Chapter 3 - Meet Zenith’s New President
Maxwell held the folder but didn’t read from it immediately.
“Zenith’s next executive vice president will oversee three major divisions and report directly to the president.”
Julian stood perfectly still.
Vanessa leaned close to him.
“They were promoting you, right?”
Julian barely moved his lips.
“That was the plan.”
I heard him anyway.
Maxwell continued.
“The board reviewed internal candidates based on performance, leadership, compliance history, and management culture.”
That last phrase changed Julian’s expression.
Management culture.
Maxwell looked toward the right side of the ballroom.
“Please congratulate Caroline Mercer.”
A woman in a navy gown covered her mouth in shock.
The room erupted in applause.
Julian did not move.
Caroline headed toward the stage.
She was forty-two, brilliant, respected, and one of the few senior executives who had fought to keep junior employees from being cut during the restructuring.
I shook her hand.
“Congratulations.”
“Sarah, thank you.”
“You earned it.”
She whispered, “Are you sure?”
I smiled.
“Very.”
Below us, Julian turned away.
Vanessa followed him.
“What happened?”
“I don’t know.”
“You told everyone you were getting it.”
“I said I was being considered.”
“You said it was basically done.”
Julian glanced toward the stage.
“It should have been.”
Maxwell finished the formal announcements.
The ballroom slowly returned to conversation, though no conversation was about anything except Julian and me.
I stepped down from the stage.
Julian immediately approached.
“We need to talk.”
“No.”
His eyes widened.
“Sarah.”
“I’m working.”
“You hid this from me.”
I stared at him.
“That’s your opening?”
“What do you want me to say?”
“I’m curious.”
“You’re the president of my company.”
“Yes.”
“And you never told me.”
“I told you I worked in investment restructuring.”
“That’s not the same thing.”
“I told you about emergency financing projects.”
“You never said Zenith.”
“You never asked.”
Julian laughed once.
It wasn’t amusement.
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Is it?”
“You intentionally kept this secret.”
“I was legally required to maintain confidentiality until the board completed the appointment process.”
“You could have told your husband.”
“No.”
His face hardened.
“You don’t trust me?”
I looked at him.
“Tonight, you introduced your wife as your nanny because you thought I wasn’t impressive enough for your CEO.”
He looked around.
“Keep your voice down.”
There it was again.
I almost smiled.
“You still care about that?”
“Everyone is watching us.”
“They already watched you deny being married to me.”
“That was a mistake.”
“No.”
“What?”
“You didn’t accidentally say I was the nanny.”
He opened his mouth.
I continued.
“You looked at Maxwell, looked at me, and made a calculation.”
Julian said nothing.
“You decided I lowered your value.”
“That’s not fair.”
“Then tell me why you did it.”
He looked away.
“Sarah…”
“Say it.”
“I panicked.”
“Why?”
He hesitated.
“Because I thought Maxwell expected…”
“What?”
“A different kind of wife.”
I stared at him.
“What kind?”
“Someone who…”
He stopped.
“Finish the sentence.”
He clenched his jaw.
“Someone who fit the room.”
For several seconds, I said nothing.
Then Maxwell appeared beside us.
“Sarah, the board wants you in the private lounge.”
“I’ll be there.”
Julian looked at Maxwell.
“Maxwell, can we talk?”
Maxwell’s expression became cool.
“Tomorrow.”
“About the EVP position?”
“Among other things.”
Julian’s face changed.
“What does that mean?”
Maxwell looked at me.
“Sarah?”
“He deserves an answer.”
Maxwell nodded.
“The board had concerns about your leadership reviews, Julian.”
“What concerns?”
“Employee turnover.”
“That’s not unusual.”
“Complaints about how you treat junior staff.”
“Disgruntled employees.”
“Three separate reports that you pressured your team to manipulate presentation data.”
Julian looked at me.
“You told them?”
“No.”
Maxwell answered for me.
“Your employees did.”
Julian’s voice hardened.
“I improved that division.”
“You improved revenue,” Maxwell said. “Leadership requires more.”
Julian stepped closer.
“So my wife becomes president, and suddenly I lose the promotion?”
I felt every nearby conversation stop.
Maxwell’s expression changed.
“Be very careful with what you’re implying.”
“I’m asking a question.”
“No,” I said. “You’re searching for a way to make your failure someone else’s fault.”
Julian looked at me.
“This is humiliating.”
I shook my head.
“No. This is information.”
Vanessa approached cautiously.
“Sarah?”
I looked at her.
She glanced at my dress.
“I really am sorry about the wine.”
“No, you’re not.”
Her mouth opened.
“You wanted to embarrass me.”
“It was a joke.”
“Was I laughing?”
She looked at Julian for help.
He said nothing.
I stepped closer.
“You poured wine on me because you believed there would never be consequences.”
Vanessa’s face flushed.
“I apologized.”
“You performed an apology.”
She crossed her arms.
“What do you want, Sarah?”
“Nothing from you.”
That seemed to bother her more than anger would have.
Julian lowered his voice.
“Come home with me.”
“No.”
“We need to discuss this privately.”
“We will.”
“When?”
I looked at him.
“When I decide whether there is still a marriage to discuss.”
May you like
For the first time that night, Julian stopped arguing.
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