Two years of resentment would stand between the truth and my sister.
“If I accuse him without proof she’ll defend him,” I said.
James nodded.
“Probably.”
“So I need proof she can see herself.”
“Yes.”
I looked at the folder.
“Will you come with me?”
James studied my face.
“To the wedding?”
“Not the wedding.
Carmen’s rehearsal dinner is tonight.”
He was silent.
“You said she needs to know before she marries him.
Help me make sure she believes it.”
James glanced at the folder, then at Sophia.
“All right.”
That evening, the Bellmont Hotel looked like another universe.
Crystal lights glowed above the ballroom entrance.
Staff carried trays of champagne past flower arrangements taller than Sophia.
I arrived wearing the only decent dress I’d packed, with a borrowed stain-removal wipe still damp on one sleeve.
James had changed into a dark suit.
If anyone wondered why the CEO of Whitmore Industries was walking beside a broke diner waitress carrying a baby, nobody asked.
Carmen saw me first.
She looked beautiful.
For one painful second, she was just my sister again.
Then her eyes moved to James.
“Rachel?”
“Hi.”
She hugged me carefully around Sophia.
“I thought Daniel’s driver was getting you.”
“Plans changed.”
Daniel appeared behind her.
His smile lasted until he saw James.
Then it vanished.
That was the first piece of proof Carmen noticed herself.
“Mr.
Whitmore,” Daniel said.
His voice was controlled, but one hand tightened around the stem of his glass.
James gave him a level look.
“Daniel.”
Carmen glanced between them.
“You know each other?”
Daniel answered too quickly.
“Professionally.
A long time ago.”
James said nothing.
Daniel’s eyes landed on me.
“Rachel, can I speak with you privately?”
“No.”
His jaw tightened.
“This is our rehearsal dinner.”
“I know.”
“Then maybe don’t arrive with my former employer like this is some kind of ambush.”
Carmen looked at him.
“Former employer? You told me you left Whitmore because you wanted to start your own consulting company.”
