Chapter 7 - ELEVEN DAYS AGO

Marcus entered the room expecting anger.

What he saw was worse.

Khloe was calm.

The photograph lay on the table between them.

“Sit.”

He obeyed.

She pushed the photograph toward him.

He looked down.

His shoulders dropped.

“Where did you get this?”

“Wrong question.”

“Khloe.”

“Eleven days ago.”

“I can explain.”

“There it is again.”

He looked at the timestamp.

“That dinner wasn’t what you think.”

“You were having dinner with the woman you claimed you stopped seeing five months ago.”

“Yes.”

“Secretly.”

“Yes.”

“At a restaurant owned by one of your companies.”

“Yes.”

“Did you sleep with her?”

“No.”

Khloe watched him.

Marcus did not look away.

“Not that night.”

She almost laughed.

“What an incredible distinction.”

“I met her because she threatened you.”

Khloe’s expression changed.

“What?”

Marcus leaned forward.

“She contacted me six weeks ago.”

“She said she had copies of the trust authorization.”

“She threatened to send them to you.”

“Why would that threaten me?”

“Because she knew the signatures could destroy the company.”

Khloe stared at him.

“So you met her.”

“Yes.”

“Instead of telling me.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I thought I could fix it.”

“That seems to be your favorite excuse.”

Marcus gripped his knees.

“She wanted money.”

“How much?”

“Twenty million.”

Khloe went still.

“You paid her?”

“No.”

“What did she want at that dinner?”

“More.”

“More what?”

Marcus hesitated.

Khloe’s stare hardened.

“Say it.”

“She wanted me to leave you publicly.”

The words settled between them.

“And?”

“I refused.”

“Did you tell her you loved her?”

“No.”

“Did you touch her?”

“No.”

“Did you kiss her?”

“No.”

“Did you tell her the affair was over?”

“Yes.”

“When?”

“That night.”

Khloe looked at the photograph again.

“Who took this?”

“I don’t know.”

That answer bothered her.

If Isabella had sent it, why send it anonymously?

Why now, while she was under arrest?

Unless she had planned the entire sequence.

Or someone else had.

Khloe turned the photograph over.

HE NEVER ENDED IT.

“Someone wants me to believe you are still sleeping with her.”

Marcus swallowed.

“You shouldn’t believe anything Isabella sends you.”

“I don’t believe Isabella.”

“I don’t believe you either.”

That landed.

Marcus nodded slowly.

“You shouldn’t.”

Khloe had not expected that.

He continued.

“I lied too many times.”

“You have no reason to trust me.”

“But I am telling the truth about that dinner.”

Khloe looked at him for a long moment.

“Then prove it.”

“How?”

“Give my attorney access to your phone.”

Marcus went still.

“Your private email.”

“Your financial accounts.”

“Every message with Isabella.”

“Every hotel record.”

“Everything.”

He stared at her.

Khloe waited.

“If you hesitate, we’re done talking.”

Marcus slowly pulled his phone from his pocket.

He placed it on the table.

“Take it.”

Khloe’s face did not change.

“Password?”

Marcus gave it to her.

Then he stood.

“I’ll authorize the rest.”

He started toward the door.

“Marcus.”

He stopped.

Khloe held up the photograph.

“If you’re telling the truth about this, somebody else is trying to destroy us.”

Marcus turned.

“I know.”

She shook her head.

“No.”

“Not us.”

“You and me are already destroyed.”

“I mean somebody is trying to make sure I never discover what happened to my shares.”

Marcus stared at her.

And suddenly the affair stopped looking like the center of the conspiracy.

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It looked like camouflage.

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