Chapter 4 - What Noah Heard
Natalie crossed the kitchen in two steps and pulled Noah behind her.
"Go back upstairs."
"I heard Aunt Brooke."
"Noah, please."
He stared at Brooke with the frozen, watchful expression children learn when adults have taught them fear.
Dominic noticed that expression.
He had seen it in boardrooms before hostile takeovers. He had seen it on men who knew a decision had already been made about them.
He had never expected to see it on an eight-year-old.
Brooke crouched. "No one's angry with you, sweetheart."
Noah gripped Natalie's sweatshirt.
"You said Grandma's house was yours."
Brooke's eyes flicked toward Emma.
"Children misunderstand things."
"You told Mr. Voss you were gonna sell it after Mom signed."
Natalie's head snapped around.
"Who is Mr. Voss?"
Brooke stood too quickly. "Noah, that's enough."
"You said nobody would believe me."
The silence became enormous.
Emma could hear rain ticking against the windows.
Natalie whispered, "When did she say that?"
Noah swallowed. "Tuesday. She came to the house when you were at the grief group."
Natalie's face drained of color.
"You were alone with him?" she asked Brooke.
"The nanny was there."
"She quit Tuesday morning."
Brooke said nothing.
Noah's voice shook. "She looked in Grandma Catherine's desk. She got mad when I asked what she was doing."
Natalie moved toward Brooke, but Emma caught her arm.
"Not yet," Emma murmured.
Brooke recovered quickly. "This is absurd. He's a child repeating fragments."
"Then you won't mind if Dominic hears them," Natalie said.
Brooke grabbed the folder.
"Sign the papers."
"No."
"Natalie."
"No."
For the first time, Brooke's polished mask disappeared.
"You have no idea what you're risking."
A deep male voice answered from behind the service door.
"Actually, Brooke, I think she does."
Dominic stepped into the kitchen.
Brooke's face went completely blank.
Noah whispered, "Uncle Dom?"
May you like
Dominic looked at the forged letter, then at his wife.
"Now," he said, "tell me again what I approved."
