And she had been lying to herself.
A man might separate sex from love, but she couldn't. Two and a half years of marriage had fostered feelings she had no business having for the man who sheltered her.
She knew the chasm between them. She kept calling him "Mr. Harding" to remind him of his comfort zone—and to remind herself of her place. But in this moment, the ache spreading through her chest told her the truth.
She was in far deeper than she'd thought.
"What?" Eva tilted her head, mock concern dripping from every syllable. "Did Assistant Navarro not know?"
She saw the crack in Sara's armor. Her smile deepened, a ghost of mockery playing at the corners of her mouth.
"I really didn't," Sara admitted, deciding to drop the charade. "But people and objects aren't exactly comparable, are they?"
"True." Eva's voice turned silky. "That's why I called him that night to test him. I didn't expect him to actually come."
Eva knew exactly how to twist the knife.
Sara's eyes narrowed. "Given Ms. James's arrogance, did something happen between you and my husband?"
Eva only smiled, saying nothing.
She let the silence do the work. Let Sara's imagination run wild.
Under what circumstances would a man take off his watch?
Sara thought of Adrian's habits. He only removed it to shower—before and after sex.
"Ms. James, do you understand the concept of a breakup?" A dry laugh escaped her throat. "It seems when you told everyone at the club 'I only want to be friends,' you were lying."
Eva didn't flinch. "If he had no feelings for me, I wouldn't cling to him."
"But your actions contradict your words. And why do you think he still has feelings? Because of one phone call?" Sara tilted her head, feigning amusement. "Anyone with a shred of compassion wouldn't stand by and watch someone die."
"Since Assistant Navarro doesn't believe me—" Eva raised her glass in a mocking toast, challenge glittering in her eyes. "Let's wait and see."
At exactly five o'clock, Sara arrived at the Harding Group's underground parking garage.
Adrian could neglect her, but she couldn't neglect him. One misstep, and the fragile peace she'd repaired would shatter.
She didn't go up. She sat in the car, waiting.