The Silence Between Us: A Vow to Return novel · Chapter 18 of 24

Chapter 18: Leave of Absence

Nobody went back to their desks.

By noon the atrium was still full, with people sitting on the stairs and standing along the balconies, waiting.

Molly had found two chairs from a conference room, and we sat in the front row.

"I feel like I'm at a play," she whispered.

"You're not."

"I know. It's better. Nobody's hit anyone yet."

The doors to the boardroom opened on the mezzanine, and the white-haired chair of the board came down the stairs alone.

She stopped on the landing where everyone could see her.

"There will not be a vote today," she said. "I am telling you what we decided, because you were told something else this morning."

The room fell quiet again.

"Mercer Capital accepts Mr. Nathan Mercer's resignation. It will be a loss."

A sound of dismay went up.

She raised one hand.

"Mercer Capital also acknowledges Ms. Kendra Shaw as Harold Mercer's daughter. That is a family fact, and nothing in this firm will treat it as anything less."

Kendra stood against the wall near the elevators in the navy blazer.

For a moment her shoulders came down.

"We have also learned," the chair went on, "that a press statement about Mrs. Hannah Mercer was prepared and sent by Ms. Shaw eight days before the Founders' Dinner."

Heads turned again.

"We do not employ people who brief the press against the spouse of an officer. Ms. Shaw is on leave, effective now, while we review her conduct."

← Chapter 17 · All chapters · Chapter 19 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend