Chapter 1 - The Uninvited Guest
Richard could not let it stand. The sheer audacity of it—his wife, the woman who was supposed to be at home arranging the nursery, sitting in his territory, commanding the attention of a titan like Dominic Thorne.
"Excuse me for a moment," Richard told Tiffany, his voice tight, stripping away the easy charm he had been projecting all evening.
He didn't wait for her response. He crossed the dining room of Ethelgard, his tailored suit feeling suddenly restrictive. He intended to play the concerned, dominant husband. He would smoothly interrupt, place a proprietary hand on Catherine's shoulder, and remind both of them who held the power in this city.
He reached the alcove just as the sommelier poured a glass of sparkling water for Catherine and a vintage Barolo for Dominic.
"Catherine," Richard said, injecting his voice with a perfectly measured dose of sharp surprise. "I didn't realize you had plans tonight. You told me you were resting."
Dominic Thorne did not stand. He didn't even look up immediately. He took a slow sip of his wine, savoring it, before fixing Richard with a gaze that could freeze the Hudson.
May you like
Catherine, however, turned to look at her husband. There was no panic. No guilt.
"Richard," she said, her voice a smooth, cool ribbon of sound. "What a surprise. I would introduce you to Dominic, but I believe you’ve been trying to secure a meeting with his acquisitions team for six months without success."
