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“I’ll answer all your questions about my relationship once we’re somewhere private. But I can guarantee you that my marriage is over.”
Penny’s heart thumped against her chest, banged on her rib cage like a drum circle. As much as she didn’t want to feel anything toward Roman, she was drawn to him like a magnet. A relentless, natural pull.
“I do have some questions,” she admitted finally. “But I’d just like to talk. Nothing…else.”
“I have a room upstairs.” Roman reached into his pocket, pulled out a key card. “409.”
TRANSCRIPT
Defense: Did you ever speak with Ms. Hill about your husband?
Eliza Tate: I’m sure he came up in our conversations. As husbands do. Marguerite and I have been friends for years, and she’s met Roman on numerous occasions. It would only have been polite for her to ask about him.
Defense: How long would you say you’ve known Ms. Hill?
Eliza Tate: A handful of years. She was my largest client at my previous job. We worked together at the start of her first book.
Defense: Over the course of those years, did Marguerite Hill ever seem interested in your husband? Romantically?
Eliza Tate: I would have said no, up until a few months ago.
Defense: Then what happened?
Eliza Tate: The night of her Be Free launch party at the Pelican Hotel, I did notice that she seemed a little bit too cozy with Roman.
Defense: Were you upset with your client?
Eliza Tate: I was upset with my husband. I assumed Marguerite was just the pawn.
Defense: How do you mean?
Eliza Tate: Roman was upset with me about the loan I’d gotten from his parents. I thought he was trying to punish me by showing me that he could have other women if he really wanted. He flirted with Marguerite right in front of my eyes; he knew exactly what he was doing. Or so I thought. Now, I’m not so sure.
Defense: Why is that?
Eliza Tate: I’m beginning to think none of that was Roman’s fault at all. I think Marguerite was the one trying to seduce my husband. I think she knew exactly what she was doing, and he was the fool. She just let him think he was in charge. It’s amazing what men will do if you stroke their ego just right.
Defense: And why would Ms. Hill try to seduce your husband?
Eliza Tate: Marguerite hated Roman. She wanted me to leave him.
Defense: Ms. Hill hated your husband? Did she say so outright?
Eliza Tate: She didn’t need to. Like I said, I’ve known Marguerite for years. Over the past few months especially, she’s been prodding me to leave him. To Take Charge if you will and get rid of him.
Defense: And you didn’t want to leave him?
Eliza Tate: It didn’t matter what I wanted. I wasn’t moving fast enough for Marguerite and what she wanted.
Defense: Why do you think Ms. Hill hated your husband?
Eliza Tate: She thought he was controlling. That he didn’t deserve me. Now that I know her history, it makes more sense why she had it out for him from the start.
Defense: What does Ms. Hill’s past have to do with her disliking your husband?
Eliza Tate: Marguerite’s got a bit of a vendetta against men in power. Men who abuse power, I should say. After reading the stories that have come out about what her father did to her as a child, I can hardly blame her. Honestly, I think she believed she was trying to do a good thing. I think she wanted to help me.
Defense: But?
