Chapter 7 - The Other Woman's Secret
Marcia Bell was the senior vice president of regional integration.
She was forty-two, impeccably dressed and widely considered one of the most capable executives in Vale Horizon's Pittsburgh division.
She was also Evan's former colleague at the company where he had worked before the acquisition.
Claire had met her twice.
Both times, Marcia had smiled warmly and complimented Claire's charity work.
Now Claire wondered how many of those smiles had been rehearsed.
The next morning, Claire didn't confront Marcia.
She went to Daniel.
“I need to disclose a personal conflict.”
Daniel listened without interrupting.
When she finished, he asked, “Do you have evidence of a relationship?”
“I have a message.”
“That's not proof of an affair, but it's enough to justify preserving the relevant records.”
“There's something else. The message mentioned money and a second account.”
Daniel's expression tightened.
“I know.”
He turned his laptop toward her.
A diagram showed several companies connected through shared addresses, directors and bank accounts.
One of them had received payments from Vale Horizon's newly acquired regional supplier.
Another had previously been used in Harlow's old procurement arrangements.
Claire stared at the screen.
“It's the same network.”
“That's what we're investigating.”
“Who controls it?”
“We don't know yet.”
Claire looked closer.
One name appeared repeatedly.
Richard Voss.
But beside his name was another company director.
Marcia Bell.
Daniel leaned back.
“Marcia joined Vale Horizon six years ago. She was responsible for integrating several acquired companies.”
“Did she know about the old Harlow contract?”
“That's what we need to establish.”
Later that afternoon, Marcia approached Claire in the hallway.
“Could we talk?”
Claire looked at her.
“About what?”
“Your husband.”
“That's an unusual subject for a workplace conversation.”
Marcia smiled.
“I think you deserve to know what's happening.”
They entered an empty conference room.
Marcia closed the door.
“Evan and I worked together before the acquisition. We became close.”
“How close?”
Marcia looked down.
“I made a mistake.”
Claire felt strangely calm.
“How long?”
“About a year.”
“Were you seeing him while I was attending foundation events and organizing our children's lives?”
Marcia didn't answer.
“Were you aware that he was married?”
“Yes.”
Claire nodded slowly.
“Then it wasn't a mistake. It was a decision.”
Marcia's eyes filled.
“Evan told me your marriage was over.”
“Was it?”
“No.”
“Did he tell you that he was trying to get me removed from my position at Harlow thirteen years ago?”
Marcia looked up sharply.
“What?”
Claire watched her reaction.
“You didn't know.”
Marcia shook her head.
“Claire, I swear I didn't.”
“Then why did you send him a message about a second account?”
Marcia's expression changed.
“I didn't send that.”
“Your name was on his phone.”
She looked genuinely frightened.
“Someone is using my name.”
Claire leaned forward.
“Who?”
Marcia stood.
“I can't discuss this.”
“Why not?”
“Because you don't understand what you're dealing with.”
Claire's voice became colder.
“Then explain it.”
Marcia opened the door.
“Ask Evan what happened to the original Harlow contract. And ask him who paid for Lily's first year of college.”
Then she walked away.
Claire remained in the room.
She had expected an affair.
She had not expected her daughter's education to become part of the story.
That night, Claire opened the family financial records.
The college savings account had received several transfers from an investment company she didn't recognize.
The first payment was made thirteen years ago.
The same month she resigned.
She traced the account through the bank statements.
The money had originated from a company called Northbridge Consulting.
Its registered director was Richard Voss.
But the beneficiary account belonged to Evan.
Claire sat motionless.
The money had paid for family expenses, including the children's education.
She heard the front door open.
Evan entered carrying his briefcase.
“Where have you been?” she asked.
“Work.”
“Who paid for Lily's first year of college?”
He stopped.
“What's that supposed to mean?”
“Northbridge Consulting.”
His expression changed.
Claire placed the bank statement on the table.
“Tell me.”
Evan stared at the document.
Finally, he pulled out a chair.
“Richard offered me a consulting arrangement.”
“For what?”
“Information.”
“What information?”
“Operational information from Harlow.”
Claire's voice dropped.
“You sold company information?”
“I didn't sell anything sensitive.”
“Then why were you paid?”
“Because I helped them understand the regional market.”
“You were paid to help a company remove me from my position.”
He looked down.
“I didn't think it would happen that way.”
Claire laughed bitterly.
“You keep saying that.”
Evan covered his face.
Then he said something that made her blood run cold.
“Marcia wasn't the only person involved.”
“Who else?”
He looked toward the staircase.
“Your father.”
Claire stopped breathing.
“My father died eleven years ago.”
“I know.”
“What does he have to do with this?”
May you like
Evan swallowed.
“He knew about the payments.”
