Charles recovered quickly.
“It wouldn’t. That’s my point.”
Lauren smiled without warmth.
“Good.”
“Lauren, whatever Madison has told you—”
“She hasn’t told me anything about you.”
Another mistake.
Another silence.
Charles had assumed she had.
Lauren let him hear her breathing.
Nothing else.
People filled silence when they were afraid.
Charles did.
“She has a history of manipulating people.”
“You hired her.”
“So you keep saying.”
“Why?”
“She had useful contacts.”
“At Meridian?”
Charles stopped.
Naomi mouthed, Got him.
Lauren continued.
“I didn’t mention Meridian either.”
Charles’s voice went cold.
“I don’t know what game you think you’re playing.”
“I’m not playing one.”
“You need to be very careful.”
Ethan’s chair moved sharply.
Lauren raised a hand.
Not yet.
Charles continued.
“You’re pregnant. You’re exhausted. Your husband has clearly made mistakes. Don’t let humiliation turn into paranoia.”
Lauren looked at Ethan.
