Chapter 2 - DENVER
I had never been to Denver with Daniel.
That fact seemed obvious.
It also mattered.
Daniel looked at Kayla as if he could erase her with eye contact.
“Go.”
She crossed her arms.
“No.”
Interesting.
I stayed quiet.
People reveal more when you stop helping them control the conversation.
Kayla looked at me.
“I thought you were separated.”
Daniel said:
“We are.”
I laughed.
Actually laughed.
He turned.
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Then what did you mean?”
Kayla’s face changed.
“You live together?”
“Yes.”
She looked at Daniel.
“You said you were sleeping in separate rooms.”
“We are not.”
He rubbed his forehead.
“Can everyone stop?”
No.
Kayla continued.
“You said she already had a lawyer.”
I answered:
“I do now.”
Daniel stared at me.
I didn’t have one yet.
But I would.
Then I asked:
“What happened in Denver?”
Kayla looked guilty.
“Conference.”
Daniel said:
“Work conference.”
She corrected:
“We stayed three extra days.”
Silence.
Daniel snapped:
“That’s enough.”
Kayla’s expression hardened.
“No, actually.”
She removed the navy jacket.
My jacket.
She held it out to him.
“I’m done being your secret.”
Then she looked at me.
“I’m sorry.”
I did not say it was okay.
It wasn’t.
But I believed she had just discovered she was not living in the story Daniel sold her.
Rachel took my hand.
“We’re leaving.”
This time Daniel didn’t stop us.
Maybe because too many people were watching.
Maybe because Kayla had finally scared him.
In Rachel’s car, I called a lawyer.
Her name was Melissa Grant.
Rachel had used her two years earlier.
By the time we reached my sister’s apartment, Melissa had given me three instructions.
Do not empty joint accounts.
Do not destroy or access Daniel’s private work systems.
Preserve anything already available to me lawfully.
Good.
I could do calm.
At midnight, Daniel sent seventeen messages.
Most apologies.
Then:
Kayla is confused.
Then:
Denver was work.
Then:
Please do not contact my employer.
I stopped.
Why would I contact his employer?
I had only mentioned the expense report.
I opened our shared email account.
Search:
Denver.
One hotel confirmation.
Four nights.
Company booking code.
Two guests.
Daniel.
Kayla Reed.
Fine.
Could still be work.
Then I opened the attached invoice.
Corporate rate for the first three nights.
Personal card for the next three.
Six nights total.
Daniel had lied to Kayla too.
Not three extra days.
Three extra nights.
Then one line caught my eye.
BALANCE ADJUSTED VIA NORTHSTAR CLIENT RELATIONS.
I had never heard of Northstar.
I searched our email.
Nothing.
Then Google? No need; within story, public corporate registry perhaps.
The next morning, Melissa called.
“I found Northstar.”
“What is it?”
“A consulting LLC.”
“Daniel’s?”
“No.”
Pause.
“Registered manager is Kayla Reed.”
I went cold.
May you like
His mistress had a company.
And Daniel’s employer had been paying it.
