My First Love Returned, His Stand-In Begged Me to Stay novel · Chapter 20 of 24

Chapter 20: The Board Dinner

The board dinner was held on the fifteenth in a private room at the Drake, around a table set for fourteen.

Constance sat at the head under a portrait of Monty's grandfather.

She wore pearls and her warmest smile, and she rose when I came in.

"Selah," she said. "You came."

"I came."

"And you've dressed for it. I'm so glad."

She meant the green dress, and she meant to put me on Monty's arm.

I walked past her chair and took the seat the treasurer held out for me, halfway down the table, between Bree and an empty chair.

Constance's smile held for a second longer than it should have.

Monty sat at her right hand.

He had a leather folder in front of him, closed, and a pencil.

Eleven directors ate soup and said how sorry they were about the gala, and how it had all been blown out of proportion.

The treasurer, the gray-haired man from the ballroom, said nothing, and ate nothing.

When the plates were cleared, Constance tapped her glass.

"Before the audit committee reports," she said, "I'd like to say that this family has had a difficult month, and that my son has come home. Montgomery will be seated as chair-designate this evening. I think we can all agree he has earned a second chance."

She turned to him with a mother's glow.

"Montgomery."

Monty stood up.

"Thank you, Mother," he said. "I'd like to read something first."

"There's no need."

"I'd like to."

He opened the folder.

Inside were four sheets of paper, and he laid them in a row.

He put his finger under the first line, and I watched the directors watch him do it.

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