I looked left, I looked right; the coast appeared to be clear. I hurried down the hall, through the foyer, and suddenly realized I’d left my bag in the study. And my car keys were in the bag. Damn.
So I turned around and rushed back, shouldering my way into the study’s half-open door. Odd, I thought I had closed that door. With no time to contemplate, I hurried over to where I’d dropped my bag to the floor.
But it wasn’t there.
I knelt down on the floor and checked under the desk. Nothing.
Suddenly a low, irate voice broke through the silence. “Looking for something, Madeleine?”
I rocked back onto my heels quickly, the ivory envelope containing Trina’s letters clearly visible in my left hand. I attempted to slip it under my knees and, in the process, glanced up to see Adam in the doorway. And, holy hell, did he look pissed.
He stood perfectly still, my bag dangling from his right hand. Which way had he come in? Not through the front, as I would have run right into him. And how long had he been back? Long enough to have seen me snooping around?
I bit down on my lip, hard enough to draw blood. Adam’s hard-muscled body was all the more pronounced with the way the desk lamp light fell on him. Coupled with the expression of fury on his face, I felt tiny and vulnerable from my vantage point on the floor. He dropped my bag and took three long strides, and then he stood before me.
I lowered my gaze, fearful to meet his dark, angry eyes. “Give me the envelope now!” he said, his voice steady but firm.
I held it out to him with absolutely no hesitation.
Snatching it from my hand, he scolded, “I’m extremely disappointed in you, Madeleine.” He circled around me, not unlike a stalking predator. “Going through my private papers, stealing from me.” Adam placed the edge of the envelope under my chin. “Look at me,” he demanded.
I reluctantly met his glare, and though his eyes were full of fury, there was also something else. Hurt? Betrayal? Whatever it was, I felt incredibly guilty for what I’d done. Adam had asked me—more than once—if I trusted him. And I had vehemently questioned his trust in me. Yet here I was, the one betraying him. How ironic.
Yes, Adam had secrets—and I’d wanted answers—but sneaking around in his private files was just wrong. Who was the bad person in this scenario? I knew the answer. It was I.
“I’m sorry, Adam.” I whispered, my voice cracking but not solely from fear. I was also ashamed. I truly was sorry, and in that moment, all I desired was his forgiveness.
Holding my gaze, he growled, “You’ve really gone too far this time. I have half a mind to terminate your lease and kick you off the island.”
“No,” I cried. “Please, Adam. I don’t care about the past. Even if your sister did something to Chelsea—”
“Trina did not do anything to that bitch! Fuck, Maddy, there are how many suspects out there?” Adam yelled, running his hand through his hair in apparent frustration. “Why are you so fucking set on blaming a Ward?”
“I’m not,” I tried to explain. “I believed you when you told me you were innocent. I still don’t think you hurt Chelsea. But those letters, Adam.”
“These letters” —Adam held the envelope up menacingly— “mean nothing. Trina was trying to scare Chelsea. My sister could never hurt anyone. She was only trying to protect me.”
“And you were protecting her in return,” I whispered.
“Yes, I was protecting my sister from having the police think exactly what you’re thinking right now. I intercepted these letters before Chelsea ever saw them, thank God.” Adam tossed the envelope onto the desk. “After she disappeared I started keeping them under lock and key.”
“I’m sorry,” I muttered, “for everything. If you want me to leave the island, I will…” My voice faltered, tears in my eyes.
I didn’t want to leave the island. And I definitely didn’t want to leave Adam. I longed to tell him I was falling in love with him, but I was fearful of being rejected, especially after tonight. And one thing for sure, I certainly wasn’t about to bring up the stock trade information I’d also discovered. No way. Not tonight.
“Stand up,” Adam ordered, his voice firm but less angry than before.
I stood up, shaky, and Adam took my hand. I looked up into his tormented blue eyes. “I don’t want you to leave the island, OK?”
“It was wrong of me to go through your stuff,” I said, knowing, and believing, it now more than ever before.
“It was,” he agreed, letting go of my hand.
“I should go.”
Adam didn’t protest. He led me out of the study but not before putting the envelope containing Trina’s letters back into the desk drawer and, of course, making sure it was locked this time.
We walked down the hall, through the foyer, out to the driveway, all in silence. At my car Adam stopped me. “Madeleine, I have business over on the mainland tomorrow, but I’ll stop by the cottage in the morning.” I looked at him quizzically. “We have one more matter to discuss,” he clarified.
There was no need to ask what he meant. He knew I’d seen more than Trina’s letters in that drawer. He knew I’d read the SEC stuff.
I drew a deep breath. “Adam—”
“Not now, Maddy.” Fingers on my lips, silencing me. “It’s late. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
I didn’t argue. I got in the car and drove back to the cottage. Let myself in, dragged myself upstairs, peeled off my clothes, fell into bed.
Had Adam traded on insider information? If so, had Chelsea blackmailed him with her knowledge of it? How much would Adam tell me? And where did we stand after tonight? Would he forgive my snooping?
I didn’t know, but I’d surely find out tomorrow morning.
Chapter 16
Unfortunately sleep
