Chapter 4 - The Office Rachel Wouldn’t Let Him Enter
Daniel did not let Rachel take the documents.
He scanned every page.
Then he handed the originals to Robert.
Rachel followed him into the kitchen.
“You’re choosing them over your wife.”
Daniel stopped.
“That isn’t what’s happening.”
“It’s exactly what’s happening.”
“My father’s signature is on a loan he says he never signed.”
“He helped me.”
“With fifty thousand dollars.”
“He knew I needed more.”
“That isn’t permission.”
Rachel lowered her voice.
“You don’t understand business.”
Daniel almost answered angrily.
Instead, he looked at her.
For years that sentence had ended financial conversations.
You don’t understand design.
You don’t understand high-end clients.
You don’t understand business.
Daniel worked as a project manager for an industrial engineering company. He managed multimillion-dollar contracts for a living.
Somehow Rachel had convinced him that asking about their own household finances was unsophisticated.
“I’m going to your office tomorrow.”
Rachel’s face tightened.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s my workplace.”
“I’ve been there before.”
“Not during business hours.”
“Why does that matter?”
She looked away.
That was enough.
The following morning Daniel took a personal day.
Rachel left the house before seven.
At nine, he drove to Ellison House Interiors.
The office occupied a narrow storefront in an upscale shopping district.
The lights were off.
A notice had been taped inside the glass.
TEMPORARILY CLOSED.
Daniel tried the door.
Locked.
The neighboring coffee-shop owner recognized him from a company holiday party.
“You’re Rachel’s husband, right?”
Daniel nodded.
“Do you know when she’ll reopen?”
The woman hesitated.
“I thought she closed permanently.”
Daniel felt his stomach drop.
“When?”
“Maybe two months ago?”
Rachel had left home every weekday morning for those two months.
Sometimes in heels.
Sometimes carrying sample books.
Always saying she was going to work.
Daniel walked back to his car.
Before he reached it, his phone rang.
Rachel.
“You went to my office.”
Not a question.
Daniel stopped beside the curb.
“How did you know?”
May you like
She didn’t answer.
And that was the moment Daniel realized Rachel had been expecting him to discover something there.
