Chapter 2 - The Man Who Took Credit
Victor Langford had built a career on looking important while other people did important things.
At fifty-three, he owned Langford Design Group, the architectural consulting firm that had overseen the Grand Alder restoration.
At least, that was what the brochures said.
In reality, Tessa had done most of it.
Victor stopped beside her.
“You embarrassed a major sponsor.”
Tessa stared at him.
“I embarrassed him?”
“Madison is Preston Vale’s guest.”
“And?”
Victor lowered his voice.
“Preston’s company contributed eight million dollars to this project.”
Tessa nodded toward Madison.
“Apparently the donation included permission to insult staff.”
“Tessa.”
“What?”
“You should have walked away.”
“I did.”
Victor’s jaw tightened.
Silas watched silently.
Victor finally noticed.
“Mr. Maddox, I appreciate your concern, but this is an internal personnel matter.”
Silas raised one eyebrow.
“Is it?”
“Yes.”
“Interesting.”
Victor hesitated.
Silas looked toward the ballroom ceiling.
“Who designed the revised structural support system?”
Victor smiled.
“Our firm.”
“I didn't ask which firm.”
The smile weakened.
“I personally supervised—”
“Who designed it?”
Victor looked at Tessa.
Silas followed his gaze.
“Tessa?”
She hesitated.
Victor answered quickly.
“Our design process is collaborative.”
Silas gave a quiet laugh.
“I’ve spent twenty years around men who use that sentence.”
Victor stiffened.
Silas turned to Tessa.
“Who designed it?”
“I did.”
“The west mezzanine?”
“I did.”
“The acoustic redesign?”
“Yes.”
“The staircase?”
“Yes.”
Victor interrupted.
“Under my supervision.”
Tessa finally looked at him.
“No.”
His expression hardened.
“Tessa.”
“You rejected the staircase.”
Silence.
“You said preserving it would add six weeks and called it sentimental nonsense.”
Victor’s face reddened.
“You’re an employee.”
“And you submitted my drawings under your name.”
Guests nearby began whispering.
Victor stepped closer.
“Think carefully.”
Tessa’s fingers tightened around her checklist.
She had thought carefully for three years.
About rent.
Health insurance.
Her mother’s mortgage.
Her student loans.
Every reason people like Victor counted on employees remaining silent.
Then Silas spoke.
“Don’t threaten her.”
Victor turned.
“I didn't.”
“You did.”
Silas's expression remained calm.
“You’re just accustomed to threatening people politely.”
Victor swallowed.
“This has nothing to do with you.”
Silas looked around.
“Actually, it has quite a lot to do with me.”
Before Victor could respond, Preston Vale finally approached.
He was forty, polished and irritated.
“Silas, can we stop turning this into theater?”
Silas looked at him.
“Your girlfriend started the performance.”
Madison closed her eyes.
Preston ignored her.
“This event represents serious money.”
“Everything represents money to you.”
“And to you.”
Silas smiled faintly.
“Not everything.”
Preston pointed toward Tessa.
“She’s an employee.”
Tessa’s expression changed.
Silas noticed.
“So?”
Preston shrugged.
“So employees get replaced.”
Silas looked at him for several seconds.
Then at Victor.
“Is that true?”
Victor said nothing.
Silas repeated the question.
“Is Tessa replaceable?”
Victor forced a smile.
“Everyone is replaceable.”
Tessa felt something inside her finally become still.
For eighteen months she had worked nights, weekends and holidays.
She had slept on a folding cot in the unfinished ballroom during final construction.
She had redesigned a drainage problem at two in the morning.
She had saved Victor’s firm from three lawsuits.
Everyone is replaceable.
She unclipped her hotel credential.
“Then replace me.”
Victor’s smile vanished.
“What?”
Tessa placed the badge into his hand.
“I quit.”
“Tessa, don’t be ridiculous.”
“I’m not.”
“You have a contract.”
“You violated it when you submitted my designs without attribution.”
Victor went pale.
Silas watched her with an expression she could not read.
Victor lowered his voice.
“You walk out tonight, you’ll never work on another major project in this city.”
Tessa met his eyes.
“That sounded less impressive than you probably intended.”
A few guests laughed.
Victor turned crimson.
Then Silas spoke.
“She already has another project.”
Tessa looked at him.
“I do?”
Silas nodded.
“If you want it.”
Victor scoffed.
“You don't even know her.”
Silas looked directly at Tessa.
“I know more about her work than you apparently do.”
Then the ballroom lights flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Tessa immediately looked toward the western ceiling.
Her expression changed.
Silas saw it.
“What?”
She listened.
A low mechanical vibration came from above.
Tessa dropped her checklist.
“Everybody away from the west wall.”
Nobody moved.
She shouted.
“NOW!”
May you like
This time they listened.
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