Chapter 6 - ADRIAN’S OTHER WOMAN WASN’T THE BIGGEST PROBLEM
Vanessa called me at 8:12 that morning.
I almost didn’t answer.
Then I did.
“What?”
She was crying.
Not pretty crying.
Not Instagram crying.
Real crying.
“I need to talk to you.”
“No.”
“Please.”
“You wore my mother’s necklace.”
“I didn’t know it was fake.”
I froze.
“What did you just say?”
Silence.
“Vanessa.”
“He told me the real one was being appraised.”
My grip tightened around the phone.
“When?”
“Three weeks ago.”
“You knew there was a real one?”
“I knew there were two.”
I closed my eyes.
“Where are you?”
She named a hotel.
Naomi came with me.
Vanessa looked terrible.
Mascara gone.
Hair tied back.
No camera-ready version of herself left.
She slid her phone across the table.
Messages from Adrian.
Photos.
Documents.
One message stopped me cold.
A: Once the Geneva transfer clears, we’re done with the old assets.
V: And Claire?
A: She signs what I put in front of her.
V: What if she doesn’t?
A: She always does eventually.
My stomach twisted.
Vanessa whispered, “I thought he was divorcing you.”
I looked at her.
“You slept with my husband.”
“I know.”
“That isn’t an explanation.”
“No.”
For once, she didn’t defend herself.
“He told me you had separate lives. That you didn’t care.”
I laughed bitterly.
“They all say that.”
“I know that now.”
Naomi leaned forward.
“Why are you here?”
Vanessa swallowed.
“Because Adrian has another partner.”
I stared at her.
“In business?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
She hesitated.
“Graham Pike.”
The name hit me.
Adrian’s CFO.
His best friend from college.
A man who had spent Christmases at our house.
Who gave speeches at our anniversary dinner.
Vanessa pulled up another message.
G: Need original certificate before Zurich meeting.
A: Claire’s mother boxed everything. I’ll find it.
G: Necklace alone isn’t enough.
A: Then we make her sign.
I stared at the screen.
“They needed my signature for what?”
Naomi read the thread.
“A sale.”
“Of the necklace?”
“No.”
She scrolled.
“Of your royalty rights.”
My mouth went dry.
Vanessa said, “There’s more.”
She opened an audio recording.
Adrian’s voice filled the room.
“If Claire becomes difficult, we move before she files.”
Graham answered:
“And if she freezes the accounts?”
“She won’t.”
“You sure?”
Adrian laughed.
“She still thinks marriage means I protect her.”
The recording ended.
I couldn’t move.
Vanessa looked down.
“I started recording him two weeks ago.”
“Why?”
“Because I caught him sleeping with somebody else.”
I stared at her.
Despite everything, a laugh escaped me.
“You’re kidding.”
She shook her head.
“His assistant.”
Of course.
Naomi pinched the bridge of her nose.
“This man apparently has time-management skills.”
Vanessa almost smiled.
Then her face collapsed again.
“There’s one more thing.”
“What?”
“He’s leaving the country tonight.”
My heart kicked.
“With the necklace?”
“I think so.”
“Where?”
She slid a screenshot toward me.
PRIVATE TERMINAL — TETERBORO.
Departure: 9:40 PM.
Destination: ZURICH.
Passenger list included Adrian Vale.
Graham Pike.
And one name I never expected to see.
May you like
Rosa Martinez.
My housekeeper.
