Chapter 1: The Chair He Took From Me
My husband stole the last empty chair from his eight-months-pregnant Chapter 1: The Chair He Took From Me
My husband stole the last empty chair from his eight-months-pregnant wife and gave it to his mistress in front of forty executives.
Then he looked me straight in the eyes and said, “You don’t wife and gave it to his mistress in front of forty executives.
Then he looked me straight in the eyes and said, “You don’t belong at events like this.””
For three seconds, I couldn't move.
The crystal chandeliers above the Grand Regency ballroom glittered like belong at events like this.””
For three seconds, I couldn't move.
The crystal chandeliers above the Grand Regency ballroom glittered like frozen stars. Champagne glasses chimed. A jazz quartet played beside the windows overlooking frozen stars. Champagne glasses chimed.
A jazz quartet played beside the windows overlooking Manhattan. At the center of it all, the executives of Hawthorne Industries sat beneath a Manhattan. At the center of it all, the executives of Hawthorne Industries sat beneath a golden banner celebrating the company's fiftieth anniversary.
And I, Claire Hawthorne, the daughter of its golden banner celebrating the company's fiftieth anniversary.
And I, Claire Hawthorne, the daughter of its founder and the wife of its newly appointed CEO, was standing beside the table with swollen ankles and one hand pressed against my aching lower back.
My founder and the wife of its newly appointed CEO, was standing beside the table with swollen ankles and one hand pressed against my aching lower back.
My daughter kicked beneath my red satin dress.
I had spent two hours getting ready that evening. I had chosen daughter kicked beneath my red satin dress.
I had spent two hours getting ready that evening. I had chosen the dress because Ethan once told me red was my color. I'd worn the the dress because Ethan once told me red was my color.
I'd worn the diamond necklace my mother left me before she died. I'd even asked the diamond necklace my mother left me before she died. I'd even asked the doctor whether attending a dinner for an hour or two would be safe.
My husband had doctor whether attending a dinner for an hour or two would be safe.
My husband had insisted I come.
"You're my wife, Claire," he'd said that morning, fastening his watch insisted I come.
"You're my wife, Claire," he'd said that morning, fastening his watch in our bedroom.
"It would look strange if you weren't there.""
I'd mistaken that in our bedroom.
"It would look strange if you weren't there.""
I'd mistaken that for affection.
Now I understood that he wanted the appearance of a perfect marriage without the inconvenience of treating me like his partner for affection.
Now I understood that he wanted the appearance of a perfect marriage without the inconvenience of treating me like his partner.
There had been one chair left beside him.
Ethan had pulled it out when I arrived.
"Sit down, sweetheart.
There had been one chair left beside him.
Ethan had pulled it out when I arrived.
"Sit down, sweetheart," he'd said, kissing my cheek for the benefit of the photographers.
"You've been," he'd said, kissing my cheek for the benefit of the photographers.
"You've been on your feet all day.""
I'd smiled at him.
Then Vanessa Reed walked in.
She was thirty-two, beautiful, and impeccably dressed in a silver gown that clung to her figure on your feet all day.""
I'd smiled at him.
Then Vanessa Reed walked in.
She was thirty-two, beautiful, and impeccably dressed in a silver gown that clung to her figure. She served as Hawthorne Industries' director of strategic partnerships, a position she'd received six months earlier. She served as Hawthorne Industries' director of strategic partnerships, a position she'd received six months earlier despite having less experience than the people she'd replaced.
She also wore the diamond bracelet despite having less experience than the people she'd replaced.
She also wore the diamond bracelet I'd seen in Ethan's shopping bag three weeks ago.
He'd told me it was a I'd seen in Ethan's shopping bag three weeks ago.
He'd told me it was a gift for an important client.
Apparently, the client had a name.
Vanessa stopped beside us and looked gift for an important client.
Apparently, the client had a name.
Vanessa stopped beside us and looked at the table.
"Oh, dear," she said, pressing a hand against her chest.
"Did someone forget at the table.
"Oh, dear," she said, pressing a hand against her chest.
"Did someone forget to reserve a place for me?""
Ethan's expression changed instantly.
Not the polite smile he used with investors.
Something warmer. More intimate.
"Of course not," to reserve a place for me?""
Ethan's expression changed instantly.
Not the polite smile he used with investors.
Something warmer. More intimate.
"Of course not," he said.
Then he took the chair he'd pulled out for me and moved it toward Vanessa he said.
Then he took the chair he'd pulled out for me and moved it toward Vanessa.
"Here. Take mine.""
She lowered herself into the seat, letting her fingers linger.
"Here. Take mine.""
She lowered herself into the seat, letting her fingers linger against his.
"You're always so thoughtful, Ethan.""
A few people noticed.
The CFO against his.
"You're always so thoughtful, Ethan.""
A few people noticed.
The CFO suddenly became fascinated by his napkin. One of the board members coughed into his fist suddenly became fascinated by his napkin. One of the board members coughed into his fist. Across the table, my father's longtime assistant, Margaret, stared at Ethan as if she'd just watched him slap someone.
I remained standing.
. Across the table, my father's longtime assistant, Margaret, stared at Ethan as if she'd just watched him slap someone.
I remained standing.
"Ethan," I said quietly, "I'm eight months pregnant.""
He adjusted his cuff links.
"So?""
One word.
"Ethan," I said quietly, "I'm eight months pregnant.""
He adjusted his cuff links.
"So?""
One word.
No apology. No embarrassment. Not even the courtesy of pretending he hadn't heard me.
I glanced towardNo apology. No embarrassment. Not even the courtesy of pretending he hadn't heard me.
I glanced toward the empty space beside Vanessa. There was room for another chair, but a waiter was already moving toward us with a tray.
"Could someone bring me a seat?"" I asked.
Vanessa the empty space beside Vanessa. There was room for another chair, but a waiter was already moving toward us with a tray.
"Could someone bring me a seat?"" I asked.
Vanessa tilted her head.
"Perhaps you should go home, Claire. Pregnancy can make women emotional. Nobody wants you getting upset tilted her head.
"Perhaps you should go home, Claire. Pregnancy can make women emotional. Nobody wants you getting upset at such an important event.""
She delivered the insult with a gentle at such an important event.""
She delivered the insult with a gentle smile, as if she were offering medical advice.
Ethan leaned toward me.
"Please don't make a scene.""
I looked at him.
smile, as if she were offering medical advice.
Ethan leaned toward me.
"Please don't make a scene.""
I looked at him.
"You're the one who took my chair.""
"And you're the one turning it into a problem"You're the one who took my chair.""
"And you're the one turning it into a problem.""
His voice was low, but not low enough. The people nearest us heard every word.
For years, I'd.""
His voice was low, but not low enough. The people nearest us heard every word.
For years, I'd defended this man.
When my father first brought Ethan into Hawthorne Industries, the board questioned his qualifications. I defended this man.
When my father first brought Ethan into Hawthorne Industries, the board questioned his qualifications. I reminded them of his sharp mind and his ability to see opportunities others missed.
When he proposed restructuring the company, reminded them of his sharp mind and his ability to see opportunities others missed.
When he proposed restructuring the company, I convinced my father to give him a chance.
When Ethan became CEO three years earlier, I stood beside him at the press conference and told the world I convinced my father to give him a chance.
When Ethan became CEO three years earlier, I stood beside him at the press conference and told the world he was the right man for the job.
I had even used my own inheritance to help him acquire a struggling technology he was the right man for the job.
I had even used my own inheritance to help him acquire a struggling technology firm that eventually became one of Hawthorne's most profitable divisions.
I believed we were building something together.
Now firm that eventually became one of Hawthorne's most profitable divisions.
I believed we were building something together.
Now, in front of the people whose respect I'd helped him earn, he was treating me like an inconvenient stranger.
My father, Arthur Hawthorne, sat, in front of the people whose respect I'd helped him earn, he was treating me like an inconvenient stranger.
My father, Arthur Hawthorne, sat at the head of the table.
At seventy-one, he still possessed the kind of authority that could silence at the head of the table.
At seventy-one, he still possessed the kind of authority that could silence a room without raising his voice. His silver hair was neatly combed, and his dark suit was perfectly tailored.
a room without raising his voice. His silver hair was neatly combed, and his dark suit was perfectly tailored.
He hadn't spoken.
But his eyes were fixed on Ethan.
I knew that expression. I'd seen it when my father discovered aHe hadn't spoken.
But his eyes were fixed on Ethan.
I knew that expression. I'd seen it when my father discovered a senior executive had falsified quarterly reports.
It was the look he wore when he was deciding how much damage someone had done before deciding what to do about it.
senior executive had falsified quarterly reports.
It was the look he wore when he was deciding how much damage someone had done before deciding what to do about it.
Ethan either didn't notice or didn't care.
He lifted his champagne glass.
"Everyone, may I have your attention?""
The conversationsEthan either didn't notice or didn't care.
He lifted his champagne glass.
"Everyone, may I have your attention?""
The conversations faded.
"Tonight marks fifty years of Hawthorne excellence," he announced.
"And I want faded.
"Tonight marks fifty years of Hawthorne excellence," he announced.
"And I want to thank the people who helped us reach this milestone. Our investors, our board, and to thank the people who helped us reach this milestone. Our investors, our board, and our incredible team.""
He paused beside Vanessa.
"Especially those who understand where this company needs our incredible team.""
He paused beside Vanessa.
"Especially those who understand where this company needs to go.""
Vanessa smiled at him.
The room applauded.
I didn't.
Instead, I turned away and walked toward the ballroom to go.""
Vanessa smiled at him.
The room applauded.
I didn't.
Instead, I turned away and walked toward the ballroom's side entrance, needing a moment to breathe before my daughter decided to kick her way into the world.
As I passed behind Ethan's's side entrance, needing a moment to breathe before my daughter decided to kick her way into the world.
As I passed behind Ethan's chair, I noticed a black leather folder lying open beside Vanessa's plate.
The Hawthorne Industries logo was stamped across its cover.
I wouldn't chair, I noticed a black leather folder lying open beside Vanessa's plate.
The Hawthorne Industries logo was stamped across its cover.
I wouldn't normally have looked twice.
But the top page carried a bold heading.
*EMERGENCY BOARD AUTHORIZATION.*
normally have looked twice.
But the top page carried a bold heading.
*EMERGENCY BOARD AUTHORIZATION.*
Beneath it was a proposal to transfer voting control of the company.
My father's shares.
His controllingBeneath it was a proposal to transfer voting control of the company.
My father's shares.
His controlling interest.
The shares he'd spent fifty years protecting.
The document proposed transferring that control to Ethan Haw interest.
The shares he'd spent fifty years protecting.
The document proposed transferring that control to Ethan Hawthorne.
And beside Ethan's name was another name.
*Vanessa Reed.*
My heart began pounding.
I leanedthorne.
And beside Ethan's name was another name.
*Vanessa Reed.*
My heart began pounding.
I leaned closer, pretending to adjust the strap of my handbag.
The document contained references to a revised shareholder agreement, an irrev closer, pretending to adjust the strap of my handbag.
The document contained references to a revised shareholder agreement, an irrevocable proxy, and an emergency authorization that would take effect upon execution.
I didn't understand every legal term.
Butocable proxy, and an emergency authorization that would take effect upon execution.
I didn't understand every legal term.
But I understood enough to know that my father had never told me about any of this.
My phone vibrated I understood enough to know that my father had never told me about any of this.
My phone vibrated.
A message from him appeared on the screen.
Claire, do not let Ethan sign anything.
I stared at the words.
Then another.
A message from him appeared on the screen.
Claire, do not let Ethan sign anything.
I stared at the words.
Then another message arrived.
*Whatever happens tonight, trust no one who says this is for the message arrived.
Whatever happens tonight, trust no one who says this is for the good of the company.
I looked back toward the table.
My father was no longer watching Ethan.
He was good of the company.*
I looked back toward the table.
My father was no longer watching Ethan.
He was watching me.
And for the first time that evening, I noticed something in his expression that frightened me more than my husband's cruelty watching me.
And for the first time that evening, I noticed something in his expression that frightened me more than my husband's cruelty.
Fear.
Before I could reach him, Ethan rose and tapped his.
Fear.
Before I could reach him, Ethan rose and tapped his champagne glass with a spoon.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he announced, "before dessert, there's one final champagne glass with a spoon.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he announced, "before dessert, there's one final matter I'd like to present to the board.""
He held up the black leather folder.
Vanessa matter I'd like to present to the board.""
He held up the black leather folder.
Vanessa stood beside him.
My father pushed his chair back.
"Ethan," he said sharply, "put that document stood beside him.
My father pushed his chair back.
"Ethan," he said sharply, "put that document down.""
The entire ballroom fell silent.
Ethan looked at him, then smiled.
"I'm afraid it's down.""
The entire ballroom fell silent.
Ethan looked at him, then smiled.
"I'm afraid it's too late for that, Arthur.""
And he opened the folder to the signature page.
May you like
too late for that, Arthur.""
And he opened the folder to the signature page.
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