My husband.
I read it again.
Daniel’s department had uncovered an unresolved intellectual-property claim connected to Eleanor Ward while preparing Halston Meridian for a major acquisition.
Daniel knew.
Maybe not everything.
But enough.
He knew his wife’s deceased mother might have a legal claim worth an enormous amount of money.
And instead of telling me, he had recommended burying the report.
Richard’s voice hardened.
“Your husband classified the issue as an archival error.”
Suddenly, several strange conversations from the previous months made sense.
Daniel had started asking questions about my mother.
Her maiden name.
Whether she had ever owned a company.
Whether I still had any of her old paperwork.
I had actually been touched.
I thought he was finally taking an interest in my family.
He had been investigating me.
The conference-room door suddenly opened.
Daniel walked in despite security trying to stop him.
“This is insane.”
He pointed toward me.
“Claire, tell him you have no intention of going after the company.”
I slowly stood.
“You knew.”
“I knew there was some paperwork.”
“You hid me tonight because of my dress?”
Daniel hesitated.
That tiny hesitation answered everything.
Richard spoke before he could.
“He hid you because he knew I might recognize the pendant.”
Daniel snapped.
“I was protecting my career!”
