Chapter 6 - The Business Trip That Never Happened.
The ballroom changed after Daniel's father said the word Chicago.
Until then, the scandal belonged to the family.
Now several coworkers near the back of the room exchanged uneasy looks.
Daniel noticed.
"This has nothing to do with the company," he said.
His father picked up the timeline.
"Then why did you expense Chicago?"
Daniel's eyes flickered.
Jennifer had wondered when they would reach that question.
Chloe's screenshots had shown hotel rooms, restaurant reservations, and travel dates.
Jennifer's own records showed Daniel claiming many of those same dates as work travel.
She had not accessed confidential company systems.
She did not need to.
Daniel had forwarded reimbursement notices to their shared home email for tax records.
He had simply assumed she would never read them closely.
"I reimbursed some personal expenses later," Daniel said.
His father did not blink.
"Show me."
Daniel's mouth tightened.
"Not here."
"You keep saying that."
The older man placed the timeline back on the table.
"I'm beginning to think 'not here' means 'nowhere I can verify it.'"
Jennifer turned away for a second.
She had never seen Daniel's father speak to him like that.
Daniel had always been the family success story.
He was polished, strategic, and excellent at making every conversation feel settled before anyone realized they had agreed with him.
That talent had carried him through school, business, and marriage.
Tonight, facts kept interrupting him.
Daniel reached for Jennifer's arm.
His hand stopped before touching her because his father stepped closer.
"Don't."
Daniel's face burned with humiliation.
"Dad, seriously?"
"Seriously."
Jennifer quietly moved a few inches away.
Then her phone vibrated inside her clutch.
She looked at the screen.
A new message had arrived from Chloe.
"I'm outside."
Jennifer's heart kicked once against her ribs.
They had not agreed that Chloe would come.
In fact, Jennifer had specifically told her not to.
The baptism was already volatile enough.
Jennifer typed quickly beneath the table.
"Please wait."
Three dots appeared almost immediately.
Then Chloe replied.
"I can't. Daniel just texted me."
Jennifer looked at Daniel.
His phone was in his hand.
He had been typing while everyone argued about Chicago.
Jennifer's voice was calm.
"Who did you just message?"
Daniel locked the screen.
"My attorney."
Jennifer's phone vibrated again.
Chloe had sent a screenshot of the message she received.
Daniel's name appeared at the top.
"Leave now. Don't talk to anyone. I'll fix this."
Jennifer felt every remaining doubt disappear.
She turned her phone toward Daniel's father.
He read the message.
Then he looked at his son.
"Your attorney's name is Chloe now?"
Daniel froze.
Before he could answer, the ballroom doors opened behind the guests.
A woman in a simple navy dress stood in the doorway holding a pale blue envelope.
She looked terrified.
Jennifer recognized her immediately.
May you like
So did Daniel.
Chloe Hart had arrived.
