I Waited Five Years to Marry Him, Then I Found Out He'd Married My Best Friend novel · Chapter 4 of 24

Chapter 4: The Investors' Lunch

My sister lent me a green dress and a pair of heels half a size too small.

"Armor," she said, and pinned my hair up herself.

At eleven Eli was at the curb in a dark suit with the cut hand bandaged fresh, and I got into the truck without a word.

The Drake's ballroom held two hundred people at round tables with white cloths.

Every head turned when we came in.

I could hear it moving through the room, my name and the video and the word cancer.

"Chin up," Eli said under his breath. "They're looking at you because you're the only one here who's interesting."

"You're lying."

"Mostly."

He walked me to Table One, right below the podium, and held out my chair.

Constance was already seated at the head table, in grey this time, and she saw me and went still.

Chase sat two seats from her.

He had a speech in his hand. When he looked up and saw me, the speech shook.

Greer wasn't there. I was glad of it.

Lunch was salmon and a long speech from Constance about legacy and continuity.

Then she announced that the firm would be offering all shareholders a generous price for their holdings, "to simplify our governance for the next generation."

Eli's hand tightened on his fork. He said nothing.

"And now," Constance said, "my son Chase will tell you about our international growth."

Chase stood.

He was good at this. His voice was easy and warm, and he talked about Asian markets and strategic partnerships and the importance of being present in person.

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