Chapter 1 - ELEVEN MONTHS
Claire Hale Cole grabbed Ethan by both sides of his navy suit.
“TELL ME THE TRUTH! ARE YOU SLEEPING WITH HER?!”
The ballroom went quiet around them.
White flowers.
Crystal glasses.
Chandeliers.
Hundreds of faces suddenly pretending not to stare.
Ethan did not answer.
That hurt first.
Then Vanessa Grant stepped beside him.
Silver satin dress.
Perfect makeup.
A smile Claire would remember for years.
Vanessa hooked one arm around Ethan’s.
“YOUR HUSBAND’S BEEN WITH ME FOR ELEVEN MONTHS.”
Claire’s hands loosened.
Eleven months.
Not one mistake.
Not one night.
A relationship.
Vanessa leaned closer.
“AND YOU WERE TOO STUPID TO NOTICE.”
Claire looked at Ethan.
She waited for him to say Vanessa was lying.
He looked away.
Claire’s hand moved instinctively toward her stomach.
Six weeks pregnant.
Ethan did not know.
She had planned to tell him after the gala.
Then the ballroom doors opened.
Mason Hale entered first.
Ryan beside him.
Luke behind them.
Claire’s brothers.
All three saw her crying.
Saw Vanessa against Ethan.
Mason’s expression changed.
He crossed the room fast.
One hard kick drove Ethan backward into a chair.
Guests gasped.
Vanessa screamed.
Ryan and Luke moved beside Claire.
Mason stood over Ethan.
“WHO THE HELL DARES TOUCH A WOMAN FROM THE HALE FAMILY?!”
Silence.
Vanessa’s face went pale.
“Hale?”
Claire closed her eyes.
She hated that this was how the name came out.
The ballroom manager rushed forward.
“Mason?”
Vanessa stared at him.
Then at the ballroom.
Then at Claire.
Mason Hale was not merely Claire’s protective brother.
He was managing partner of Hale Hospitality Properties.
The company that owned the hotel.
And Ethan’s employer had spent years trying to expand its contracts across Hale properties.
Ethan slowly stood.
“Mason, don’t.”
Mason turned.
“Don’t what?”
Then Ryan looked toward the executive table.
He recognized a document beside Ethan’s plate.
A vendor award packet.
He picked it up.
The winning vendor:
GRANT EVENT STRATEGIES.
Vanessa’s company.
Ryan looked at Ethan.
May you like
Then Claire.
“The mistress is also getting paid?”
