When we finally walked into my apartment, Kate kicked off her shoes near the door and stretched like she was still half asleep, lazy and unconcerned. I envied her for exactly three seconds before my phone buzzed again in my hand.
Alex.
“I have to take this,” I said. “Something is obviously wrong.”
Kate turned immediately, all that soft relaxation gone. “Do you really think there’s a problem?”
“I don’t know yet, but yes. I really do think so.”
I hit call on his latest message and put it on speaker. He picked up on the first ring. “Nate. Finally. Fuck, man. Where the hell have you been?”
“On my honeymoon. For exactly one day.” I frowned. “What’s going on?”
“Are you alone?”
I glanced at Kate. She was right next to me, her arms folded loosely and her expression alert.
“No,” I replied. “Kate is here and you’re on speaker.”
“Nate, you might want to hear me out first.”
My gaze snagged on hers. “Say what you need to say, big brother. This concerns her, too, right?”
“Yes, but?—”
Something cold slid down my spine. “Just spit it out, Alex. She’s my wife now. Whatever it is, she’s going to find out eventually anyway, and besides, you just confirmed my suspicion that this is about us. Not only me or the company.”
I set the phone on the kitchen counter between us and sank onto a stool. Kate stepped closer, leaning into me. I slid my arm around her hips. My heart was already pounding, but it kicked up another notch when I heard Alex exhaling sharply.
“Fine, but don’t forget that I tried to speak to you alone,” he said. “Who the hell is Emma, Nate?”
For a second, the room went completely silent. Kate froze beside me and my stomach dropped. “What?”
“Who the fuck is she?” Alex snapped.
Kate turned toward me slowly, obviously confused and alarmed. I held her gaze even as I replied to my brother. “Why? How do you even know about her?”
Alex made a strangled sound. “Oh, that’s great. Fucking fantastic. You don’t even know what’s been going on.”
“I just turned my phone back on a few minutes ago,” I said, my tone sharper now. “What’s happening, Alex? Are you really going to make me drag it out of you?”
The faint sound of a keyboard clacking filtered through the line. Then he spoke again, but it sounded like he was reading. “‘Sources close to Westwood and Sons claim CFO Nate Westwood has maintained a long-term relationship with a woman known only asEmmathroughout his engagement and recent marriage.’”
Kate’s hand flew to her mouth. I felt like the floor had tilted underneath me, all my blood leaving my face in a rush.
“That’s not—” I started, but he kept going.
“‘The mysterious Emma is rumored to have been involved with Westwood for years, raising questions about the legitimacy of his sudden marriage to Kate Vanderhaul during the Hinds’ Global acquisition.’”
Kate made a small sound that was pure, quiet horror. My hands curled around the edge of the counter.
“This is bullshit,” I said. “All of that is private and it doesn’t have anything to do with the acquisition.”
“I know it’s bullshit,” Alex said. “That’s not the point. Here, let me read you another excerpt from today’s paper.”
He didn’t even take a breath before he was speaking again. “‘Insiders speculate the marriage may have been strategic,allowing Westwood to maintain his private relationship while securing the deal.’”
Kate turned away from the counter like she couldn’t stand there anymore, pacing toward the windows with her arms wrapped around herself.
