MY HUSBAND INTRODUCED ME AS HIS HOUSEKEEPER—THEN THE BANKER RECOGNIZED MY NAME
MY HUSBAND INTRODUCED ME AS HIS HOUSEKEEPER—THEN THE BANKER RECOGNIZED MY NAME
CHAPTER 1: JUST THE HOUSEKEEPER
"Who is she?"
The banker smiled politely and pointed at me.
My husband didn't even hesitate.
"Oh, her?"
He laughed.
"She's just the housekeeper."
The room erupted with polite laughter.
My face went numb.
For a second, I honestly thought I'd misheard him.
We had been married for eleven years.
Eleven.
And he had just introduced me as the help.
Not his wife.
Not the mother of his daughter.
The housekeeper.
I stared at him across the country club ballroom.
Hundreds of wealthy guests filled the room.
Business executives.
Investors.
Politicians.
And every one of them had just heard my husband humiliate me.
"Derek."
My voice shook.
"What?"
He looked annoyed.
As if I were the problem.
"Why would you say that?"
He rolled his eyes.
"Oh, come on."
The banker looked uncomfortable.
Good.
At least somebody did.
Derek lowered his voice.
"Do you have any idea how important these people are?"
I blinked.
"What does that have to do with anything?"
He laughed.
"You wouldn't understand."
The words hit harder than I expected.
Because ten years earlier...
I had helped build his company from our kitchen table.
I wrote the first business plans.
Managed the books.
Worked weekends.
Took care of our daughter.
And somehow, over the years, my contribution had disappeared from the story.
Rewritten.
Erased.
The banker cleared his throat.
"Actually..."
Derek interrupted him.
"Trust me, she's not involved in the business."
The banker looked directly at me.
Then his eyes widened.
A strange expression crossed his face.
Recognition.
Real recognition.
"Wait."
The room became quiet.
The banker adjusted his glasses.
"Did you say your name was Natalie Bennett?"
I nodded.
"Yes."
The man suddenly stood.
His chair nearly fell backward.
Derek frowned.
"What is it?"
The banker stared at me.
Then at Derek.
Then back at me.
And finally asked:
"Are you Natalie Bennett... as in Bennett Capital Holdings?"
My stomach dropped.
Because that was my maiden name.
A name I hadn't used in years.
A name Derek had specifically asked me to stop using after we got married.
The room fell silent.
And for the first time all night...
May you like
My husband looked nervous.
END OF CHAPTER 1
