Chapter 7 - Rosalie Realized the Affair Was Part of a Larger PlanAdrian recovered.
He always did.
"Aster Ridge is legitimate."
Rosalie watched his face.
"What does it do?"
"Consulting."
"Three million dollars of consulting?"
"Over several years."
"Eighteen months."
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"Daniel gave you confidential information."
"No. Public filings did."
He looked irritated.
Good.
Let him wonder what she knew.
"Who owns it?"
"A group of investors."
"Which investors?"
"I can't disclose that."
Rosalie almost smiled.
"To your wife?"
"To a shareholder without proper confidentiality procedures."
There it was.
He'd switched from husband to executive.
Rosalie recognized the strategy.
If he could turn the discussion into governance, he could avoid adultery.
"No problem."
She stepped back.
"My attorney will request it."
Adrian's expression hardened.
"Don't do this."
"Do what?"
"Attack the company because you're angry at me."
Rosalie stared.
"Is that what you think this is?"
"I think you're hurt."
"Correct."
"And Daniel is exploiting that."
"Did he make you sleep with Sienna?"
Adrian looked away.
"Did he make you pay millions to a company she helps run?"
His eyes returned.
"You're making connections you don't understand."
"Then explain them."
"I can't."
"Won't."
"Same difference right now."
Rosalie shook her head.
"No. It really isn't."
Lily appeared behind her.
"Dad?"
Adrian changed instantly.
His entire face softened.
Rosalie hated how convincing it was.
Maybe because that part was real.
He loved Lily.
People could be terrible spouses and loving parents.
Reality rarely provided villains simple enough to hate cleanly.
Adrian crouched.
"Hey, peanut."
Lily ran to him.
Rosalie turned away.
Adrian hugged their daughter.
"Why didn't you come to the sleepover?"
"I had work."
Lily looked at him.
"With Miss Sienna?"
Silence.
Adrian's body stiffened.
Lily continued innocently:
"She was in Mommy's closet."
Rosalie saw shame cross Adrian's face.
Not because of her.
Because his daughter had said it aloud.
He kissed Lily's head.
"Adults made a mistake."
"What mistake?"
"We'll talk about it later."
Lily frowned.
"Was she stealing Mommy's necklace?"
Adrian looked at Rosalie.
Rosalie didn't help him.
"No."
"Then why was she wearing it?"
Adrian inhaled.
"Go get your shoes. Daddy's going to take you for pancakes."
Rosalie stepped forward.
"No."
His expression changed.
"I haven't seen her since yesterday."
"It's eight-thirty in the morning."
"Exactly."
"Lily isn't going anywhere until we agree on what we're telling her."
"We're her parents."
"Yes."
"And you're currently describing adultery as a mistake involving jewelry."
Maren quietly led Lily toward the kitchen.
Adrian waited until she disappeared.
Then whispered:
"Do not use Lily against me."
Rosalie felt anger finally arrive.
Real anger.
"Do not ever say that to me again."
"You're keeping her here."
"For one night."
"Without discussing it."
"Because I walked into our bedroom and found your mistress hiding in my closet."
"Lower your voice."
Rosalie laughed.
That was Adrian.
Always protecting appearances.
"You should leave."
"Rosalie."
"Now."
He stared.
Then something shifted.
"If you push this into court, everything becomes public."
She held his gaze.
"Is that a threat?"
"No."
"It sounded like one."
"I'm telling you there will be consequences."
"For whom?"
"For all of us."
Rosalie thought of Aster Ridge.
"Especially you?"
Adrian's face tightened.
Then he turned and left.
Maren came back.
"That went well."
Rosalie sat.
Her hands were shaking now.
Maren noticed.
"Hey."
"He isn't scared of losing me."
"Rosie."
"No."
She looked toward the driveway as Adrian's car disappeared.
"He is scared of what I'll find."
Her phone vibrated.
Daniel.
I found something else. Do not confront Adrian about it yet.
Rosalie called.
"What?"
Daniel sounded nervous.
"I pulled an old backup from my personal files."
"Of what?"
"The shareholder restructuring Adrian proposed last year."
Rosalie stood.
"Okay."
"Your twenty-two percent interest was going to be diluted."
"To what?"
"Nine."
Her stomach dropped.
"Could he do that?"
"Not without approvals."
"Did I approve it?"
"No."
Daniel hesitated.
"Someone submitted a signed consent in your name."
Rosalie stopped breathing.
"I never signed anything."
"I know."
"How?"
"Because I was in the room when Adrian told Sienna to scan your signature from another document."
Rosalie closed her eyes.
Daniel continued:
"I resigned three weeks later."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because Adrian threatened to sue me into bankruptcy for taking company information."
Rosalie's voice became quiet.
"Do you have proof?"
"I have an email."
"Send it."
Thirty seconds later, Rosalie opened the attachment.
From Adrian Mercer.
To Sienna Blake.
Subject:
R.M. CONSENT
One sentence.
Use the existing signature page. She does not need to be pulled into this.
Rosalie stared at the initials.
R.M.
Rosalie Mercer.
The affair had broken her marriage.
May you like
But this—
this could be fraud.
Related Stories
