Chương 10
“Goodbye, Adrian.”
“Goodbye, Claire.”
This time, neither of them made goodbye mean more than it did.
The procurement committee rejected Ellis Development’s bid six weeks later.
Not because of the ballroom.
Not because Grant dated Claire.
Not because Adrian wanted it rejected.
The written decision cited the undisclosed consulting relationship, weaknesses in internal conflict controls, and two pricing irregularities that required clarification Grant’s team could not adequately provide.
Another developer won.
Adrian did not vote.
He did not attend the meeting.
That bothered him.
Then it didn’t.
Grant’s company survived.
Claire remained on the foundation board after an independent ethics review concluded her disclosure had been inadequate but not deliberately falsified under the foundation’s existing policy. The policy was rewritten.
She received a formal reprimand.
She also donated the remainder of her consulting income from the Cole-related work to an organization unrelated to the foundation.
Some people called that accountability.
Others called it damage control.
Both could be true.
Elena became banquet captain in November.
Her first major event was a medical school fundraiser.
No one grabbed a wheelchair.
No one went viral.
A donor complained that the salmon was cold.
A surgeon accidentally knocked over a floral arrangement.
Someone’s toddler escaped from the childcare room and walked onto the dance floor wearing one shoe.
Elena considered it a successful evening.
Adrian attended for forty minutes.
He used his wheelchair.
Nobody gasped when he stood to stretch.
That changed more slowly than headlines had.
A few guests still stared.
One woman whispered to her husband.
Adrian heard her.
He did not turn around.
At ten thirty, Elena found him near the ballroom doors.
“You leaving?”
“Yes.”
“How was the salmon?”
“Cold.”
She stared.
He smiled.
“Perfect.”
“That table complained.”
“They were right.”
“I hate you.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Dangerous confidence.”
She glanced toward the wheelchair.
“You need help?”
“No.”
“Okay.”
He waited.
She raised an eyebrow.
“What?”
“I was expecting you to insist.”
“I’m growing.”
“Terrifying.”
A server passed carrying glassware.
Elena moved aside.
Adrian watched her check the room automatically: candles, tables, staff, doors.
She was good at the job.
He had nothing to do with it.
That pleased him more than being responsible would have.
“You still owe me a seat,” she said suddenly.
Adrian blinked.
“What?”
“At the gala.”
“You said you didn’t want it.”
“I didn’t.”
“Then what are you talking about?”
“You made a dramatic promise in front of half of Boston.”
“Unfortunately.”
“I think I should collect.”
He studied her.
“What kind of seat?”
“A normal one.”
“That is suspiciously vague.”
“Dinner.”
Adrian went still.
Elena smiled.
“Don’t make this weird.”
“I’m trying extremely hard.”
“Badly.”
“With me?”
“No, Adrian. With Samuel.”
He laughed.
She looked toward the ballroom, checking whether Patricia needed her.
“Tuesday,” she said. “Somewhere without chandeliers.”
He stared at her.
“What?”
“You can say no.”
“I’m checking for hidden conditions.”
Elena’s smile faded a little.
Not hurt.
Recognition.
Adrian heard his father’s voice.
A. trusts badly.
He looked at Elena.
“No test?”
“No test.”
“No secret reason?”
“Secret reasons are exhausting.”
“No symbolic seat?”
“Absolutely not.”
He nodded.
“Tuesday.”
“Good.”
She turned back toward the ballroom.
“Elena.”
She looked over her shoulder.
“I’m paying.”
“No.”
“I own restaurants.”
“That’s exactly why you’re not paying.”
“I can get a discount.”
“Now you’re definitely not paying.”
She disappeared through the doors.
Adrian remained there smiling like an idiot.
Samuel came up beside him.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
“That expression is not nothing.”
“Go away.”
Samuel looked into the ballroom.
“Oh.”
“Samuel.”
“I said nothing.”
“You said oh.”
“I can revoke it.”
Adrian pushed the wheelchair toward the elevators.
Samuel walked beside him.
“You know,” Samuel said, “your father would have had her investigated.”
Adrian stopped.
Samuel looked immediately regretful.
“I’m sorry. That was—”
“No.”
Adrian considered the sentence.
Then he laughed.
“He absolutely would have.”
Samuel smiled.
Adrian pressed the elevator button.
The doors opened.
He rolled inside.
Samuel remained outside.
“You coming?”
“No. I have to speak to Patricia.”
The doors began closing.
Samuel lifted one hand.
“Tuesday?”
Adrian stared.
“How do you know Tuesday?”
Samuel’s smile widened.
The doors closed.
Adrian stood alone in the elevator and laughed all the way to the lobby.
Dinner with Elena was not romantic for the first thirty minutes.
It was mostly an argument about parking.
Adrian had chosen a neighborhood restaurant in Somerville because Elena said she wanted somewhere normal.
He arrived twenty minutes early and still failed to find accessible parking near the entrance.
He circled twice.
By the time he reached the restaurant, walking with his cane, he was annoyed.
Elena was outside.
“You could’ve called.”
“I found parking.”
“Six blocks away.”
“How do you know?”
“You’re sweating.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
They went inside.
The restaurant had twelve tables and a chalkboard menu.
No chandeliers.
A ceiling fan clicked overhead.
The hostess placed them near the window.
Adrian sat.
His hip hurt.
Elena noticed.
She did not comment.
That was one reason he liked her.
They ordered.
For ten minutes they talked about nothing important.
Her brother wanted to quit community college and become a mechanic.
Henry had eaten half a dish towel.
Elena hated olives.
Adrian hated mustard.
She accused him of choosing expensive food because he had never developed taste buds.
He accused her of believing garlic solved every culinary problem.
“It solves most.”
“Not dessert.”
“Coward.”
The ease frightened him.
He nearly ruined it by asking what she wanted from him.
He caught himself.
Elena noticed anyway.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You had a question.”
“I decided not to ask it.”
“That’s new.”
“I’m growing.”
“Terrifying.”
Their food arrived.
Halfway through dinner, Elena put down her fork.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Yes.”
“Why did you offer me that seat?”
Adrian looked at the table.
“I was angry.”
“At Claire.”
“Yes.”
“So you rewarded me.”
“And punished her.”
“With me.”
“Yes.”
Elena nodded.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For saying it.”
He waited.
May you like
She drank water.
“I hated being made into the good woman next to the bad woman,” she said.
