Chapter 4 - THE WIFE NOBODY KNEW ABOUT
The news spread through the ballroom within minutes.
Mallory Keene.
The woman Derek had mocked.
The woman Kendra had called embarrassing.
The woman who had arrived without an entourage.
Was married to Dominic Rourke.
The man controlling Black Harbor Consortium.
Guests began approaching.
Shipping executives.
Attorneys.
Investors.
People who had ignored me an hour earlier.
Now they wanted introductions.
Dominic noticed.
He leaned toward me.
“Want to leave?”
I looked around.
Then smiled.
“Not yet.”
His eyes warmed.
“Good.”
I turned toward a maritime attorney I'd worked with years earlier.
“Mr. Halpern.”
He looked startled.
“Mallory.”
“Do you remember the Northstar Belle investigation?”
His expression changed.
“Of course.”
I nodded toward Derek's portfolio.
“That registration number has appeared again.”
Halpern's face hardened.
“Where?”
“In the supporting documents for Black Harbor's proposed agreement.”
Dominic watched quietly.
He didn't interrupt.
Didn't take over.
Didn't introduce me as his wife to make my words matter.
He let me speak.
May you like
Because he knew my expertise was the reason everyone should listen.
And that was one of the reasons I loved him.
