“What?”
I looked at her.
“We need to talk after everyone leaves.”
She folded her arms.
“No.”
“Leah.”
“No. You don’t get to act mysterious and then send everyone home like I’m a child.”
Amanda whispered:
“Leah.”
She ignored her.
“What is this?”
I sighed.
The private conversation was disappearing.
Not because I chose public drama.
Because Leah refused privacy.
I walked to my office.
Opened the drawer.
Returned with the cream folder.
I placed it on the kitchen island.
Leah stared at it.
“What is that?”
“Something I planned to give you after everyone left.”
Nolan moved toward the hallway.
I looked at him.
“Stay.”
He froze.
Leah snapped:
“He doesn’t need to stay.”
I looked at her.
“Actually, one part involves him.”
Nobody spoke.
I opened the folder.
Removed the photograph.
Placed it on the island.
Leah saw it.
Her entire body went still.
Nolan closed his eyes.
That reaction told the room everything before anyone said a word.
Amanda whispered:
“Oh my God.”
Leah picked up the photograph.
Her hands began trembling.
“Where did you get this?”
“Corey.”
Her eyes snapped toward him.
Corey said nothing.
She looked back at me.
“You had someone spying on me?”
“No.”
“He was at the hotel.”
“That night.”
“What hotel?”
I stared.
“The Marlowe.”
Leah’s mouth closed.
I continued.
“You told me Barcelona.”
Nolan took one step backward.
Leah turned on him.
“Don’t.”
He stopped.
I removed the letter.
Handed it to her.
She read.
Slowly.
The party vanished around us.
No one was laughing now.
Halfway down the page, Leah looked up.
“You’re separating from me?”
“Yes.”
Her voice cracked.
“Because of tonight?”
“No.”
She held up the photo.
“Because of one kiss?”
“No.”
Nolan’s face changed.
I looked at him.
“How long?”
Leah turned sharply.
“Graham.”
“How long?”
Nolan stared at me.
Then Leah.
She shook her head.
“Do not.”
Something in Nolan broke.
Maybe guilt.
Maybe fear.
Maybe the realization that there was no version of the story left to protect.
“Since July.”
Leah whispered:
“You son of a bitch.”
Nolan stared at her.
“You told me he knew.”
The room went completely silent.
I looked at Leah.
She looked as though someone had pulled the floor away.
Nolan continued.
“You told me you two were basically separated.”
“I said we were having problems.”
“No.”
His voice rose.