Chapter 1 - The Seat I Canceled
My husband brought his secretary to our honeymoon.
So I let them get on the plane without me.
Julian told me twenty minutes before security.
Julian stood beside me in a navy suit, one hand on our luggage.
"Clara, there's something I need to tell you."
I looked at him.
"What?"
"Sienna has to come."
For a second, I thought he was joking.
Then she appeared through the crowd.
White dress.
White coat.
White suitcase.
Too much white for a secretary joining someone else's honeymoon.
Julian touched my waist.
"Don't make this weird."
I smiled.
"Business comes first."
Relief flooded his face.
I canceled one ticket.
Mine.
Refund confirmed.
At security, I said, "I need the restroom. Go ahead."
"Meet us at the lounge."
"I will."
I watched them disappear through the checkpoint.
Then I turned around.
Walked out of the terminal.
Got into a cab.
And called my attorney.
Naomi Reed answered immediately.
"Tell me you didn't get on that plane."
"I didn't."
"Good."
"What did you find?"
Her voice changed.
"Enough to make sure you never sign anything Julian puts in front of you again."
Eleven hours later, Julian landed in Maui.
He opened the oceanfront honeymoon suite.
Empty.
No luggage.
No wife.
Then his phone buzzed.
My message.
Happy honeymoon, Julian.
I decided sharing it with your secretary wasn't part of my vows.
One small thing before you call me:
At 4:12 p.m., I revoked every power of attorney you had over Bennett Capital.
At 4:19, I froze the Hartwell refinancing.
At 4:27, outside auditors entered your company's books.
And the document you planned to have me sign in Maui?
I already know what it does.
Julian called me seventeen times.
I didn't answer.
Then Naomi sent me a photo from my Manhattan apartment.
My office door was open.
May you like
The safe was empty.
And someone had gotten there before I did.
