Chapter 2 - The Family Dinner
The following Sunday, the elder Bennetts’ estate in Cherry Hills Village looked like something out of a home design magazine. Manicured lawns, stone pillars, and a floor-to-ceiling glass dining room overlooking a heated swimming pool.
Diane Bennett sat at the head of the table, cutting into her prime rib with pristine silver.
"I still say you two look pale," Diane announced, setting her knife down with a soft click. "Evan, you look exhausted. And Lauren... darling, you're barely touching your wine."
Lauren held her crystal glass by the stem, letting the dark red Pinot Noir swirl against the glass without letting a single drop touch her lips.
"Just driving carefully tonight, Diane," Lauren said pleasantly. "The roads were slick."
"Nonsense," Richard Bennett grunted from the other end of the table. "You two should stay over. We have six guest rooms. Besides, Evan, we need to discuss the quarterly shareholder meeting coming up on the twenty-first."
Evan wiped his mouth with his linen napkin. "Everything's on track for the twenty-first, Dad. The prospectus is solid. Institutional investors are falling over themselves to buy into the new expansion fund."
"Good," Richard said, taking a heavy gulp of his scotch. "Because that expansion fund is fifty percent backed by the Vance Group out of Arizona. Old man Vance is putting up fifteen million, provided his daughter’s media firm finishes the brand audit."
Lauren’s fingers tightened imperceptibly around her napkin under the table.
Chloe Vance.
She wasn't just a mistress. She was the daughter of Arthur Vance, the primary institutional investor Evan had been chasing for two years to save Bennett Financial from a quiet liquidity crisis.
Evan was sleeping with the investor’s daughter to seal a deal—or perhaps Chloe Vance was using Evan to secure her own corporate foothold in Colorado.
"Chloe is very efficient," Evan said, his tone entirely professional, though his pulse ticked slightly in his jaw. "She’s personally overseeing the final compliance reports."
"She’s a lovely girl," Diane added, smiling warmly. "Evan introduced me to her at the charity gala last month. So stylish. So bright. Not like those aggressive corporate women you see everywhere now. Lauren, you really ought to come to the country club luncheon next Tuesday. Chloe is giving a talk on digital branding."
Lauren felt a cold, sharp spark ignite in the center of her chest.
Diane knew her. Diane had met the mistress. Whether Diane realized the true nature of Evan’s relationship with Chloe didn't matter—the sheer casualness with which her mother-in-law praised the woman who was dismantling her marriage was almost poetic.
"I'd love to meet her, Diane," Lauren said, her voice dropping into a tone of sweetest velvet. "In fact, I've been thinking about getting more involved in Bennett Financial again. My editing firm is running smoothly, and I have plenty of free time."
Evan stopped chewing. He stared at Lauren across the candlelit table, a sudden flicker of unease flashing across his eyes.
"Babe," Evan said quickly, a nervous laugh escaping his lips. "You don't need to stress yourself with corporate stuff. You know how demanding financial auditing can be. I thought we agreed you were going to focus on your health this winter."
"Oh, my health is wonderful, Evan," Lauren said, meeting his gaze with a look of terrifyingly serene clarity. "In fact, I’ve never felt clearer in my life."
Richard chuckled, raising his glass toward Lauren. "Good for you, Lauren! A fresh set of eyes on the books is always welcome. God knows Evan needs the help."
Evan tried to smile, but his knuckles were white as he gripped his wine glass.
May you like
He knew Lauren’s background. He knew that before they married, Lauren had been a senior auditor for the SEC before transitioning into legal manuscript editing. He had spent six years making sure she stayed comfortably away from his firm’s books under the guise of "protecting her from stress."
And now, the door he had spent six years keeping locked was swinging open from the inside.
