Chapter 7
By the time Evan's white BMW reached the hotel entrance, the city lights were on. They entered the private dining room one after the other, he in a blue suit, she in a white shirt dress.
“Evan! And your wife, too. Come in, come in.” Their host stood to greet them.
Evan exchanged greetings with another businessman at the table. Claire sat and adjusted her hair, keeping her expression politely composed.
“Why are there two extra places?” Evan asked. “I thought it was just us.”
“A last-minute guest. A friend of mine, a very impressive professor. He brought Bayport University and the company in Riverton together.”
“The company whose profit doubled in a year?” another guest asked. “Professor Nathan Reed?”
At the company, Nathan had walked down the corridor surrounded by dark-suited staff, his face unsmiling. At this dinner table, the men spoke admiringly of his success.
“Do you know him, Evan?”
“Not really. We met once overseas. He'd had a few drinks and fell asleep beside me.” Claire's hands tightened together beneath the table. “He kept saying a woman's name. Julia, I think. An ex-girlfriend or fiancée.”
A woman in yellow lowered her head when she heard the name.
“I heard there was a wedding next month,” their host said. “Here in Bayport.”
“Here?”
“So I heard.”
The talk remained dinner gossip. Then footsteps sounded outside, and the door opened.
“Professor Reed!”
Everyone stood. Nathan entered with Vanessa on his arm, her dark blue dress leaving her shoulders bare.
Claire went still. His advice in the café returned to her: If you can't accept the betrayal, protect your own interests.
He looked at her, surprised to find her there. Evan's smile had become stiff. Vanessa's remained perfectly pleasant.
“Your places are over there,” one of the hosts said. “Everyone, sit down.”
People praised Nathan's reputation as they settled.
“Professor, meet Evan Mason, marketing director at the pharmaceutical company.”
“Good to meet you.” Evan stood to offer his hand.
Nathan noticed the ring on that hand. The woman beside him wasn't wearing hers.
“This is my wife, Claire.”
“A pleasure, Professor.”
So that was her name.
“Claire, what a coincidence,” Vanessa said. “I didn't expect to see you here.”
“Quite a coincidence.” Claire met her gaze. “Vanessa.”
“She was in a yoga class I taught for a friend,” Vanessa explained.
“She's your yoga teacher?” Evan asked. “You never mentioned that.”
“She taught two classes. Was I supposed to?”
“No.” He turned away and raised his glass toward their host. “A toast.”
“Let's all join in. Professor, ladies—what a pleasure to bring everyone together.”
Glasses rose around the table.
While the conversation continued, Vanessa and Evan exchanged messages out of sight beneath it.
So that's your sweet little wife. She's pretty.
You're the prettiest woman in the room to me, he replied.
Sweet talker. What reward do you want?
Where are we going tonight?
Where do you want to go?
My place.
No. Somewhere else.
The hotel we used last time, then.
Their hands found each other under the table. Claire peeled fruit in silence. Distracted, she knocked over her wineglass. Wine spread in front of her; she hurried to wipe it up.
Nathan offered a dark checked handkerchief.
“I'll do it,” she said, reaching for it.
He didn't release it into her hand. He laid it flat on the wet table in front of her.
“Oh. Thank you.”
“You're welcome.”
Her eyes went to his left hand. No wedding ring.
“Clare, without an i?” he asked.
“What?”
“Your name.”
“Oh. With an i. Claire.”
Evan turned toward them.
“What were you saying?”
“Nothing. I'm going to the restroom.”
“I'll come with you.”
“No need.”
She stood and left. Evan sat back awkwardly and straightened his clothes. Vanessa watched Claire go, as did Nathan.
In the corridor, Claire pressed a hand to her lower abdomen. Of all times for her period to start. She hurried over the polished floor in her heels, slipped, and pitched forward with a cry.
A hand caught her arm. Nathan held her steady until she recovered her balance.
“Thank you.” She adjusted her sleeve, unable to look at him directly.
“What brought you out?”
“I need to buy something.”
He looked at her pale face and the hand over her stomach.
“Come with me.”
“What?”
“My grandmother lives nearby. There's a little store up ahead. I'll show you.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
She walked beside him.
