Chapter 1 - THE ANNOUNCEMENT
“Go home,” Julian whispered.
A moment earlier, he had struck my shoulder hard enough to make me stumble into a champagne table.
Pain shot down my arm.
I kept my face still.
“She belongs beside me tonight,” he added.
Camilla Price stood at his side in a red gown.
My diamond earrings hung from her ears.
That almost made me laugh.
Not because it was funny.
Because sometimes disrespect gets so specific that your brain runs out of normal reactions.
Two hundred employees filled the Halcyon ballroom.
Aurelia Systems was celebrating its twentieth anniversary.
Julian thought he was about to become president.
He had rehearsed his smile in the mirror that morning.
I knew because I saw him do it.
Twice.
“Maybe this isn’t the right night for a domestic scene,” Camilla said.
I adjusted the strap of my blue dress.
“No.”
“I think I’ll stay for the announcement.”
Julian’s jaw tightened.
“The announcement is for executives.”
“Not decorative wives.”
That one landed.
I looked at him.
Then at Camilla.
Then at Chairman Malcolm Reed across the room.
Malcolm touched two fingers to his cuff.
Our signal.
The deal had closed.
Northstar Holdings now owned fifty-eight percent of Aurelia Systems.
My company.
My capital.
My vote.
Julian knew none of it.
He grabbed my wrist.
“What does that mean?”
I looked down at his hand.
Then back at him.
“It means you should listen carefully.”
The lights dimmed.
Julian released me.
He straightened his jacket.
Malcolm stepped to the microphone.
He thanked the employees.
He talked about the debt.
The failed expansion.
The layoffs they had narrowly avoided.
Then he said.
“Tonight, we welcome the investor whose capital preserved eight hundred jobs and retired our most dangerous debt.”
Julian began clapping.
Of course he did.
“The acquisition closed today.”
Malcolm paused.
“Northstar Holdings now owns fifty-eight percent of Aurelia Systems.”
Julian’s smile widened.
Then Malcolm looked at me.
“Please welcome Northstar’s founder and Aurelia’s new majority owner…”
A beat.
“Ms. Audrey Vance.”
I placed my glass on the table.
And walked.
Behind me, someone gasped.
Camilla’s hand fell away from Julian’s arm.
Julian went pale.
I climbed the stage.
Malcolm handed me the microphone.
I looked over the room.
Then at my husband.
His mouth was open.
No sound.
“Good evening,” I said.
A few nervous laughs.
“I know some of you expected a different announcement.”
Julian looked like I had slapped him.
I almost felt sorry for him.
Almost.
Then the ballroom doors opened.
Aurelia’s general counsel entered with the forensic accountant.
Two security officers followed.
Malcolm leaned toward the microphone.
“And before we discuss leadership…”
He looked directly at Julian.
“…we need to address six weeks of irregular vendor payments.”
May you like
Julian stopped breathing for a second time.
