Chapter 2: The Man at the Door
Adrian stared toward the ballroom entrance.
“No.””
It was barely a whisper.
Nathaniel walked forward first.
Beside him was an elderly man in a charcoal suit.
Thomas Vale.
Adrian's uncle.
Founder of Vale Meridian.
And, according to Adrian, a bitter old man who had disappeared after trying to steal control of the company.
That was the story I'd been told.
Thomas stopped ten feet from us.
“Hello, Adrian.””
Adrian's fingers curled.
“What are you doing here?””
Thomas looked around the ballroom.
“Apparently attending your farewell party.””
A nervous murmur swept through the guests.
Victoria shot to her feet.
“Thomas, you have no right—”
“I have every right.””
Nathaniel placed the leather folder on our table.
Adrian looked at me.
“You planned this.””
“No.””
“Liar.””
“I planned for possibilities. You planned tonight.””
Celeste tugged his sleeve.
“Adrian, what's happening?””
He ignored her.
Nathaniel opened the folder.
“Effective at 9:17 p.m., shareholders representing seventy-four-point-two percent of voting power approved the immediate removal of Adrian Vale as Chief Executive Officer.””
Adrian froze.
“Seventy-four?””
I hadn't expected that either.
My stake was sixty-eight percent.
Thomas smiled.
“I added mine.””
Adrian turned on him.
“You own six percent.””
“Six-point-two.””
“You told everyone you sold.””
“I told everyone I stepped away.””
Thomas's eyes hardened.
“There's a difference.””
Victoria slammed her palm against the table.
“This is absurd! My son built this company!””
Thomas looked at her.
“Your son nearly destroyed it.””
“That's a lie.””
Nathaniel removed another document.
“Should I read the numbers?””
Victoria went silent.
Adrian stepped toward Nathaniel.
“Get out.””
Nathaniel didn't move.
“You no longer have authority to remove anyone from this event.””
“This is my banquet.””
“Paid for by Vale Meridian.””
“My company.””
“Not anymore.””
That landed harder than anything I'd said.
Adrian looked around.
People who had laughed minutes earlier suddenly found their wine glasses fascinating.
Celeste whispered, “What about my promotion?””
Thomas actually chuckled.
“What promotion?””
Adrian snapped, “She's Vice President.””
Nathaniel checked his papers.
“The appointment was never approved by the compensation committee.””
Celeste stared at Adrian.
“You said everything was finalized.””
“It is.””
“No,” I said.
“It isn't.””
She turned on me.
“You stay out of this.””
I glanced toward her silver dress.
“Your car is probably already being collected.””
Her expression collapsed.
As if summoned by my words, a uniformed valet hurried into the ballroom.
He approached Nathaniel.
“Mr. Ross?””
“Yes?””
“There are recovery drivers outside.””
Celeste grabbed Adrian's arm.
“My Bentley?””
Adrian pointed at me.
“Nobody touches that car.””
The valet hesitated.
Nathaniel said calmly, “Release every Hawthorne Capital vehicle.””
“Yes, sir.””
Celeste ran after him.
“Wait!””
Half the ballroom watched her disappear through the doors.
Marcus suddenly covered his watch.
I noticed.
“So you remember where that came from.””
Marcus stood.
“This was a gift.””
“From my family office.””
“Adrian gave it to me.””
“With funds he wasn't authorized to use.””
His face changed.
Victoria turned sharply toward Adrian.
“What does she mean?””
Adrian ignored her.
He grabbed the leather folder.
Nathaniel caught it before he could pull it away.
“Don't.””
“Those are company documents.””
“No,” Nathaniel replied.
“They're evidence.””
The word cut through the room.
Evidence.
Thomas's expression lost its amusement.
Victoria slowly sat down.
“What evidence?””
Nathaniel looked at me.
I hadn't known about evidence.
“Evelyn,” he said, “we need to speak privately.””
Adrian immediately stepped between us.
“No.””
Thomas moved forward.
“Move.””
Adrian laughed bitterly.
“You think you can walk back in after twelve years and order me around?””
Thomas stared at him.
“I think a man being investigated should choose his next words carefully.””
That changed everything.
Even the photographers stopped moving.
“Investigated for what?”” I asked.
Nathaniel closed the folder.
“Not here.””
Adrian's eyes locked onto mine.
“Evelyn, don't listen to him.””
That was the first time all night he'd spoken to me without contempt.
Almost fear.
I studied him.
“What did you do?””
“Nothing.””
Thomas shook his head.
Nathaniel leaned toward me.
“The voting shares aren't the only reason Adrian wanted you humiliated tonight.””
I felt something cold move through me.
“What are you talking about?””
“He needed witnesses.””
“To what?””
Nathaniel glanced at Adrian.
“To establish that your marriage had effectively ended before midnight.””
My stomach tightened.
“Why would midnight matter?””
Nathaniel pulled one final envelope from the folder.
It had my name on it.
EVELYN HAWTHORNE VALE.
Below my name was tomorrow's date.
I reached for it.
May you like
Adrian suddenly lunged across the table.
“Don't open that!””
