For the first time that evening, his confidence flickered.
Daniel immediately stepped in.
“Relax, Rich. Nobody here is going to destroy your career over a domestic misunderstanding.”
Domestic misunderstanding.
I almost admired how quickly he had found a softer phrase.
Richard adjusted his jacket.
“Exactly.”
Then he told me quietly:
“Go take a minute and come back when you’ve calmed down.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
His smile disappeared.
What Richard didn’t understand was that I wasn’t simply the quiet wife who attended corporate functions and stayed out of everyone’s way.
Before marrying him, I had spent eleven years practicing corporate compliance law.
And three weeks earlier, Halcyon Dynamics had hired my firm.
Confidentially.
To investigate Richard Mercer.
Richard followed me into the hallway.
“You’re going home.”
“No.”
His voice dropped.
“You’re making this worse.”
I turned toward him.
“There are multiple witnesses and multiple recordings.”
He stared at me.
“You really think those people are going to choose you over me?”
That had always been Richard’s biggest weakness.
He believed loyalty automatically belonged to whoever held the highest title.
Inside the lounge, Daniel was already trying to control the situation.
I heard him telling people:
“Nobody posts anything. Richard’s under pressure. His wife upset him.”
His wife.
Not Elena.
Not a lawyer.
Not a professional.
Just an inconvenience standing between Richard and his image.
Then he pointed toward the elevator.
“Leave.”
Instead, I reached into my purse and took out my phone.
I called one number.
“Claire? It happened.”
