Chapter 6 - Six Hours to Tell the TruthAfter takeoff, Adam pressed the call button repeatedly.
Dakota ignored the first two requests because she was completing the safety service.
On the third, Melissa answered.
“My wife and I need privacy,” Adam said.
Melissa looked at Trinity.
“Which wife?”
The passenger across the aisle coughed to hide a laugh.
Adam’s jaw tightened.
“I need to speak with Dakota.”
“She is working.”
“This is an emergency.”
Melissa glanced toward his untouched champagne.
“You appear stable, sir.”
When Dakota finally returned, Adam reached for her wrist.
She stepped out of range before he touched her.
“Do not interfere with the crew,” she said quietly.
“Stop acting like this is funny.”
“I’m not laughing.”
Trinity had moved as far from Adam as the seat allowed.
Tears glistened in her eyes.
“Is she really your wife?”
Adam looked around the cabin.
“Can we discuss this somewhere private?”
Dakota folded her hands.
“There is no private conference room on this aircraft.”
“Dakota, please.”
“You have spent months discussing our marriage with Trinity. I think she deserves to hear your answer.”
Trinity turned toward him.
“You said the divorce was finalized.”
“It was complicated.”
“You showed me papers.”
“Drafts.”
“You said she had moved to Miami.”
Adam lowered his voice.
“I was trying to protect you from unnecessary stress.”
Trinity stared at him.
“I’m pregnant, Adam. You don’t protect me by inventing an entire life.”
Dakota felt sympathy for her, but she remained guarded.
Trinity had accepted expensive gifts, a boutique, and a future with a married man. Even if Adam had lied, there had been signs she had chosen not to examine.
Adam looked at Dakota.
“We can fix this.”
“No.”
“It was a mistake.”
“A mistake is forgetting an anniversary. You created fake business trips, forged my name, borrowed against our house, and tried to blame an innocent employee for your fraud.”
Trinity’s face lost its color.
“Forged your name?”
Adam leaned toward Dakota.
“Keep your voice down.”
“You should have thought about privacy before billing your affair to your employer.”
Trinity pulled the champagne glass away from him.
“The boutique money came from her house?”
“It came from an investment account.”
“Whose investment account?”
Adam said nothing.
Trinity covered her mouth.
Dakota placed an unopened bottle of water on Trinity’s tray.
“You should drink this instead.”
“Did you know about the baby?” Trinity asked.
“I learned recently.”
“I swear he told me you were separated.”
Dakota met her eyes.
“Did you ever speak to me?”
“No.”
“Did you ever see divorce records?”
“He showed me documents.”
“Did they have my signature?”
Trinity looked at Adam.
He stared at the floor.
Dakota understood the answer.
“I’m sorry,” Trinity whispered.
Dakota’s chest tightened, but she did not allow herself to comfort the woman who had been planning to move into her home.
“You should save your apology until you decide what you’re going to do with the truth.”
Adam reached for Dakota again.
“Please sit down. We’ll talk.”
“I’m on duty.”
“I’m your husband.”
“Only until the court processes the documents in my bag.”
He stared at her.
“You filed?”
“The papers were delivered to your attorney this morning.”
Adam’s phone vibrated again.
Another message from Hawthorne appeared.
His company credit cards had been canceled.
His email access had been revoked.
A formal fraud investigation had begun.
Trinity looked over his shoulder and read the notification.
“Fraud investigation?”
Adam locked the screen.
“It’s a misunderstanding.”
Dakota pushed the cart toward the next row.
“You have six hours before we land.”
May you like
She looked at Adam one final time.
“Use them to practice telling the truth.”
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