The Wife Who Knew Too Much(52)

“What’s happening?” I said to the driver.

“Get lost,” the driver said, waving the photographer off. He stepped between me and the camera, blocking the photographer’s view, and hustled me to the door.

“Sorry about that, ma’am.”

“Who was that?”

“Paparazzi. They used to swarm Mrs. Levitt like flies.”

The dinner was just beginning. I followed a group of beautifully attired guests into a sleek, modern room set aside just for this event. The grandeur of the scene overwhelmed me. The ceiling was made of precious woods, the long table laid with white linen cloths, crystal and fine china, exotic-flower arrangements at intervals along its length. Waiters circulated with trays of champagne and hors d’oeuvres. The crowd was mostly men in dark suits, some in Arab dress, and here and there a few women in elegant outfits and jewels. Connor stood at the far end of the room, talking with a tall silver-haired man and a beautiful woman in a red dress. They turned as I approached. Connor’s look of welcome was instantly replaced with one of horror as he caught sight of me. His mouth fell open. And I realized—he was staring at the necklace. I knew then that I’d made a terrible mistake by wearing it.

“This must be the new Mrs. Ford,” the silver-haired man said.

“Ah, yes. Yes, my wife, Tabitha. Hank Spears and Lauren Berman from Levitt Global,” Connor managed. But he’d gone white.

Hank had mild eyes behind wire-rimmed glasses. He took my hand in both of his.

“Ah, Tabitha. I’ve heard so much about you. Welcome to the Levitt Global family,” he said, with a warm smile.

Lauren nodded coolly and didn’t say anything. A couple of the Saudis joined the group, and the conversation went on. They were talking about the deal. I couldn’t focus enough to follow the conversation because my whole body surged with anxiety. At a moment when the others seemed distracted, I leaned in and murmured to Connor.

“I missed you so much. Did you miss me?”

“What the hell were you thinking, wearing that necklace?” he whispered, between gritted teeth.

I felt sick, horrified. “Juliet said I should be more dressy.”

“Is she behind this? She’s gonna hear about it from me.”

“She was only trying to help.”

He snorted dismissively.

“Please, Connor, don’t say anything to her. I’m trying to settle in here, to get along with people.”

“We’ll deal with this later,” he said.

It was time to sit down. A waiter escorted me to an assigned seat. I wasn’t seated with Connor. I saw him at the opposite end of the long table, taking his seat at Hank’s right hand. I gazed at Connor steadily, willing him to look up and give me a signal. A signal that everything was okay. That I hadn’t just blundered into a ruinous faux pas that would bring our world crashing down. That he wasn’t regretting that he’d ever reconnected with me. But he didn’t so much as glance in my direction.

The few women in attendance had all been seated together at the far end of the table. My calligraphy place card read, “Mrs. Connor Ford.” I wondered whether they even knew my first name. I didn’t belong here. I didn’t understand this world. I didn’t know the rules. I couldn’t even communicate. On my left, a woman in full black veil sat scrolling through her phone. All I could see of her face was her beautifully made-up eyes. Lauren Berman sat down on my right. She was looking at her phone, too, ignoring me. Waiters were placing elaborate tiered serving trays in front of all of us. Trying to distract myself with the food, I nibbled a crab tartlet. Lauren threw down her phone with a dramatic sigh.

“I can’t believe I’m down here in fucking Siberia,” she said, her language a contrast with her elegant red dress. She was beautiful, with dramatic eyebrows and full lips. I was a little afraid of her.

“So, you’re Connor’s new wife,” she said, looking me up and down brazenly. “I see you didn’t waste any time helping yourself to Nina’s jewelry.”

I flushed crimson. “Uh—I, but I didn’t know that I—”

“You didn’t know about the Levitt emeralds? That piece is famous.”

I started stuttering. “No, just, well, there was no notice, you know, this dinner, so sudden. Nothing to wear. I borrowed something. I didn’t think anyone would mind.”

“Oh, trust me, Nina would mind. She’d mind very much. You’re lucky she’s not here, she’d rip that thing off you so fast. Nina had claws.”

Shaking her head, she signaled for the waiter.

“Vesper martini, make it strong,” Lauren said.

He turned to me. “Ma’am?”

“Just soda water, please.”

“I don’t trust people who don’t drink,” she said. “It’s like they’re trying to gain some advantage over me.”

I couldn’t tell her the real reason I wasn’t drinking. “I just—I’m a little under the weather tonight.”

“That was a joke,” she said.

But it hadn’t sounded like a joke. It had sounded hostile, and I could understand why. I’d stolen Nina Levitt’s emerald necklace. More important, I’d stolen her husband. I wondered how many people in this room tonight were angry at me for that.