He Asked Me to Protect His Reputation
Chapter 02 - He Asked Me to Protect His Reputation
Richard closed the office door.
That simple movement changed everything.
For twenty-six years, Allie had seen him close doors before difficult conversations with clients. It was a habit he had whenever he believed he could control what happened inside a room.
“Allie,” he said calmly, “let’s not make this bigger than it needs to be.”
She almost laughed.
Her husband had been kissing another woman beside a document bearing her forged signature.
And he wanted her to keep things small.
Vanessa slid down from the desk and smoothed her dress.
“I should go.”
“No,” Allie said.
Vanessa stopped.
“You witnessed my signature.”
Vanessa’s eyes moved toward Richard.
That frightened Allie more than any answer.
Richard stepped between them.
“It’s an administrative document.”
“Then why didn’t I sign it?”
“You did.”
Allie stared at him.
Richard held her gaze.
For one terrible second, she understood that he intended to lie all the way through this.
“I was in Germany on the date printed here.”
Richard’s confidence flickered.
Only briefly.
“It could have been electronically signed.”
“It says witnessed in person.”
Vanessa spoke at last.
“Richard told me you had authorized him to handle everything while you were overseas.”
Allie turned toward her.
“Did you see me sign it?”
Vanessa swallowed.
“No.”
Richard snapped her name.
“Vanessa.”
That one word carried a warning.
Allie saw Vanessa hear it too.
She folded the document carefully and placed it inside her handbag.
Richard reached toward her.
“You cannot take firm documents.”
Allie stepped back.
“It concerns my foundation and carries my name.”
“You’re being emotional.”
Allie looked down at her uniform.
The ribbons on her chest represented years of deployments, service, missed birthdays, funerals attended from far away, and decisions made while other people's lives depended on her remaining calm.
“Richard,” she said quietly, “you have never seen me emotional.”
Then she walked out.
He followed her into the hallway.
“Allie, think about what you’re doing. If people hear about this, it could destroy the firm.”
She turned.
There it was.
Not their marriage.
The firm.
His reputation.
His life.
“What about destroying me?”
Richard lowered his voice.
“We can work through the personal part privately.”
“The personal part?”
“It was a mistake.”
Allie looked through the glass wall at Vanessa.
The younger woman had tears in her eyes.
“A mistake doesn’t create legal documents.”
Richard’s face hardened.
“You’ve been gone a lot.”
The words hit harder than the kiss.
“So this is my fault?”
“I’m saying marriage is complicated.”
“No. Marriage is complicated. Forgery is not.”
The elevator doors opened.
Before Allie stepped inside, Richard grabbed her wrist.
Not violently.
Just firmly enough to stop her.
“You need to give me that document.”
Allie looked down at his hand.
Richard released her immediately.
“You have until tonight,” he said. “Then I’m calling the firm’s attorneys.”
Allie stepped into the elevator.
As the doors began closing, she saw Vanessa emerge from the office.
She looked terrified.
May you like
Then Vanessa mouthed three words.
Check your house.
