CHAPTER 15

CHAPTER 15

NEENA

In the Winthorpes’ kitchen, I made dinner, stir-frying shrimp with vegetables and cauliflower rice. Outside, our husbands talked over the grill, the lobster and steak already prepped and beside them. I glanced across the spacious kitchen, getting a glimpse of them through the far windows, pleased to see smiles on both of their faces.

“You didn’t have to cook.” Cat perched at the far end of the bar, a glass of wine in her hand. “Seriously. Relax. I can handle cooking the vegetables.”

I swallowed my opinion of her culinary talents and crouched, opening her lower cabinets until I found the organized rack holding her Hestan frying pans. They looked brand new, and I flipped the first one over to make sure it didn’t have the price sticker still on it.

“I just feel lazy, doing nothing,” she called out. “Besides, we have staff for a reason. Let them do the work.”

Oh yes, her staff. I couldn’t pop in for a quick moment with William without running into one of her uniformed minions. It would make an affair more difficult, which was a shame, because there was a unique power surge when you had a husband inside his own home. Being naked in Cat’s bed was a fantasy I was already entertaining, and I ran my hand along her white marble countertop, making a silent vow to christen that surface, also.

I glanced over my shoulder and gave her a friendly smile. “Are you kidding me? Cooking in this kitchen is a dream. I’m making notes for our future remodel.”

She made a face. “Kitchen remodels are horrible. We planned ours when we were on a cruise. If you can, get out of town when you do yours.”

I flipped on the front burner and dripped a line of olive oil into the pan. “Duly noted. Assuming I can get the vacation time off.” I gave her a coy smile.

“Assuming it’s after FDA approval, done.” Cat leaned against the counter, her silk pants shimmering in the light of the stove. “William seems happy with your work with the team. He told me everyone is working hard, that the prototype is close to acceptance.”

I kept my features neutral. “There are a lot of issues to work through. I haven’t done much more than ask the right questions. And everyone, including William, has been open to accepting the changes and feedback in their life.”

“Right.” She adjusted the diamond-studded Rolex on her wrist, then crossed her arms. “Though William doesn’t exactly need changes. Or feedback, for that matter. Wouldn’t you say that he’s succeeded just fine without your coaching?”

I paused, the spatula poised over the skillet. “It’s more than just coaching. It’s putting him on an easier path with the team. Making him a better leader.” Though honestly, I still hadn’t had a chance for real one-on-one work with him. All our meetings had been spent with him viscerally critiquing his employees and me offering my best solutions on how to better address them. I’d been able to re-create our run-in and impromptu lunch once more—but any more surprise encounters would look suspicious. He had already raised one speculative brow upon spotting me again on the path around the pond.

“William has been a huge success without your help. Maybe it’s time you focused more on the team and less on him.”

“Do you think my methods haven’t been effective so far?”

“I think your focus is a little lopsided.” She delivered the criticism without cushioning, and I let out an awkward laugh.

“It would take time to explain the specifics of our motivational plan. But”—I shrugged and flipped on the faucet, pulling the heavy nozzle toward the bowl of cauliflower—“if you’re curious, just ask William.”

I could feel the irritation seep from her skin, even as her perfect white teeth flashed in a smile. “Of course,” she said smoothly. She lifted her wine and took a long sip. “I must say, it feels odd, the two of you getting all chummy.”

“Chummy?” I frowned, watching as the water lifted the clustered vegetables. “I wouldn’t call us chummy. If anything, most of our sessions are fairly dictatorial—which is another thing I’m working on with him.”

“Uh-huh.” She didn’t look convinced. I stole a longer glance at her, picking up on the contrast of her glossy dark hair with her sleeveless white sweater. She looked like a model, except for the steel in her gaze and the suspicion in her tone.

I flipped the tables on her before she gained the upper hand. “You’re not jealous, are you? Because you don’t have—”

“No.” She straightened and set the wine down on the counter hard enough for the delicate glass to crack. “I’m concerned. He has a lot going on right now, and all we need to do is get the team to the FDA goal line in one piece.”

This was interesting. Cat Winthorpe, the most confident woman in the world, was insecure. It was a power rush. Even if I hadn’t made much progress in breaking through William Winthorpe’s morals, I had nicked Cat’s world. And that was almost as sweet of a victory.

I moved the spigot away from the pot, wondering if I should bring up the pending wine-charity application. I glanced toward Matt and William, confirming that they were still by the grill, beers in hand. “You’ve got nothing to worry about. William’s excellent at multitasking, and I am going to help his ability to handle things, not weaken it. Plus, I need a project. I’m not sure if you heard, but I didn’t make the cut for the wine-charity board.” I let my voice drop, soaking each syllable in disappointment.

Cat straightened, and I could almost feel her awareness spike. “The board nominees haven’t been announced yet.”

I frowned. “I thought the letters for nominee interviews went out this week?” My faux confusion played well, the question rolling out perfectly innocent in nature.

“No.” She shook her head. “We meet Thursday to discuss the applications.”

“Oh.” I brightened. “Well, then, I spoke too soon. I’m dying for a spot on that board, though it will drag my time and focus away from William. Not that I can’t still help the team,” I hastened to add. “I’ve just heard that the board is practically a part-time job.”

She didn’t respond, but I was sure she understood the proposed negotiation. Deliver the wine board and I would step back from her husband.

It was a fair trade, though I didn’t plan on keeping it. The more time I spent with William, the more my interest in him grew. While most of the others were entertaining conquests, he was something more. Fascinatingly brilliant and with a sexual pull that was impossible to ignore.

Still, if she got me on the wine board, my social standing in Atherton would take a gigantic leap forward. I would, for one of the first times in my life, be regarded with respect. Looked at as an equal. I would rightfully belong in this diamond-studded world. That would be worth taking a step back from William. Let that affair mature at a slower pace. Draw out the cat-and-mouse game until he was begging for my touch.

I picked up the paring knife and met her eyes, giving her my own sparkly smile.

The wives of this town were all identical. Cat Winthorpe, whether she liked it or not, would eventually lose this game.