I could hardly believe what I was hearing.
Seven years of marriage.
Seven years of supporting his career.
Seven years of trusting him with my father’s company.
And now he was describing another woman’s claim to be his wife as a minor misunderstanding.
I looked at him carefully.
“Julian, what exactly have you told her about our marriage?”
He avoided my eyes.
“That’s not important right now.”
“It seems extremely important to me.”
His expression hardened.
“Listen. You’re going to apologize to Celeste, resign from this temporary position, and leave the office without causing any more trouble.”
I almost laughed.
“Apologize to her?”
“Yes. Then we can discuss our personal issues at home.”
I slowly placed the coffee cup on his desk.
“No, Julian. I don’t think that’s how this is going to end.”
He frowned.
“What do you mean?”
I met his eyes.
“I think we’ll discuss everything at tomorrow’s board meeting.”
For several seconds, he stared at me.
Then he laughed.
“The board meeting? Maya, you haven’t attended one in years.”
“That doesn’t mean I haven’t been reading the reports.”
His laughter stopped.
I watched the realization begin forming behind his eyes.
But he quickly recovered.
“You don’t understand how this business works anymore.”
I thought
about the missing money.
The suspicious invoices.
The accountant’s warning.
And the independent investigation already underway.
Perhaps I understood far more than he realized.
Julian stepped closer.
“Celeste is essential to my work here. You’re going to forget this incident and let me handle it.”
I looked at him.
“Is she essential to Hartwell Industries, Julian? Or is she essential to you?”
He didn’t answer.
That silence was enough.
Then he said something that hurt far more than I expected.
“Celeste understands the pressures I deal with. She knows what it takes to manage a company like this. You wouldn’t understand.”
I stared at the wedding ring on his hand.
“Does she know you’re married?”
