Fucking Madison.
How dare she backstab me? She’s undermined all my efforts to show Grace we could have a future together. When I spoke to her about Grace’s disapproval, she immediately apologized, acting innocent and claiming miscommunication. I believed her. I thought perhaps Grace and Madison didn’t get along due to some incompatibility in their personalities. Grace is rational and gentle, with an ability to laugh no matter how absurd and difficult her circumstances are. Meanwhile, Madison is driven, somewhat impatient and loathes imperfection or delays.
But this isn’t mere miscommunication or personality conflict. The examples Grace brings up are too specific. People who lie or exaggerate opt for generalities.
Abruptly I realize it was Madison who always responded to my talk regarding Grace’s concern with sweeping statements. My stomach sinks.Shit. How could I have not noticed sooner?
“But then you know what she said?” Grace continues. “She told me you and she could be sharing the scent the same way.”
Grace’s words are like gasoline over an already-raging fire. “That bitch. Grace, I swear—”
She raises a hand to stop me. “Maybe she couldn’t stand being goaded. She also added you never wanted me and you’ll never like me. You’ll take my baby from me and leave me with nothing just because you can. ‘Nobody crosses him and gets away with it. And you entrapping him into a marriage he never wanted? You’ve crossed the Rubicon,’ is what she said. Precisely,exactlywhat she said.”
I’m going to murder her.“Grace, I would never do such a thing—”
“I wasn’t sure what to believe—”
“I told you I’ll be a good father to our baby. What kind of monster deprives it of its mother? Not even mine did that!”
Grace’s blue eyes darken with old pain and anger. “I don’t know. Maybe the kind who told me not to bother him when I texted him about the OB-GYN to hear the baby’s heartbeat because he was too busy with more important things?”
“What?” I stiffen at the unfairness of her statement. “I’ve never done that. You never texted me about an appointment. I had to hear about it from that fucking Adam!” Despite my intentions, my voice rises. Even back then when I was upset with her, I wouldn’t have been so callous about the baby. Whether it was conceived in love or not, whether it was planned or not, it deserves the best I can provide.
“I can’t believe you forgot what you said.”
“I didn’t say it. I would never say that. Grace—”
She pulls out her phone and scrolls around then gives it to me. “Read it.”
I do, and can’t believe my eyes.My phone had to have been hacked,I think, but except for the appointment response, all the other texts are ones I sent. “I don’t know what happened,” I say hoarsely. “But it wasn’t me. I promise.”
Perhaps the desperation in my plea sounds genuine to my wife. Her expression softens a bit. “You told me Madison is a good assistant and under a lot of pressure and stress. Then why is she expending so much energy on putting a wedge between us?”
All my brothers’ and cousins’ teasing that Madison has the hots for me pop into my head. As do memories of me confidently rebuffing them because I thought they were just giving me shit over nothing.
It’s true she’s been the best assistant I’ve ever had. She always knows what I want without my having to spell it out. The only real mistake she made was the paperwork snafu in London, which almost made me miss my wedding…
Or was it really a mistake?
“I didn’t get into the specifics of her argument with me at the jewelry store because I know you didn’t sleep with her, contrary to what she tried to make me believe. If you were sleeping with her, you would’ve been more careful.” Grace sighs wearily. “I’d prefer that she not work at your agency, but I also understand that you don’t want to lose a good employee who’s been with you for a long time. I can compromise and wouldn’t mind if she didn’t work so closely with you. But then you kept coming home smelling like her perfume, which started to piss me off more and more.”
Jesus.Then it hits me—why Grace asked me to shower the last several evenings. And why she asked me about what I was working on, specifically with Madison.
“I didn’t want to sound like a nagging, suspicious wife, especially when you said you’d speak to Madison about my concerns. My acting annoyingly paranoid is exactly what she would want, because that would cause cracks that might become more serious in our marriage. But I still couldn’t understand just what you were doing together during the day to comehome smelling like that.” Pain fleets through her beautiful eyes. “Whether you’re sleeping with her or not isn’t important. I shouldn’t have to tolerate it. I’m your wife, Huxley.”
She looks at me, and I feel like a knife is digging into my gut. “No, you shouldn’t.” I take her hand and rest my forehead on the back of it. Gratitude, relief and fury whirl through me, one after the other. I swallow an odd lump in my throat at her generosity and forgiveness. “I’m sorry you had to bear that, and thank you for your faith in me.”
I kiss the soft skin on the back of her hand, then each of her knuckles. Then I raise my head and reach for my phone.
–Me: I need you at the auction immediately. Come to the Presidential Suite when you arrive. The concierge should give you a key.
Then I send an instruction to the IT team at the agency and ask the concierge to let my assistant up when she arrives. “Do you need anything?” I ask Grace. “Something to drink, maybe?”
She thinks for a moment. “I’m a little hungry. I haven’t really eaten anything since lunch. Maybe some pear cider and chocolate cake?”
I frown at her choice. “Shouldn’t you get something more nutritious if you haven’t had any real food since lunch?”
“If you insist that I pair my cake with celery sticks, I’m leaving you.”
