A Clandestine Corporate Affair(52)

“Did something happen?”

Beth sat on the edge of the bed. “It’s nothing.”

“It’s obviously not nothing or you wouldn’t be crying.”

“It’s Leo,” she said with a shrug. “You know how men are.”

“What did he do?”

“I went in the pantry to get the napkins and he was in there.” At Ana’s questioning look she added in a shaky voice, “With a paralegal from his firm.”

Oh hell. “I take it they weren’t in there getting napkins.”

Beth laughed through her tears. “Not unless they were crammed down her bra.”

“That rat bastard,” Ana said, furious on Beth’s behalf. She’d seen him two minutes ago and he hadn’t looked the least bit remorseful. She always thought that Leo was the perfect father and husband, and that he and Beth had the ideal marriage. So much for that delusion. “Do you think it was a minor indiscretion, or is he having an affair?”

“There have been a lot of late nights at the office the past month or so, and calls on his cell phone that he has to take in his study. And our sex life has ceased to exist, so I’m guessing she’s the new flavor of the month.”

“The month? Are you saying that he’s done this before?”

“Usually he’s much more discreet. He’s never brought one home. At least, not that I’ve known about. He always says that he’s sorry, and it won’t happen again, but it always does. I thought that when we got married he would settle down, that I would be enough.”

He was screwing around on her in college, too? And she still married him? “Beth, why do you let him treat you this way?”

“I love him. Besides, what choice do I have? I don’t want to be a divorced single mom. My parents adore Leo. He’s from a good family and he has the perfect career. They would be horrified.”

Ana loved her aunt and uncle, but they always had been too hung up on appearances. “Screw your parents. You have to do what’s right for you.”

Beth dabbed at her eyes. “I’m not like you, Ana. I’m not strong. I don’t like to be alone.”

“You think I’m strong? Beth, I’m the most insecure person on the planet. But I’d rather be alone and miserable than with someone who had so little respect for me that he would cheat. You deserve so much better than that. And think about the message you’re sending your daughter.”

“There’s no way she could know. She’s too little.”

“She is now, but unless you put a stop to this, eventually she’s going to figure it out. Do you want her to think it’s okay to let her husband cheat on her? Do you want her to go through what you’re going through right now?”

She bit her lip and shook her head. “Are you terribly disappointed in me?”

“Of course not! I love you and I’m always going to be on your side. I just want you to be happy.”

“He looked really sorry, and he said he would end it, and it wouldn’t happen again. Maybe he means it this time.”

And why would he stop when he knew he could get away with it? When the only repercussion of his actions was making his devoted wife miserable.

“Beth, you need to do something. If you don’t want to leave him, then tell him you want to go to marriage counseling.”

“But my parents—”

“Forget your parents. Do what’s best for you and Piper.” She took Beth’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “I’ll stand right by you, and help you in any way that I can.”

“I’ll think about it,” she said, then she dabbed her eyes and squared her shoulders. “I need to fix my face and get back downstairs to my guests. It’s going to be a new year soon.”

And for Beth, Ana feared it was going to be an unhappy one. No matter what she decided.

Ana left her alone to pull herself together and headed back downstairs, wishing there was something she could do or say to help Beth, to make her see that she didn’t have to put up with that kind of treatment. Especially from a man who supposedly loved her.

She nearly ran into Nathan as he climbed the stairs.

“Where did you go?” he whispered, even though there was no one in the immediate vicinity to hear him.

She jerked her chin up toward the second floor. “Bedroom. We need to talk. You would not believe what just happened.”