Chapter 6: Broken Glass

The Midwest Freight Association held its dinner on the second Thursday of every month, and every company that mattered sent somebody.

I had gone for six years as Claire's shadow, standing two steps behind her with a folder.

Tonight I walked in beside Danielle, with my own name tag.

"Rule two," she said, handing me a glass of sparkling water. "You can leave whenever you want. I won't ask why."

"There's a rule two?"

"I make them up as needed."

I was laughing when I saw Claire.

She stood by the far wall in a cream suit, with Darius at her elbow.

She had seen us come in.

She had not stopped watching since.

Her thoughts rang out across the room, quick and sour.

"Why is he smiling at her? He never smiles like that at me. That woman is trying to steal him."

I looked away.

For twenty minutes I worked the room beside Danielle.

People shook my hand.

A man from the port authority said he had read my routing paper.

He asked if I would speak at his conference.

Nobody at Danforth had ever told me they had read it.

Then Claire crossed the room.

The crowd opened for her.

She stopped in front of me, with Darius a step behind, and did not look at Danielle at all.

"Nathan," she said. "A word."

"I'm busy, Ms. Danforth."

Her chin lifted.

"You want to play games with me in public? Fine. What did Danielle put in your head?"

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