Chapter 3 - THE CEO WHO WOKE UP WITHOUT HIS WIFE
Nathaniel Cross woke at six the next morning.
Rebecca's side of the bed was empty.
Her pillow remained untouched.
For a moment, he expected to hear her downstairs.
Coffee brewing.
Music playing softly.
The familiar sound of her opening the kitchen cabinets.
Then he remembered the ring.
The restaurant.
The folder.
Langford Capital.
He sat upright.
“Rebecca?”
Silence.
He reached for his phone.
Twenty-three unanswered calls.
Seven messages.
No response.
Then he opened his email.
A notice from the board's independent committee.
His access to certain acquisition records had been temporarily restricted pending review.
Another message came from the company's outside counsel.
A preservation notice.
Another from Helen Pierce.
We need to talk immediately.
Nathaniel threw the phone onto the bed.
“Damn it!”
At eight, Sloane arrived at his office.
She wore a cream suit and carried two coffees.
“Nate.”
He looked up.
“What?”
She hesitated.
“Are you okay?”
Nathaniel laughed bitterly.
“Does it look like I'm okay?”
Sloane placed the coffee on his desk.
“I didn't know Rebecca was connected to Langford.”
“Neither did I.”
She frowned.
“How could you not know your own wife's family?”
Nathaniel stared at her.
“Don't start.”
Sloane looked away.
For months, she had told Nathaniel that Rebecca was ordinary.
A quiet wife.
A woman who attended charity events and spent her days managing a small educational foundation.
Sloane believed she understood the hierarchy.
Nathaniel was powerful.
She was ambitious.
Rebecca was irrelevant.
Now everything had changed.
Sloane sat.
“What happens to us?”
Nathaniel stared at her.
“What?”
“Our relationship.”
He looked toward the window.
“I don't know.”
Sloane's face tightened.
“You said you were leaving her.”
“I said I was considering it.”
“No. You said your marriage was over.”
Nathaniel rubbed his temples.
“Not now, Sloane.”
She stood.
“So now that Rebecca has money, you're suddenly confused?”
Nathaniel looked at her.
“Don't make this worse.”
Sloane laughed.
“Unbelievable.”
She walked out.
Nathaniel didn't stop her.
At ten, Helen Pierce entered his office.
She closed the door.
“We have a serious problem.”
Nathaniel looked up.
“Obviously.”
Helen placed a document on his desk.
“The Westbridge financing package contains a personal guarantee bearing Rebecca's signature.”
He stared.
“So?”
Helen's expression hardened.
“She says she didn't sign it.”
Nathaniel looked away.
Helen noticed.
“Nathaniel.”
He remained silent.
“Did you authorize anyone to use her signature?”
He looked at her.
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Helen studied him.
Then asked quietly, “Who prepared the documents?”
Nathaniel hesitated.
“Sloane coordinated the package.”
Helen closed her eyes.
“Oh, God.”
Nathaniel stood.
“What?”
Helen looked at him.
“We may have a fraud problem.”
He slammed his hand against the desk.
“Stop saying that!”
Helen didn't flinch.
“Then give me a better explanation.”
Nathaniel stared.
For the first time in years, he had no answer.
That afternoon, Rebecca received a formal letter from Nathaniel's attorney.
It requested a meeting.
A private reconciliation discussion.
And clarification regarding her relationship to Langford Capital.
Rebecca read it once.
Then handed it to Eleanor.
“Respond through counsel.”
Eleanor nodded.
“Anything else?”
Rebecca looked toward the window.
“Yes.”
“What?”
“Tell the board I will cooperate fully with the independent review.”
Eleanor smiled faintly.
“And Nathaniel?”
May you like
Rebecca looked at the ring mark on her finger.
“He can explain himself.”
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