Chương 8
I did not.
My hands gripped the back of his jacket.
He held me tighter.
When we separated, his eyes were bright, but he pretended to inspect my dress.
“Your mother hated that color.”
“She hated every color for six months.”
“She was going through a beige phase.”
“That was worse.”
He smiled.
Then, finally, he turned.
His gaze passed over Everett, Margaret, Chloe, and stopped on Julian.
The smile vanished.
Julian looked as though someone had removed the floor beneath him.
Arthur extended his hand.
“Julian.”
My husband stared at it for half a second before taking it.
“Mr. Vance.”
Dad released his hand.
“You look surprised.”
Julian glanced at me.
“I didn’t know Clarissa had contacted you.”
“No.”
Dad’s voice stayed mild.
“I imagine there are several things you didn’t know about Clarissa.”
Everett cleared his throat.
“Arthur.”
“Everett.”
They shook hands.
Margaret kissed Dad’s cheek.
Chloe remained completely still.
Dad noticed her necklace.
Then he looked at me.
Then back at Chloe.
He did not need an explanation.
For once, he kept his temper.
Almost.
“Beautiful diamonds.”
Chloe touched them reflexively.
“Thank you.”
Dad nodded.
“My wife used to say jewelry tells you a great deal about the person who bought it.”
I closed my eyes briefly.
“Dad.”
“What?”
“You promised.”
“I promised nothing.”
“That is technically true.”
Everett’s mouth twitched.
Julian did not find it funny.
He looked at my father.
“Could we talk privately?”
Dad’s expression changed by a fraction.
“About what?”
“Cross Meridian.”
“Tonight is a fundraiser.”
“I know.”
“Then donate.”
Everett looked away, unsuccessfully hiding a smile.
Julian’s jaw tightened.
“It concerns tomorrow morning.”
Dad glanced at me.
I could see the decision happen.
He could humiliate Julian now.
He could expose him in front of the room.
Three years ago, Arthur Vance might have enjoyed that.
Instead, he said, “Not here.”
Julian exhaled.
“Thank you.”
Dad raised one finger.
“I didn’t say yes.”
Then Everett’s phone vibrated.
He checked the screen.
His expression became still.
“Arthur.”
Dad looked at him.
Everett turned the phone so he could see.
I watched my father read whatever was on it.
His face hardened.
“What happened?” I asked.
Neither man answered immediately.
Julian stepped forward.
“What is it?”
Everett looked at him.
“The restructuring committee just received an emergency notice from the lenders.”
Julian went pale.
“What notice?”
Everett’s eyes moved to Chloe.
Then back to Julian.
“A suspected unauthorized asset transfer involving Helix Holdings.”
The noise of the gala continued around us.
Glasses clinked.
The quartet played.
Someone laughed near the windows.
Julian stood perfectly still.
Dad looked at me.
And in that instant, I knew the fear in my husband’s face had nothing to do with my dress.
Julian looked at Everett as if the older man had spoken in another language.
“What transfer?”
Everett did not answer immediately.
He glanced toward the nearest cluster of guests, then toward a set of private meeting rooms beyond the ballroom.
“We are not discussing this here.”
Chloe had gone rigid beside Julian.
That told me more than anything she could have said.
Dad noticed too.
His eyes rested on her for a second, then moved away.
Julian recovered enough to straighten his jacket.
“This is probably a misunderstanding.”
Everett’s expression stayed neutral.
“Then you should be eager to clear it up.”
“I am.”
“Good.”
Everett gestured toward the side corridor.
“We’ll use the library.”
Margaret touched his arm.
“Do you want me to come?”
“No.”
She looked at me instead.
“Do you?”
I almost said yes.
The question exposed how unsteady I suddenly felt.
Then I shook my head.
“I’m fine.”
She gave me the same look she had given earlier, the one that said she knew fine was not evidence.
“Come find me if that changes.”
Everett led the way.
Julian followed.
Chloe took one step after him.
He turned.
“You stay here.”
Her face flushed.
“What?”
“I said stay here.”
The command was sharp enough to make two nearby guests glance over.
Chloe lowered her voice.
“Julian, I’m part of this transaction.”
“That’s exactly why you’re staying here.”
Something flashed between them.
Not affection.
Not embarrassment.
Fear mixed with blame.
I filed it away.
Dad moved beside me.
“You coming?”
Julian stopped.
“No.”
We all looked at him.
He was staring at me.
“This has nothing to do with Clarissa.”
Dad’s voice remained mild.
“Then she’ll be bored.”
“Arthur.”
Everett sounded warning rather than impatient.
Dad lifted his hands.
“It’s her husband.”
“It’s my company,” Julian said.
I looked at him.
“And my marriage.”
His face hardened.
“Don’t turn this into that.”
I almost laughed.
“You brought your mistress to a gala while discussing a transaction involving your company, and now an emergency lender notice has arrived.”
I kept my voice low.
“You made it that.”
Chloe flinched at the word mistress.
Julian noticed.
For half a second, his anger shifted toward her.
Then he looked back at me.
“Not here.”
“Agreed.”
Everett opened the library door.
“I suggest we all discover the meaning of that phrase.”
The room beyond was smaller than I expected.
Dark shelves lined three walls.
A gas fireplace glowed beneath a painting of Lake Erie.
Someone had left a tray of coffee and tiny desserts on a side table.
The ordinariness of the room irritated me.
Disasters should have worse catering.
Everett closed the door.
“Arthur, Clarissa, Julian.”
He sat at the end of a polished table.
“Before anyone says anything foolish, the notice is preliminary.”
Julian remained standing.
“Who sent it?”
“The administrative agent.”
“Based on what?”
“A report from outside counsel.”
“Whose counsel?”
“Lender counsel.”
Julian’s mouth tightened.
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
“No.”
Everett folded his hands.
“It wasn’t meant to.”
Dad took a chair.
I sat beside him.
Julian stayed upright.
Everett looked at him.
“Sit down.”
“I’d rather stand.”
“That’s your choice.”
May you like
Everett opened the message on his phone.
“The notice states that assets connected to Cross Meridian’s infrastructure software portfolio may have been pledged, assigned, or transferred to Helix Holdings without required creditor approval.”
