Deception (Infidelity #3)

I walked to the highboy in our suite, my high heels sinking into the plush carpet and reached for the already-poured glass of cabernet. Swirling the dark red liquid, I tried to think of the right way to say what I was thinking, a way to question this plan without setting my husband off again. “Will you explain that?”

He huffed as he settled into a plush high-back leather chair and lifted his shoes to the ottoman. “Laide, for Christ’s sake, use your head. You just said it yourself. Think like the little slut. She found herself rooming with Alexandria Montague. She saw the potential. When Bryce went to California to visit Alexandria, Chelsea ran interference, telling Bryce that Alexandria didn’t want to see him and telling Alexandria to stay away from Bryce. She was in the perfect position to cause dissension.”

I sipped the thick wine that my husband had poured for me. There was something off about its flavor. I looked at the bottle. It was from our private collection. Maybe it was the year. Maybe it was that I’d been avoiding the cabernets, merlots, and other reds and drinking more whites lately, even more water.

Ever since learning about the codicil, I’d avoided the heavier alcohol, striving to keep sharp. Not only didn’t I want to accidentally let on what I knew, I was listening and taking in everything that was said and done around me.

For years—too many—I’d let the world rotate around me, content to stay blissfully dissociated and unaware, but no longer. Time was of the essence and by Alton’s reaction to Bryce’s plan, there was more happening than I knew. It was time to do as Jane did.

I didn’t mean manual labor. Heaven forbid. I meant listen. Jane said that was what she did, how she knew about the codicil. My guess was that she knew a lot more than she let on. I was following her lead.

I nodded in acknowledgment of Alton’s explanation.

He went on telling me exactly why I should accept Bryce and Chelsea’s cover story, while at the same time analyze her. He wanted to be sure she was believable before they went out into public together, before the vultures began to circle and questions were asked.

I listened as recent events infiltrated my thoughts. During one of Alton’s latest trips, I’d met again with Stephen, the young intern. Together, we’d looked closer at the ledger of views for all of my father’s documents. It appeared that when Charles was alive, it wasn’t uncommon for my father to meet with Ralph Porter and go over issues and legal papers. It wasn’t until weeks before my father’s death that Charles had met with both Ralph and Alton.

All that Stephen and I could decipher was that they were looking at the structure of Montague Corporation.

Even after digging, we weren’t able to pinpoint any specific modifications that were made as a result of the meeting. Most of the documents pertaining to Montague Corporation were held by the board of trustees. Legally, I was a member—the member with the most stock—yet I couldn’t exercise my rights, not without alerting my husband. Alton had been named my proxy in all matters Montague. Stephen explained that by legal recourse, I could get my rights back.

The only other time that Alton and Father had visited the firm together was prior to Alton’s and my wedding and I’d been with them. It was when we signed the necessary paperwork for the agreement to our marriage. Some may consider it a prenuptial agreement, but in reality it was the fulfillment of Article XII of my father’s last will and testament.

I liked Stephen. I was most certain that Ralph had sent him my way in hopes of derailing whatever it was he thought I would find. Perhaps Ralph believed that together Stephen and I would be the blind leading the blind. However, I knew more about the Montague family than I’d ever been allowed to previously voice, and Stephen was extremely well versed in legalese—not only because he was a second-year law student at Savannah Law and an intern in an esteemed law practice, but also because of his undergraduate work where he’d majored in philosophy. Stephen had an uncanny ability to decipher the written word.

“Are you listening?”

I lifted my gaze to my husband’s. His gray eyes darkened as he awaited my response.

“I am. I’m concerned that I won’t be able to hide my distaste for this entire situation. How can I possibly not let on that I know she’s a prostitute?”

“Come now, Adelaide, you’re an expert at this.”

I stopped my hand with the wine goblet poised at my lips, uncertain if I’d actually received a compliment. “What do you mean?”

“I mean that you can grin and bear it with the best of them.”

It wasn’t a compliment. “Perhaps you’d like to enlighten me with specific examples.”

“No, I’d like you to do as I said and welcome this girl into our home as you would Alexandria’s suitor, that Demetri young man.”

I took a deep breath. “I haven’t met him. But the glaring difference is that Alexandria hasn’t paid for his companionship.” I emphasized the word Bryce had used.

“Not to our knowledge.”

I narrowed my gaze. “Alexandria has no access to any of her money. And from what I understand, that Demetri young man isn’t in need of financial support.”

Alton took a step closer. “Really, Adelaide, I thought we were done discussing the attributes of the Demetris. Unless you’d like to reopen old wounds.”

I pressed my lips together. If only he knew the extent to which I’d explored Oren Demetri’s attributes. In my husband’s mind, he was talking about one encounter. Little did he know that it lasted for years. “I believe that you made your opinion of Lennox’s father very clear.”

Removing the glass from my hand, Alton stared down into my eyes. The intensity was both frightening and exhilarating. I’d trained myself too well to look away, a lesser woman would. But I’d danced this tango too many times. In these situations, my survival mechanism was to become a voyeur. No longer present as a participant, I watched from outside, fascinated by the carnage from the imminent wreck.

With each passing second, my husband’s expression hardened. Before I knew what he’d done, his hand was around my throat, causing me to stumble backward until my shoulders collided with the wall. He applied just enough pressure to my neck that I needed to raise my chin to breathe. “This isn’t a wise choice of conversation.”

“I don’t believe it was I who brought it up.”

The pressure increased but only marginally. “We will have a united front when we dine. Is that clear?”

The telltale taste of copper seeped onto my tongue as I pierced my lip, biting back the response I wanted to say. “Yes, you’re very clear.”

“For the record, that young man comes from a lineage of criminals, in all meanings of the word. Underhanded business as well as underworld dealings. He will never step foot in my home.”

It wasn’t a question. I was most certain Alexandria would agree with Alton, though not for the same reasons. “I have not met him,” I emphasized what I’d said before.

“But his father…”

My gaze stayed fixed though the pressure on my neck increased. I knew better than to change my expression. Any alteration could be misconstrued.

“You know, Adelaide, not all whores are purchased through a company.”

No, some secure their place in your life with their bastard son. I didn’t say that.

When I didn’t respond, he released me.

I inhaled, allowing my lungs to fully expand. “What about Alexandria?” I asked, rubbing my fingers over my neck and reaching for my glass. The wine felt good as it coated my throat.

“What about her?”

“Her reaction to all of this. I don’t know how you think this will get her and Bryce back together.”

“Have you told her?”

“No. I haven’t spoken to her. She still isn’t answering my calls since you used my phone.”

Alton shook his head. “That girl needs to be taught manners.”