Chapter 5 - BEFORE THEY MET
Elaine read the document three times.
“This signature is real.”
Raina's heart pounded.
“Whose?”
“Damon's.”
“I can see that.”
“No.” Elaine looked up. “I mean the document appears legitimate. Not forged.”
Raina pulled the phone closer.
The agreement gave Damon a contingent right to receive compensation if certain intellectual property tied to Claire Mercer Designs was restored and monetized.
It had been signed eighteen months before Raina met him.
Impossible.
She remembered meeting Damon at a charity gala.
He had spilled sparkling water on her dress.
He'd been embarrassed.
Funny.
Charming.
He claimed he had no idea who she was until someone introduced them.
That had become one of their favorite stories.
The night the rich girl met the guy who didn't know she was rich.
Except maybe he did.
“Who gave him this contract?” Raina asked.
Elaine enlarged the scanned page.
A corporate signature sat at the bottom.
BRYCE HOLLAND.
Orson swore.
Raina had never heard her father swear in front of Elaine.
“Who is Bryce?”
“My former attorney.”
“Former?”
“He handled Claire's estate.”
Raina went cold.
“Where is he now?”
“Florida.”
Elaine shook her head.
“Not anymore.”
Both Raina and Orson looked at her.
Elaine checked her tablet.
“He died fourteen months ago.”
Silence.
Raina whispered, “So a dead lawyer gave Damon rights to my mother's company before Damon ever met me?”
“Possibly,” Elaine said.
“That's insane.”
“Not necessarily.”
Orson's eyes narrowed.
Elaine continued.
“If Bryce transferred rights improperly, Damon may have believed those rights would become valuable only if he gained access to the Mercer family.”
Raina felt nauseated.
“So he found me.”
Nobody answered.
That was the answer.
Raina turned her head toward the dark hospital window.
Every memory suddenly looked different.
The charity event.
The first date.
The proposal.
Damon crying when she told him she was pregnant.
Had any of it been real?
Her phone rang.
Damon.
Orson reached for it.
Raina pulled it away.
“I'll answer.”
“Raina—”
“I said I'll answer.”
She hit the button.
“Hello?”
Damon's voice came fast.
“Thank God. Are you okay?”
She almost laughed.
“Now you're worried?”
“I was angry.”
“You locked me in a kennel.”
“I know. I screwed up.”
“You think?”
“Listen to me. Your father is using this.”
Raina looked at Orson.
“What do you want?”
“To explain.”
“You have thirty seconds.”
Damon breathed heavily.
“Lacey lied to me.”
“Twenty-eight.”
“She told me you were planning to leave and take everything.”
“Twenty-five.”
“I panicked.”
“You moved her into my house.”
“I know.”
“Twenty.”
“Raina, your father has been controlling you your entire life.”
“Fifteen.”
“Ask him about Claire Mercer Designs.”
Raina's hand tightened around the phone.
Interesting.
Damon knew.
She forced her voice to stay calm.
“What about it?”
A pause.
Too long.
Damon realized his mistake.
“Nothing.”
“Damon.”
“I just mean—”
“How long have you known about my mother's company?”
Silence.
Orson watched her face.
Elaine leaned closer.
“Damon?”
His voice changed.
The softness vanished.
“I can explain that too.”
Raina closed her eyes.
“Then explain.”
“I can't over the phone.”
“Why?”
“Because your father listens to everything.”
Orson rolled his eyes.
Damon continued.
“Meet me tomorrow.”
“No.”
“Please.”
“No.”
“Raina, Lacey has copies of documents that can destroy your father.”
Raina looked at Elaine.
“What documents?”
“I don't have them.”
“Convenient.”
“Lacey does.”
“Then why are you calling me?”
“Because she disappeared.”
Raina sat upright.
“What?”
“I came back from talking to police. She's gone.”
“Maybe she finally developed common sense.”
“No.”
Damon lowered his voice.
“She took my laptop.”
Raina's skin prickled.
“And?”
“And the drive with every document I collected on your family.”
Raina glanced at Orson.
“Why were you collecting documents on my family?”
Another silence.
Then Damon whispered:
“Because I wasn't the one who chose you first.”
The call ended.
Raina stared at the screen.
Orson's face had gone pale.
“What did he mean?” she asked.
Her father didn't answer.
Elaine did.
“I think we're about to find out who introduced Damon into your life.”
Then her tablet chimed.
An email had arrived.
Anonymous sender.
One line.
CHECK THE GUEST LIST FROM THE NIGHT RAINA MET HER HUSBAND.
Attached was the gala seating chart.
Raina opened it.
Damon's name was there.
So was hers.
And seated between them—
May you like
was Lacey Vaughn.
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