Exhausted executive.
Overworked husband.
Nothing unusual.
“Hey, babe.”
He took a drink.
“Where were you?”
“I tried calling.”
“I was at Bellmere International Airport seeing my friend off.”
I placed my handbag on the table.
“How was your meeting?”
Adrian smiled.
“Oh, you know.”
He leaned back.
“Lawyers. Investors. Presentations.”
“The usual.”
I walked into the kitchen and poured water.
“Anything interesting?”
“Not really.”
The lie came easily.
Then he added:
“Actually, Claire…”
I turned.
“We should probably talk about the house.”
There it was.
THE PAPERS ON THE TABLE
“What about it?”
Adrian sat forward.
His voice changed.
Soft.
Patient.
Patronizing.
The tone he used whenever he wanted me to believe something was for my own good.
“With the startup expanding and the market being unpredictable, our financial advisors think the house would be safer under the company.”
I stared at him.
“How does putting my house inside your company make it safer?”
