He Chose His First Love. I Own His Empire. novel · Chapter 21 of 24
Chapter 21: Seven Months
The chair at the head of the table had been Dalton's for three years.
In April, at seven months, I sat in it with my hands folded over my stomach, and nobody asked me to move.
Odile sat at my right in her chair, with a cup of tea going cold.
Benton stood against the wall by the door, in his black overcoat, with my bag over his shoulder.
"The first item," I said, "is the list from human resources."
The board secretary passed the pages down.
"Twenty-three people have been dismissed since October," I said. "Cooks, housekeepers, two night porters, and a pastry assistant. All of them were let go by email, on the same morning, by the same office."
Nobody said anything.
"I'd like them reinstated with back pay," I said. "Today."
"The cost," began a man halfway down the table.
"Is four hundred thousand dollars," I said. "I looked it up. Dalton spent more than that on one gala."
The old jeweler cleared his throat.
"I move the motion," he said.
"Second," said a woman at the far end.
It carried, nine to nothing.
I signed the list at the head of the table, with a fountain pen that had been Odile's husband's.
I'd thought my hand might shake.
It didn't.
Afterward, in the hall, Odile caught my wrist as I went past.
"Dalton took the plea in February," she said. "He's in Phoenix, on probation, selling timeshares."
"I heard."
"You never asked about him," Odile said. "I noticed. I forgot to tell you I'm proud of you."
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