Chapter 2 - THE SECOND PROMISE
I called Anne before I could talk myself out of it.
She answered on the second ring.
“Hi, Elise.”
Her voice sounded cautious.
“Anne, what exactly did Graham tell Richard I agreed to?”
A pause.
“I don’t want to create trouble between you two.”
“He already handled that part.”
She exhaled.
“Richard has been trying to expand the firm’s relationships with nonprofit foundations.”
My grip tightened.
I worked for a museum foundation.
A regional one.
With donors.
Lots of donors.
“What does that have to do with me?”
Another pause.
“Graham mentioned you might be willing to organize a small private dinner in January. Museum donors, foundation executives, maybe some business owners Richard wants to meet.”
My stomach dropped.
“No.”
“Elise?”
“I never agreed to that.”
“Oh.”
That one word told me everything.
Anne had believed him.
Why wouldn’t she?
Graham was polished, charming, and careful.
He didn’t lie in ways that sounded like lies.
He simply adjusted reality until it became useful.
“What exactly did he say?”
“He said you thought it could be mutually beneficial.”
I closed my eyes.
“Mutually beneficial to who?”
“I assumed your foundation.”
“My foundation has compliance rules. We don’t hand donor relationships to employees’ spouses.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You didn’t do anything.”
“I probably shouldn’t have mentioned it.”
“No. I’m glad you did.”
And I was.
Because Thanksgiving had just stopped being about turkey.
When I got home that evening, Graham was sitting at the kitchen table with his laptop open.
He looked tired.
“You embarrassed me today.”
I put my purse down.
“That’s an interesting opening.”
“Anne called Richard.”
“Good.”
His head snapped up.
“You told her?”
“She asked.”
“What did you say?”
“The truth.”
Graham stood.
“You had no right to drag her into our argument.”
I actually laughed.
“You dragged her into it when you used my name.”
“I was networking.”
“With my job?”
“I mentioned that you know people.”
“You told Richard I’d organize a private dinner.”
“It was an idea.”
“You told him I agreed.”
He rubbed both hands over his face.
“Fine. I got ahead of myself.”
“Again.”
“It could help both of us.”
“How?”
“Your foundation wants donors.”
“We already have donors.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
“I know exactly what you mean.”
He stepped closer.
“Richard’s firm manages money for people with serious assets. Your museum needs people with serious assets.”
“And your plan was what? You get Richard access to our donor circle, he makes you partner, and everybody wins?”
“That is a very cynical way to describe it.”
“It’s also accurate.”
His eyes hardened.
“Elise, you’re acting like I committed a crime.”
“No. I’m acting like you keep volunteering things that aren’t yours.”
He scoffed.
“Your time is mine now?”
“My time. My work contacts. My reputation.”
“I never asked for confidential information.”
“Then what names did you give him?”
He froze.
Barely.
But I saw it.
Exactly like the night before.
My pulse changed.
“Graham.”
“I didn’t give him anything.”
“You hesitated.”
“Because you’re interrogating me.”
“What names?”
He shut the laptop.
Too fast.
And that was when I knew.
“Open it.”
“Elise.”
“Open the laptop.”
“No.”
I stared at him.
Then something cold settled in my chest.
“You already made a list.”
May you like
His jaw tightened.
And he didn’t deny it.
