Chapter 2 - Someone knew before I told them
I walked out of Mariana’s office before Samuel finished explaining.
Not because I was weak.
Because there were forty employees holding phones and I had no interest in turning the rest of my marriage into office entertainment.
Mariana followed.
“Ethan, stop.”
I entered a small conference room.
Samuel remained on speaker.
“What happened?”
“A woman identifying herself as Mariana Hale contacted the state lottery claims office forty-three minutes ago.”
Mariana stood in the doorway.
“That’s ridiculous.”
Samuel continued.
“She had your ticket number.”
My chest tightened.
Not just that I had won.
The actual number.
Only three people knew.
Me.
Ruben, the gas-station owner who checked it.
And Samuel’s legal team after I entered their conference room.
“How?”
Samuel hesitated.
“She also knew where the original ticket was purchased.”
Mariana looked genuinely confused.
Maybe.
I no longer trusted my own ability to read her.
“You told Rodrigo?” I asked.
“No!”
Rodrigo stepped into the doorway.
“Don’t drag me into your lottery fantasy.”
Samuel’s voice came through the phone.
“Mr. Hale, we need you away from anyone who knows about the ticket until we secure the original.”
I touched the inside pocket of my suit.
Empty.
My blood went cold.
I had placed the ticket inside a protective envelope at the attorney’s office.
Then I had moved it into the inner pocket of my blazer before buying Mariana’s gifts.
It wasn’t there.
I checked again.
Nothing.
Mariana watched me.
“What?”
“The ticket is gone.”
Her eyes widened.
Rodrigo’s expression changed in a different way.
Recognition.
Tiny.
But there.
I saw it.
“Where is it?” I asked.
He laughed.
“How would I know?”
Mariana reached for me.
I stepped away.
“Did you take it?”
“I didn’t even know you bought one!”
“But someone knew.”
“You think I searched your jacket?”
“I just watched you kiss a man who said you wouldn’t need me after today.”
Her face tightened.
“That conversation wasn’t about money.”
“Then what was it about?”
Silence.
There it was again.
Samuel interrupted.
“Ethan, do not accuse anyone yet. We’ve already requested a hold on any claim until identity and possession issues are reviewed.”
Good.
Law.
Not drama.
Rodrigo glanced at his watch.
Then toward the hallway.
He wanted to leave.
I noticed.
“So where are you going?”
“I have a meeting.”
“With eighty million dollars walking around somewhere?”
He froze.
I hadn’t said the amount before.
Neither had Samuel.
Mariana slowly turned toward him.
“How do you know it’s eighty million?”
The room went completely still.
May you like
Rodrigo looked at me.
And for the first time, he had no answer.
