Page 186 of Say My Name

“You didn’t.”

“No.”

“So that’s two.”

“There was another message.”

“Which you also deleted?”

“Yes.”

Olivia exhales. “Okay. What else happened?”

I rub my thumb along the edge of the table, the grain a rough distraction. There’s no easy way to say the rest of it. “Daniel is back.”

“What do you mean, back?”

“Rowe Holdings has been evaluating an acquisition through a confidential intermediary. The target’s identity was restricted until Thursday’s call.”

“And the target belongs to Daniel.”

“Weller Strategic Holdings.”

“Jesus, Elena.”

“I didn’t know. I’d already completed most of the financial analysis by the time the intermediary released the company name.”

“Did Daniel know you were involved?”

“I don’t know. He recognized me when the call started.”

“What did he say?”

“He called me Ms. Vale and told me it had been a long time.”

“And you?”

“I told him to focus on the financial projections.”

A short, disbelieving sound comes through the phone. I flinch. “Of course you did.”

“What was I supposed to do? Walk out in the middle of a restricted diligence call?”

“I don’t know. Maybe. You’re allowed to have a reaction, Elena. The man who threatened your career just showed up on your screen.”

“I disclosed the conflict to legal immediately afterward. They removed me from the acquisition.”

“Does Dominic know why?”

“Legal has the disclosure, but the details are privileged. He might not know it’s Daniel until the package reaches him Monday.”

“You didn’t tell him.”

“No.”

“You had three chances to tell him you’re pregnant, at least two chances to tell him Daniel had reappeared, and then you booked a cabin.”

The neat, damning summary of my week sends a tight knot through my stomach. “I needed time.”