Chapter 7
Gavin arrived at the east conference floor seven minutes later.
Not alone.
Valerie came with him.
That was another mistake.
He should have left her downstairs.
He should have found counsel.
He should have said nothing.
But panic makes arrogant people sentimental. He thought proximity still gave him power.
The glass conference doors opened, and Gavin stepped inside with the ring box closed in his fist.
Valerie followed, no longer triumphant, but not defeated either. She had rebuilt her expression into something sharp and corporate.
“Maeve,” Gavin said.
Cynthia’s voice came from the screen.
“Mr. Carter, this room is now under legal hold. Speak carefully.”
Gavin looked at the screen and flinched.
“Cynthia, this is a misunderstanding.”
Maeve stood at the far end of the table, suitcase beside her chair.
Valerie crossed her arms.
“I was told this was resolved.”
Cynthia replied, “Resolved is not a legal status.”
Valerie’s jaw tightened.
“I acted based on representations made to me by Gavin.”
Gavin turned toward her.
“Val—”
She cut him off.
“No. You told me she signed. You told me the board would accept the announcement tonight.”
Maeve looked at Gavin.
He had the decency to look trapped.
Not ashamed.
Trapped.
Cynthia said, “For clarity, no divorce filing exists.”
Valerie’s face hardened.
Gavin whispered, “Maeve, we were over.”
Maeve’s eyes lifted to his.
“Then why did you need me to come with London tickets?”
He looked away.
That was the answer.
Valerie saw it and stepped back from him.
The ring box remained in his hand, suddenly grotesque.
A symbol of a future built on a document Maeve had refused to sign because no one had honestly asked her to.
Cynthia spoke again.
“Clause Seventeen has been activated preliminarily. Full implications are not being discussed in this room at this time.”
Valerie turned sharply.
“Implications for whom?”
Cynthia did not blink.
“For anyone who relied on false authority.”
May you like
The room went quiet.
Read Chapter 8 👉 Because Valerie finally realized Gavin had not just lied about his marriage—he had used her as part of a corporate maneuver he could not control.
