Camilla contacted me shortly after lunch.
Her message was brief.
"Audrey, I would like to return something that belongs to you."
I stared at the screen.
I knew exactly what she meant.
I replied with the office address.
She arrived less than an hour later.
My assistant informed me that she was waiting in reception.
I asked her to come in.
She entered carrying a small velvet box.
The red gown from the anniversary celebration was gone.
She wore a gray business suit and carried a black handbag.
For the first time since I had met her, she looked uncomfortable.
"Hello, Audrey."
"Hello, Camilla."
She placed the box on my desk.
"I brought these back."
I opened it.
The diamond earrings were inside.
They rested against the dark velvet lining.
I picked up one carefully.
The small clasp was still intact.
I remembered my mother wearing them.
I remembered the day she gave them to me.
I closed the box.
"Thank you."
Camilla sat down after I gestured toward the chair.
She looked at her hands.
"I should have asked where they came from."
I didn't answer immediately.
She continued.
"Julian told me he had purchased them."
I looked at her.
"Did you believe him?"
She hesitated.
"At the time, yes."
"Did you ask for a receipt?"
She looked uncomfortable.
"No."
I nodded.
There was no reason to argue.
She had returned the earrings.
That was what mattered at that moment.
But she hadn't come only to return them.
I could see it in her face.
"Is there something else?"
She took a breath.
"I don't know what Julian told you about us."
I looked at her.
"Enough."
She swallowed.
"We've been close for some time."
I waited.
"At first, it was mostly work. We traveled together. We spent a lot of time discussing projects."
"And then?"
She looked down.
"Then it became something else."
I felt my stomach tighten.
I already knew.
But hearing her say it still hurt.
"How long?"
She didn't answer immediately.
"Several months."
I looked toward the window.
Several months.
That was longer than I had wanted to believe.
She continued.
"Julian told me your marriage had been over for a long time."
I looked back at her.
"Did he?"
"He said you were living separate lives."
"We weren't."
She nodded.
"I know that now."
I didn't ask how she knew.
She seemed to understand that I didn't need another explanation.
Then she said something that surprised me.
"He told me you weren't involved in his work at all."
I almost smiled.
"That part was true."
She looked confused.
"He said you didn't understand the company."
I remained silent.
"He said you weren't interested in business."
I looked at the earrings box.
"Julian has always been very comfortable explaining things about me."
Camilla lowered her eyes.
"I shouldn't have believed everything he said."
"No, you shouldn't."
She nodded.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then she asked whether Julian had been suspended.
I studied her face.
"That isn't something I can discuss with you."
"I understand."
"Any employment matters will be handled through the company."
She nodded again.
I noticed that she seemed frightened.
Not simply embarrassed.
Frightened.
I wondered whether she was worried about losing her position.
I didn't ask.
Finally, she stood.
"I'm sorry, Audrey."
I looked at her.
"Why?"
She seemed surprised by the question.
"For what happened."
I waited.
"For becoming involved with your husband. For the earrings. For the way I behaved at the celebration."
I believed she was sorry.
But an apology didn't erase what had happened.
"Thank you for returning them."
She picked up her handbag.
Then she hesitated.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Yes."
"Are you going to remove Julian from the company?"
I shook my head.
"That decision belongs to the appropriate board process."
She looked disappointed.
"I see."
I walked her to the door.
Before leaving, she turned back.
"I really thought he was going to become president."
I looked at her.
"So did he."
She lowered her eyes.
Then she left.
I returned to my desk.
The velvet box was still there.
I opened it again.
The diamonds caught the afternoon light.
I took out my phone and called my assistant.
"Could you arrange for these to be placed in my personal safe?"
"Certainly."
After she collected the box, I sat quietly.
I didn't feel happy about getting the earrings back.
I felt relieved that something belonging to my mother had returned home.
But Camilla's visit had left me thinking about Julian.
He had told her one version of our marriage.
He had told me another version of his relationship with her.
He had told his colleagues that he was the obvious choice to lead Aurelia.
And he had apparently expected everyone to accept his version of events.
I wondered how many other things he had explained away.
That evening, I received an email from the general counsel.
The board had scheduled another review session.
Julian would be given the opportunity to provide the remaining documentation.
I read the message twice.
Then I replied.
"Please proceed according to the established process."
I closed my laptop.
The earrings were back.
But the trust was not.
Click here to continue reading: PART 15: The Board Gave Julian One More Opportunity to Explain the Missing Records, and He Finally Realized I Would Not Rescue Him
My Husband Wanted Me Gone Before the Biggest Announcement of His Career, But He Had No Idea Why I Had Come
Part 14 of 20
