The ballroom became busier as the evening continued.
Servers moved between the tables.
Employees found their seats.
The photographers gathered near the stage.
A large screen displayed photographs from Aurelia Systems' early years.
There was Malcolm standing beside the company's first office sign.
There were old team photographs.
There were images of product launches and celebrations.
People applauded when familiar faces appeared.
I watched Julian from across the room.
He was enjoying himself.
He had always been good at looking confident.
Even when a project failed, he could walk into a meeting and make it sound like everything had gone according to plan.
He knew how to speak.
He knew when to smile.
He knew which people to flatter.
And he knew how to make others feel that disagreeing with him was a mistake.
Camilla understood those things too.
She stayed beside him.
Every time someone approached, she introduced herself as though she were already part of his future.
"Julian has been doing extraordinary work."
"He has some exciting plans."
"The next chapter will be very different."
I heard those comments more than once.
The next chapter.
I wondered whether she knew how much of the previous chapter had been built on borrowed money and questionable payments.
A man from the sales department approached Julian.
"Congratulations in advance."
Julian smiled.
"Let's wait until Malcolm speaks."
The man laughed.
"Come on. Everyone knows what's happening."
Julian gave him a modest nod.
It was a performance.
He wanted people to believe he wasn't expecting anything.
But his expression betrayed him.
He was waiting for the title.
President.
That was the position he wanted.
He had mentioned it so often at home that I could almost hear the word whenever he looked at the stage.
Camilla leaned toward him.
"You're going to look wonderful up there."
He touched her hand.
"Let's see what happens."
I looked down at my glass.
There was something almost sad about watching someone celebrate an achievement that hadn't happened.
But I didn't feel sorry for him.
Not anymore.
A few minutes later, a woman approached me.
She was one of Aurelia's long-serving employees.
Her name was Denise.
We had met during an earlier company event, before the acquisition discussions had become public.
"Mrs. Vance?"
"Hello, Denise."
She smiled.
"I'm glad you came tonight."
"Thank you."
She glanced toward Julian.
Then she lowered her voice.
"Things have been difficult at work."
I nodded.
"I know."
"People are worried about the company."
"I understand."
She looked toward the stage.
"We've lost some good people. Everyone keeps saying there isn't enough money."
I could see the concern in her face.
She wasn't asking for reassurance.
She simply wanted someone to listen.
"Malcolm is working hard to protect the company," I told her.
She nodded.
"I hope so. My husband and I have been here for fourteen years. We don't want to start again."
I felt something tighten in my chest.
That was why I had invested.
Not for a title.
Not for a photograph.
Not for the satisfaction of watching Julian discover who I was.
For people like Denise.
People who had spent years helping build something and deserved the chance to keep their jobs.
"I believe there is still a future here," I said.
She smiled faintly.
"That's good to hear."
After she walked away, I looked toward Malcolm.
He was speaking quietly with the general counsel.
The forensic accountant stood nearby with a thin folder.
I recognized it.
The same folder I had seen that afternoon.
It contained the findings of the six-week financial review.
I had asked for the investigation to be handled carefully.
No public accusations.
No dramatic confrontations.
Just facts.
Malcolm had agreed.
Aurelia needed a responsible transition, not a spectacle.
Still, I knew the announcement would change the atmosphere.
Especially for Julian.
He finally noticed me watching the stage.
He walked over.
"Why are you still here?"
I looked at him.
"Because I was invited."
"You're making this difficult."
"How?"
He glanced toward Camilla.
She was waiting near the main table.
"People are asking questions."
"About what?"
"About us."
I almost smiled.
"You mean about your behavior?"
His face hardened.
"Keep your voice down."
I looked around.
Nobody was close enough to hear us clearly.
"Why?"
"Because this is a professional event."
I stared at him.
"Then perhaps you should behave professionally."
His mouth tightened.
For a moment, I thought he might say something else.
Instead, he looked toward the stage.
"Malcolm is about to make an important announcement. I don't want distractions."
"Neither do I."
"Then go sit somewhere else."
"I'll sit where I like."
He exhaled sharply.
"You have no idea how much pressure I've been under."
I looked at him.
"Neither do you."
He frowned.
"What does that mean?"
I didn't answer.
I wasn't going to explain the acquisition to him beside a champagne table.
He would hear it from the chairman.
The same way everyone else would.
Julian studied my face.
Then he laughed without humor.
"You're acting strange tonight."
"Perhaps I'm tired."
"You should have stayed home."
I thought about the earrings.
The messages.
The lies.
The way he had struck my shoulder without caring who saw.
For years, I had listened to him explain why his actions were justified.
I had accepted apologies that were never followed by changes.
I had mistaken silence for peace.
Not tonight.
"Enjoy the evening, Julian."
I turned away.
He didn't follow me.
Instead, he returned to Camilla.
She whispered something to him.
He laughed.
I watched them for a moment.
Then I saw Malcolm lift his hand.
The event coordinator approached the sound technician.
The ballroom lights began to dim.
Conversations gradually stopped.
People turned toward the stage.
Julian moved into a better position near the front.
He adjusted his tie.
Camilla stood close to him.
I remained beside the table.
The glass of sparkling water was still in my hand.
Malcolm stepped behind the microphone.
He waited until the room became quiet.
"Good evening, everyone."
Applause filled the ballroom.
He thanked the employees.
He thanked the partners who had stayed with the company through difficult months.
He spoke about the twenty years Aurelia had spent developing technology and serving its clients.
Then his tone became more serious.
He mentioned the canceled contracts.
The debt.
The expansion that had not delivered what the company expected.
I saw Julian's expression change slightly.
He knew those subjects were uncomfortable.
But he didn't seem worried.
He believed the financial difficulties had been managed.
He believed his promotion was still coming.
Malcolm continued.
"During the past eighteen months, many of you have worked under difficult circumstances. Some of you have carried responsibilities that were never part of your original roles."
People listened quietly.
"Your commitment has kept this company moving."
Julian glanced toward the stage again.
I noticed him smooth the front of his jacket.
He was ready.
I wasn't.
I was thinking about Denise and the eight hundred employees whose jobs depended on the company's survival.
Then Malcolm looked down at his notes.
He paused.
And I knew the next words would change everything.
Click here to continue reading: PART 4: When the Chairman Announced the New Owner, My Husband Finally Discovered the Woman He Had Spent Years Underestimating
My Husband Wanted Me Gone Before the Biggest Announcement of His Career, But He Had No Idea Why I Had Come
Part 3 of 20
