused."

Diane reaches for my arm.

I move away.

"Don't."

Her face hardens.

"You always have to make everything difficult."

There it is.

The tone she uses when Evan doesn't get what he wants.

When I refuse to pay for something.

When I say I have work.

When I remind her how much my family has already done for him.

Rachel holds out her hand to Paige.

"Give me the key."

Paige hesitates, then hands it over.

Rachel presses it into Diane's palm.

"Look what he bought her."

Diane stares at it.

"This company isn't yours to interfere with," she tells me.

I go still.

"Whose is it?"

"Evan's."

The word lands harder than the slap.

"Did he tell you that?"

"He built it. He runs it. You don't get to come in here and humiliate him because you're jealous."

I look toward the elevators.

The company's logo is mounted above them.

A company my father's group acquired years before Evan started working here.

A company I helped review during its last expansion.

I've spent the past month preparing to take it over.

And my husband has been telling people he owns it.

Rachel smiles.

"You heard his mother."

"Yes," I say. "I did."

She lifts her phone.

"Maybe you need to explain yourself on camera."

"Put it down."

"Tell everyone you'll leave my husband alone."

"No."

She reaches for the lapel of my coat.

I catch her hand and push it away.

"Enough."

My voice carries across the lobby.

A few people lower their phones.

"My name is Natalie Bennett. I'm the incoming CEO. My appointment takes effect today."

For the first time, nobody speaks.

Then someone says, "CEO?"

Paige looks at Diane.

Diane shakes her head.

"No."

I face her.

"No?"

"Evan would have told me."

"Evan didn't appoint me."

Rachel laughs.

It's too loud.

"Oh, that's good."

She looks around, inviting the others to join in.

"First she's his wife. Now she's the CEO."

The man who lied about seeing me drive the car shifts closer to the reception desk.

"We didn't get an announcement."

"The group team is on its way."

Diane steps forward.

"You need to stop this right now."

"You don't work here."

Her face turns red.

Rachel points at me.

"Even if Evan gave you a title, it doesn't make you his wife."

I look at her.

She hasn't doubted him for a second.

Not even now.

"He didn't give me anything."

Paige suddenly bends toward the papers on the floor.

A white sheet has slipped halfway out of my folder.

She picks it up.

Her eyes move down the page.

Then stop.

"Rachel."

"What?"

Paige looks at me.

Then back at the letter.

"It says Chief Executive Officer."