The guard in the hallway—was it Scott or Jeff? —called out to her. “Is everything okay, Dr. English?” She stopped and looked at him, catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror behind him. She was in her nightgown, her hair wild. She looked like a crazy woman. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to slow down. “Where is Alan?”

“His shift ended at seven. Your husband told him it was okay to leave.”

She was normally up by then, but still, she’d told Alan not to listen to anyone but her. She’d speak to him when he came back tonight.

“Have you seen my daughter?”

“I believe she’s in the kitchen with her nanny, ma’am.”

She gave him a curt nod and ran back upstairs to get dressed. All these people in the house spying on her—it was maddening. She rushed through her shower, threw on a pair of jeans, grabbed a T-shirt, and ran a brush through her hair. Taking a look in the mirror, she nodded. Better.

When she reached the kitchen, Annabelle looked up from her coloring book.

“Hi, Mommy. You slept late. Daddy said you didn’t feel good.”

“Where is Daddy?” she asked, looking at Hilda.

“He’s in his office,” Hilda answered. “And Blaire was just in here. She’s doing some work in the study. She asked me to tell you to come find her when you got up. Can I get you a coffee?”

Kate shook her head, already moving toward the door. She needed to talk to Simon, and then she’d go find Blaire. She stomped down the hallway and stopped at his door. Her hand was poised above the knob when she heard his voice. Who was he talking to? She put her ear up to the door, trying to make out the conversation.

“Yes, I know. It’s just . . .”

She leaned in harder.

“Of course, but you have to understand . . .”

He was talking to Sabrina. She opened the door and stormed in. “Hang up!”

He looked up at her incredulously and touched a button on his phone.

“Kate! I’m on with a client. What’s up?”

“What’s up? Really? After that stunt your girlfriend pulled yesterday and now you’re in here whispering to her? Hang up the phone. We need to talk.” She plopped down in the chair in front of his desk, crossed her arms, and waited.

He shook his head and held a finger up. “Barry, listen, something’s come up. Can I call you back in a few minutes? Thanks.”

Simon put the phone down. “Kate, you can’t just barge in here like that. He’s an important client that we’ve come close to losing.”