Somehow, and thank God for that, he found himself dialing up the restraint.
Instead, his words of warning delivered a different kind of blow: “If you ever threaten my children again, I’ll kill you.”
He couldn’t believe what had come out of his mouth, but it wasn’t the first time he and murder had shared a close connection.
He climbed off her but stayed on the bed. Her eyes were as large as two saucers. He could see her trembling beside him.
“Stay away from my family,” he warned in a low voice.
His kids.
That was the one place she couldn’t be allowed to go. He might not have been the greatest husband, but his children meant the world to him. He’d die for his kids. He’d do more than that.
Michael got up off the bed. Got dressed. Left her place.
But that wasn’t the last time he saw her.
CHAPTER 15
NATALIE
BEFORE SHE DISAPPEARED
The elevator chimed, doors opened, and moments later Natalie emerged onto the seventh floor. There was no meeting today with the finance team, so technically she had no business being up on seven. She had no business sending Audrey Adler a Facebook friend request, either (which Audrey had ignored), or five emails asking for a private meeting and about an equal number of unanswered phone calls, but she’d done all that, too.
Probably not the wisest move, but her husband was probably screwing this woman, so what the hell? They should talk.
Rows of cubicles conjoining along a vast concrete floor gave the office layout the look and feel of a maze. If Natalie hadn’t already sourced Audrey’s cube number from the corporate intranet, she might have been wandering the aisles on the hunt. Instead, she was a woman on a mission and on the move.
A palpable rage simmered inside her, something molten and dark, but Natalie knew it had to be kept in check, especially at work. Twice now she’d tried confronting Audrey in person, wanting only confirmation of what she suspected to be true. Each time, Audrey intentionally avoided Natalie’s gaze, as if doing so somehow rendered her invisible. Then, as casually as an afterthought, she changed course, slipping away before any words could be exchanged.
A three-walled cubicle would offer Audrey no easy way out this time.
Thanks to the company’s shared Outlook calendars, Natalie had picked an hour when Audrey’s schedule was clear. It wasn’t a guarantee that she’d find Audrey at her desk, but the odds were in her favor. All she wanted to do was talk—well, that and elicit a confession.
Two days ago, Natalie had tried and failed with Michael. She’d said the name, Audrey Adler, before showing him a picture sourced from LinkedIn. It was a nice headshot that called attention to the blue of her pretty eyes and her delicate red lips. She caught a look in Michael’s eyes, a flash of recognition that came and went as fast as a bolt of lightning. It was such clear and convincing evidence of his betrayal that Natalie had the urge to punch him in the face right then and there.
“I don’t know who that is,” Michael said rather flatly.
Natalie scoffed.
“Maybe that’s because she’s got her clothes on in this picture.”
Michael groaned, rolled his eyes.
“Are we back to that again? My affair? I told you, I’m not seeing anybody, but I think you should see someone—your shrink, to be precise. You’re getting paranoid now, making up stories. You need to stop with the accusations.”
“I’m not just making up accusations,” Natalie said, loud enough to be heard in the other room. “She works out at the same gym you do. She’s seeing a married man named ‘Chris’—your middle name. Chris drums his fingers, a nervous habit. Sound familiar? Brown hair. Good looking. Not to mention Audrey freaked out when I showed her your picture, so I know you’re fucking her, Michael. Just admit it.”
“Good God, Nat, keep your voice down, will you?” Michael seethed, gripping the upper part of her arm tightly in his hand. She felt the pinch on her bone as his fingers dug in, a sharp pain radiating down to her wrist.
Natalie knew the kids were within earshot, but she didn’t much care. For once she didn’t feel utterly enervated and fatigued. She had a pulse of fresh rage to fire her up.
“I saw the look in your eyes just now,” Natalie said. “It was the same as Audrey’s. You can’t hide that. And I got a note from someone at work, too, claiming to have seen you flirting with pretty girls at the gym—with one woman in particular.” Natalie held up the picture of Audrey again. “This woman.”
Natalie long suspected that Dave Edmonds, her employee who had a crush on her, had left that note, but she didn’t have corroborating evidence, or reason to doubt him given her husband’s other telling behaviors.
Michael gave the image of Audrey a second glace, but this time she saw nothing in his eyes. Natalie couldn’t help but wonder if she’d imagined his initial reaction, just as she may have imagined Audrey’s.
For this coming confrontation, Natalie vowed to be ready. She would lock in on Audrey’s face, not lose focus, not even for a second, and hopefully come away from the encounter without any lingering doubts.
Natalie found the right cube, and felt a spurt of gratitude when she spied Audrey seated inside. She had her back to the entrance, working away on a spreadsheet. Her two monitors glowed brightly, which gave Audrey’s gorgeous auburn locks a halo-like effect. Natalie cleared her throat. No headphones meant Audrey couldn’t pretend not to have heard her. Swiveling in her chair, Audrey’s affable smile faded quickly when she saw who was calling for her attention.
“We need to talk,” Natalie said.
Without reply, Audrey rose from her seat, aggravation dimming her usual radiance.
Natalie pressed her hands against the cubicle walls, forming a makeshift barrier with her arms.
“I know you’re with him,” Natalie said. “Michael is your ‘Chris.’ I saw the look on your face when I showed you his picture. Michael all but admitted it, too.”
“I’m sorry, Natalie, but I’m afraid you’re mistaken. I have a meeting. I have to go. Maybe we can talk later.”
Her voice trembled, her tension palpable as a touch.
Natalie didn’t lower her arms, but that didn’t deter Audrey, who ducked low enough to get under the barricade as though she were doing the limbo. After righting herself on springy legs, Audrey made a hasty departure for the elevators.
Natalie went to follow, but stopped when a strong tug on her arm pulled her in the opposite direction. She turned to see Tina Langley standing there. Tina kept a tight hold on Natalie’s arm. Glasses magnified brown eyes that conveyed Tina’s surprise and concern.
“What the hell are you doing, Nat?” Tina said, taking a sharp-edged tone with her friend.
“She’s sleeping with Michael,” Natalie answered back in a whisper. Evidently, she wasn’t whispering quietly enough, because from down the row a young employee did what prairie dogs do and popped up from his cube to have a look around. He caught Tina’s fiery gaze and down he went again.