Chapter 6 - THE WOMAN WHO SENT THE VIDEO
Naomi told me not to meet Eliza alone.
June came with me.
We chose a busy coffee shop near Penn Station, with windows, customers, and no private room.
Eliza was younger than I expected.
Late twenties.
Plain coat.
A small cardboard box tucked against her chair.
“I was his scheduling coordinator,” she said.
“Was?”
“I was fired this morning.”
She slid her termination letter across the table.
The reason was unauthorized recording at a private event.
“The terrace video,” I said.
She nodded.
“Why send it to me?”
Eliza looked down.
“Because I helped book your anniversary dinner.”
I swallowed.
“At the house?”
“I coordinated the chef. Then Martha told me you wanted to cook. You sounded excited.”
June set her jaw.
Eliza continued.
“At seven that evening, Adrien asked me to clear his calendar and arrange Clare’s celebration. He said you knew.”
“I didn’t.”
“I figured that out when Martha called at eleven to ask whether he was coming home.”
She pushed a folded sheet toward me.
“My attorney said I can give you messages sent directly to me about work. She kept copies.”
The email contained three lines from Adrien.
Closing must remain on schedule.
Keep Willa’s questions away from Bennett until after funding.
If she requests the full packet, send her the signature summary.
I read it twice.
June leaned forward.
“He wrote that?”
“Yes.”
My phone felt heavy in my hand.
Last Tuesday, he had kissed my forehead while I signed.
I had thanked him for taking care of the paperwork.
Eliza opened a second message.
Clare had written it.
Without Mercer, the lender can call the note. I need this completed before Friday.
“What note?” I asked.
“I don’t know the full details,” Eliza said.
“But there’s a man you should talk to.”
She gave Naomi’s number a cautious glance before writing down a name.
Graham Bennett.
Clare’s ex-husband.
“Does he know you’re contacting me?”
“I asked whether he’d speak to your attorney.”
“What did he say?”
Eliza turned her phone around.
Graham’s answer was short.
May you like
Tell her not to let them call it a misunderstanding.
I knew what they were doing six weeks ago.
