The first thing Ethan did when he saw the security officers approach the patio was look at me.
Not at Brooke.
Not at Daniel, who stood beside the table with his wedding ring lying in front of him.
At me.
“Lauren,” he said, his voice suddenly gentle.
“We need to talk privately.””
I almost laughed.
Twenty minutes earlier, he had been standing in my swimming pool with another man’s wife, asking me not to make a scene. Now that the consequences had arrived, he wanted privacy.
“About what?”” I asked.
“Your affair? Your business records? Or the message someone sent me about March 14?””
His expression changed so quickly that I knew I had touched something important.
“What message?””
“The one telling me to check the garage camera.””
Margaret Hayes, Ethan’s business partner, went completely still.
Daniel noticed.
“So you know something about March 14, too?”” he asked her.
Margaret glanced at the security officers, then at the neighbors gathered along the fence.
“Not here,” she said.
I shook my head.
“I’m finished hearing that. Everybody keeps telling me we need to talk somewhere private, somewhere convenient, somewhere nobody can hear the truth. I’m done protecting everyone’s comfort.””
Ethan stepped toward me.
“Lauren, you’re upset. You’re not thinking clearly.””
“I’m thinking more clearly than I have in eleven years.””
The words seemed to strike him harder than a scream would have.
For eleven years, I had been the woman who smoothed things over. I remembered birthdays, sent thank-you notes, planned dinners, and defended Ethan when his colleagues complained about his temper. I had learned to recognize the particular silence that meant he was angry and the particular smile that meant he was lying.
I had spent so long making our marriage look peaceful that I had mistaken the absence of arguments for the presence of love.
Not anymore.
One of the security officers approached me.
“Ma’am, we’ve received an alarm from your property. Is everyone safe?””
“Yes,” I answered.
“But I’d like you to document the incident and confirm that the footage has been preserved.””
“Of course.””
Ethan interrupted.
“This is ridiculous. There’s no criminal incident here.””
The officer looked at him.
“I didn’t say there was, sir.””
“Then why are you treating me like a criminal?””
“I’m responding to an alarm.””
For once, Ethan had no clever answer.
I gave the officer permission to access the relevant recordings through the security company’s system. I also asked him to document the damage to the patio furniture and the condition of the property, although I wasn’t entirely sure why I needed to say it aloud.
Perhaps because documenting everything was the only way I could keep myself from falling apart.
Margaret approached while the officer checked his tablet.
“Lauren, I need to tell you something before Ethan gets the chance to explain it away.””
Ethan immediately stepped between us.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.””
Margaret’s expression hardened.
“I know exactly what I’m talking about.””
“Margaret, stop.””
“No. I’ve spent six months listening to you tell me everything was under control. I’ve watched you use the company credit card for expenses you couldn’t explain. I’ve answered questions from our accountant that should have been directed to you.””
My stomach tightened.
“What expenses?””
Margaret looked at me.
“Payments to a consulting company that doesn’t appear to have any employees, offices, or legitimate business activity. Several transfers were approved using Ethan’s credentials.””
Ethan shook his head.
“That is an internal accounting issue.””
“Then explain why the company accountant couldn’t verify the vendor.””
“I was going to.””
“When?””
He didn’t answer.
Margaret turned back to me.
“I don’t know whether this has anything to do with Brooke. I won’t pretend I do. But when I discovered the irregularities, Ethan asked me to delay the review until after tomorrow’s board meeting.””
“And you refused,” I said.
“Yes.””
Ethan gave a bitter smile.
“Because you want my position.””
Margaret looked genuinely astonished.
“Your position? Ethan, I helped build this company. I don’t need to steal your job.””
“Then why are you here?””
“Because you stopped answering your phone, and the accountant found another transfer this afternoon.””
She pulled a folded document from her bag.
“The transfer was scheduled for tonight.””
Ethan’s face lost its color.
I looked at the paper, but Margaret held it close to her chest.
“I’m not going to expose confidential company information to an audience,” she said.
“But I can tell you that the amount is substantial.””
“How substantial?”” I asked.
“Enough that the board will demand an explanation.””
Ethan laughed nervously.
“She’s exaggerating. It’s a temporary transaction.””
“Then you can explain it tomorrow.””
Margaret turned away from him.
“I’ve already arranged for an independent review.””
For the first time, I understood why Ethan looked frightened whenever she spoke.
