Chapter 5 - THE MISTRESS WASN'T HIS PARTNER
That revelation was almost elegant.
Sophia had not simply seduced Lucas.
She had recruited him.
At least according to Reece.
I didn’t trust him.
But I listened.
“She’s one of my development executives,” he said.
“Your employee is sleeping with my husband.”
“That part was not authorized.”
“Comforting.”
“She was assigned to evaluate Lumina as an acquisition target.”
“And somehow ended up in his apartment?”
“Yes.”
“You expect me to believe Calder Group had no idea?”
“I expect you to believe companies can employ unethical people too.”
Fair.
Then he said something that changed the entire structure.
“Sophia told us Lucas had legitimate authority to negotiate.”
“He doesn’t.”
“I understand that now.”
“What did she give you?”
“Internal materials.”
“Stolen materials.”
“Yes.”
That one word mattered.
Reece was protecting himself.
Which meant he was afraid.
Good.
Elena took over the conversation.
Within an hour, Calder’s lawyers requested a formal meeting.
I refused.
“Why?” Elena asked.
“Because they already know what they have.”
“You want leverage.”
“I want preservation.”
We sent legal notices demanding that Calder preserve every email, text, document, recording, and file involving Lucas, Sophia, Lumina Coastal, or my restaurant.
Then I called Sophia.
She answered instantly.
“Hello?”
“This is Camilla.”
Silence.
Then:
“Oh.”
I almost admired the simplicity.
“You’re sleeping with my husband.”
Another pause.
“Yes.”
No denial.
“You’re also helping build a restaurant using my money.”
“That isn’t how I would describe it.”
“How would you?”
“Lucas told me you intended to sell Lumina and retire.”
I looked at Gavin.
He rolled his eyes.
“Did he also tell you I gave him permission to take $186,000?”
“He said it was his money.”
“Did he tell you the company belonged to him?”
“Yes.”
There it was.
Every person had been handed a customized lie.
Beatrice heard family business.
Nathan heard tax strategy.
Sophia heard marital ownership.
Calder heard authorization.
Lucas built his scheme on the hope nobody compared stories.
That was over.
“When did you learn the truth?” I asked.
Sophia hesitated.
“About what?”
“That Lumina belongs to me.”
Long silence.
“Two months ago.”
My grip tightened.
Yet she kept helping.
“Why?”
“Because I was already in too deep.”
“No.”
I corrected her.
“You chose to go deeper.”
She breathed out.
“Yes.”
Better.
Truth mattered.
“Did you ever love him?”
Another pause.
“At first, I liked him.”
“And later?”
“I realized he lied too easily.”
Almost funny.
“And that didn’t stop you?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because Reece offered me a promotion if the acquisition closed.”
There it was.
Not romance.
Career.
Money.
Opportunity.
Lucas had destroyed his marriage for a woman who was monetizing him too.
I felt no satisfaction.
Only exhaustion.
“Are you pregnant?”
She laughed in surprise.
“What?”
“Beatrice mentioned a young woman.”
“No. God, no.”
Different story from the previous one; good.
Then Sophia said something I did not expect.
“Camilla, if you’re going after Lucas, check the catering division.”
“What catering division?”
Silence.
“Exactly.”
I looked at Gavin.
He frowned.
Sophia continued.
“Lucas set up a second revenue stream using Lumina’s kitchen after hours.”
My skin prickled.
“What kind?”
“Private events. Cash mostly.”
“How much?”
“I don’t know.”
“Who runs it?”
“Your pastry chef, Elise.”
I almost dropped the phone.
Elise had been with me since opening year.
One of the first people I hired.
I trusted her with keys.
Supplier codes.
The alarm system.
Sophia’s voice softened.
“I’m sorry.”
I didn’t answer.
I walked directly toward the kitchen.
Elise saw my face and stopped piping chocolate onto a tart.
“Camilla?”
I closed the kitchen door behind me.
May you like
“Tell me about the catering company.”
Her pastry bag fell from her hand.
