Part 3: An Unexpected Arrival
Back in the ballroom, Gavin took a slow sip of champagne and looked around the lavish venue.
“Brenda and I bought a place in Gulfport last year,” he said proudly. “It has five bedrooms, a swimming pool, and a beautiful ocean view.”
“That sounds very nice,” I replied politely.
His smile tightened at my lack of envy.
“The firm is growing quickly too,” he continued. “We are about to close the largest deal we have ever done.”
I knew about the deal, of course I knew.
However, I said nothing to him.
Brenda looked up at him with deep admiration in her eyes.
“Gavin has worked incredibly hard to get to this position,” she added.
Then Gavin leaned closer to me.
His voice dropped low enough that only Brenda and I could hear his words.
“You know, Nora, I used to feel guilty about how things ended between us,” he murmured.
I waited silently for him to finish his thought.
He smiled coldly.
“But looking at my life now, leaving you was probably the best decision I ever made.”
Brenda covered a small laugh with her manicured hand.
Five years earlier, that sentence might have destroyed my confidence completely.
Tonight, I simply looked at him without any anger.
Suddenly, a child shouted from across the crowded ballroom.
“Mom!”
Gavin frowned in confusion.
I turned just as a little girl in a pale lavender dress hurried around a nearby table and ran straight toward me.
I opened my arms to catch her.
Six-year-old Chloe crashed into me with enough enthusiasm to nearly spill my drink.
“There you are!” she complained loudly. “Dad said you went to find Aunt Lauren, but you took forever!”
I laughed softly and gently brushed a stray curl away from her bright face.
“I was only gone for six minutes,” I reminded her.
“That is forever at a wedding,” she insisted, crossing her arms playfully.
Behind me, Gavin had gone completely silent.
Brenda stared blankly at Chloe.
Footsteps approached our group.
A tall man in a dark navy tuxedo walked toward us carrying Chloe’s small cardigan over one arm.
“Someone abandoned this on my chair,” he said smoothly.
Chloe pointed proudly at herself.
“That was me!” she declared.
He smiled warmly at her.
“I had a strong suspicion it was yours,” he replied.
He placed the cardigan around her shoulders, then kissed me gently on the temple.
Gavin’s expression changed instantly from smug arrogance to deep shock.
He recognized the man standing beside me right away.
Most executives in the southern technology sector knew exactly who he was.
Douglas Mercer was the founder of Mercer Capital Partners, one of the most respected private investment firms in the region.
More importantly, Mercer Capital was currently considering a major investment in Gavin’s business.
Gavin looked back and forth from Douglas to me.
“You two know each other?” Gavin asked, his voice suddenly hesitant.
Douglas rested his hand lightly against my back.
“I would certainly hope so,” Douglas answered smoothly. “She is my wife.”
For perhaps the first time since I had known him, Gavin Albright had absolutely nothing to say.
