Chapter 2 - THE RED DRESS
The applause died before it really started.
Camilla looked at Julian.
Julian looked at Malcolm.
Nobody looked at me.
That was useful.
General counsel Rebecca Hale stepped forward.
“Mr. Vance, please remain in the ballroom.”
Julian laughed.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
He looked at me then.
“What did you do?”
“Bought stock.”
“You investigated me.”
“Yes.”
“While we were married.”
“Yes.”
His face twisted.
“That is insane.”
Rebecca cut in.
“The review was authorized by the board.”
“Not by her.”
“By the board.”
Julian looked around.
Three directors would not meet his eyes.
That was when he understood this had started before tonight.
Camilla tried to step away.
Rebecca stopped her too.
“Ms. Price.”
Camilla froze.
“Your corporate phone has been placed under preservation notice.”
“I’m communications.”
“Yes.”
“That’s why.”
Camilla’s face changed.
She reached for her purse.
A security officer moved closer.
“Please leave the device on the table.”
She did.
Very slowly.
Julian turned to me.
“You embarrassed me on purpose.”
I looked at my sore shoulder.
“I adapted.”
He stepped closer.
Malcolm stepped between us.
“Enough.”
Julian laughed.
“You’re taking her side?”
Malcolm’s expression did not move.
“She owns fifty-eight percent.”
That sentence made the room flinch.
Julian looked at me like the woman he had married had been replaced.
The truth was less dramatic.
I had always been there.
He had simply preferred a version of me that made him comfortable.
Rebecca opened a folder.
“Aurelia paid fourteen point eight million dollars over eighteen months to three consulting vendors.”
Julian said nothing.
“Two have no employees.”
Still nothing.
“The third shares a mailing address with a company owned by Camilla Price’s brother.”
Camilla whispered.
“Oh my God.”
Julian snapped.
“Don’t.”
She looked at him.
That one word told me more than a confession.
Rebecca continued.
“Mr. Vance approved eleven of the payments.”
Julian’s face hardened.
“Strategy expenses.”
“Then you’ll have documentation.”
“I do.”
“Good.”
Rebecca smiled without warmth.
“We’ve been unable to find it.”
Julian pointed at me.
“She’s setting me up.”
I said nothing.
Then Camilla made her first mistake.
She shouted.
“The Bahamas vendor was his idea.”
The entire ballroom went silent.
Julian turned toward her.
“What did you just say?”
Camilla’s eyes widened.
She had not meant to say it.
Rebecca closed the folder.
“Thank you.”
Julian’s hand curled into a fist.
Not at me.
At Camilla.
May you like
And just like that, the affair stopped looking romantic.
