Every Last Secret

Neena and William go for a run together. Neena makes sure to stop by the Winthorpes’ house to pick up William so that Cat will know about the outing. This scheming is part of Neena’s attempts to seduce William and annoy Cat. She thinks to herself, “All I had to do was remain innocent in his eyes. The sane to [Cat’s] crazy. The calm fun to her neurotic paranoia” (119). Neena rightfully suspects that Cat will start needling William about his growing friendship with Neena. Neena is convinced she has the upper hand, thinking: “I had the cards. I knew the hands. And she…she didn’t even know the game” (121).

Cat gets the private investigator’s full report on Neena. She is surprised to discover the many plastic surgeries Neena has had, including a tummy tuck, butt lift, and two breast augmentations. More shocking to Cat, however, is that Neena had an abortion eight years before. This is proof that Neena cheated on Matt because prostate cancer rendered him unable to father children. Cat doesn’t share this information—yet. Later, she fights with William about his growing closeness to Neena. Cat forbids William from going running with Neena again. William is incredulous, responding, “You’re that insecure about this? You want me to fire her, too? Is that what you want? Should we move to a different house?” (126).

It’s morning and Cat is drinking her coffee outside when she sees Neena. Neena and Cat have an exchange across the fence that separates their properties. Every interaction between the women is now tinged with thinly veiled signals. Neena casually asks about the wine-festival meeting, a dig at Cat’s preventing Neena from getting on the charity wine auction board. Cat describes this moment: “I lifted my coffee to my lips, making sure to use the hand with the diamond, the huge stone impossible to miss. He’s mine” (129). The chapter concludes with the women exchanging superficial pleasantries, and Cat thinking, “The morning chill didn’t have anything on us” (129).

It’s Cat’s birthday and she’s at their Hawaii home, alone. William had come with her but he had a (legitimate) work emergency and had flown back to California. Cat is increasingly worried about Neena. She reveals that she felt this way once before. Six years earlier, William had an in-office flirtation with his assistant. Cat notes that the assistant, Brenda Flort, was older, overweight, and unfashionable—the opposite of Cat. Cat was baffled because Brenda “was a woman whom William would never have given a second glance to, yet he had. He’d risked our marriage over his flirtation” (135). Cat confronted William about his flirtatious emails and texts with Brenda; William had dismissed Cat’s concerns, telling her it was nothing. Cat’s solitary birthday ruminations are interrupted by a call from William, telling her, “I’m miserable without you […] I need you here” (136). Cat is thrilled that William needs her. She agrees to take the private jet back to California. She’ll be home by midnight.

The narrative continues on that same afternoon, now told from Neena’s perspective. Neena gets a text from William, telling her that he had to come back from Hawaii early for work reasons. He’s stuck at the office. Neena offers to bring him some food. William agrees. Neena and William meet in the Winthorpe Technologies office. William kisses Neena. He then pulls away from the kiss and tells her, “That shouldn’t have happened,” to which she replies, “It’s okay, William. No one will ever know” (143). William tells Neena to leave.

It’s one week since Cat returned from Hawaii at William’s request. She’s at home when her housekeeper alerts her that Matt, next door, is in trouble. Cat discovers that Matt has fallen from the second-floor balcony of the house; the iron railing he was leaning on gave way. Cat calls 911. She then calls Neena, but the call goes straight to voicemail. Cat calls the receptionist at Winthorpe Technologies. The receptionist tells Cat that Neena and William are in a private meeting in the boardroom. Cat realizes the boardroom is the “only location in the building, except for the closed labs, where visual privacy was afforded” (146). The rest of the office is open plan with glass walls. Cat tells the receptionist it’s urgent.

Neena and William are in the boardroom. She gives him a neck massage. They then kiss—for the second time. They’re interrupted by the receptionist knocking on the door to inform Neena that Matt is hurt.

Neena and William arrive at the Ryders’ home. Matt is being loaded into an ambulance. William offers to drive Neena to the hospital. Cat offers to join them, but Neena asks Cat to stay behind and keep an eye on the emergency services personnel, who are in the Ryders’ home. Cat notices that Neena calls William, “Will,” an informal nickname. In response, Cat plays with her wedding ring: “I touched the diamond, reassuring myself of its presence” (152). Before William and Neena leave for the hospital, Cat confronts him about being in the boardroom with Neena. He has a mundane excuse—he was going to meet the marketing team after his meeting with Neena and needed the boardroom (bigger than his office) for that purpose. Before William leaves with Neena, Cat kisses him and warns him to “be good” (153). He reassures her that he will, but Cat is doubtful.

William drives Neena to the hospital. In the car, William starts to mention the kiss. Neena cuts him off, saying, “Don’t worry about it. […] It’s between us. No one has to know about it” (156). While playing it cool, Neena continues her seduction campaign. As William drops her off, she gives him hug: “Thank you,’ I whispered, hoping he could smell the scent of my new perfume” (157). Neena senses the ongoing sexual tension between her and William and is optimistic about her plan. Meanwhile, it’s revealed that Matt has a broken arm and fractured ribs.

William is driving Matt and Neena back home. Neena is annoyed that Matt has difficulty maneuvering into the car and seatbelt with his cast. During the ride home, Neena wonders if William, a friend of Matt’s, feels guilty about kissing her or if he feels as she does, “turned on by the close association and risk” (160).

Part 3 of the book ends with a flash to the present, told from Neena’s point of view as she’s interviewed by the detective. The detective knows about Neena and William’s affair, and Neena reveals that Cat has publicized Neena’s affair with William. She notes, “hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, and Cat had been a shining example of that mantra” (160). The detective shows her hand: “We have proof that you seduced Ned Plymouth. Proof that you seduced William Winthorpe. […] When did you decide your husband needed to die?” (161).