Chapter 4 - THE BOARDROOM WHERE HE SMILED AT ME
Three days later, I attended a Vale Harbor board meeting.
Not as Adrian's wife.
As the person whose approval the proposed transaction required.
The conference room overlooked Lake Michigan.
Twelve directors sat around a long walnut table.
Adrian stood near the presentation screen.
Celeste sat beside him.
She wore a cream suit.
Her scarlet coat was draped over the back of her chair.
When I entered, Adrian smiled.
Then froze.
“Elise?”
I returned his smile.
“Hello, Adrian.”
He looked toward the board.
“What are you doing here?”
I placed my folder on the table.
“Attending a meeting.”
He laughed nervously.
“Sweetheart, this is a confidential business session.”
I nodded.
“I know.”
The board chair, Eleanor Price, stood.
“Mr. Morgan, perhaps we should begin with introductions.”
Adrian frowned.
Eleanor turned toward me.
“Directors, please welcome Elise Vale Morgan, controlling voting representative of the Harrison Vale Family Trust.”
Silence.
Adrian stared.
Celeste's expression changed.
I took my seat.
“Please continue.”
Adrian looked toward Eleanor.
“I'm sorry. What?”
Eleanor repeated the introduction.
Adrian turned toward me.
“You own Vale Harbor?”
I smiled faintly.
“Not personally in its entirety. But I control the voting interest that matters for this transaction.”
He stared.
Then laughed.
“Elise, why didn't you tell me?”
I looked at him.
“You've been busy.”
Celeste lowered her eyes.
Adrian cleared his throat.
“Well, this is wonderful.”
He smiled at the directors.
“Obviously, this makes our partnership even more promising.”
I opened my folder.
“Does it?”
He hesitated.
“Of course.”
I looked toward the presentation screen.
“Adrian, before we discuss the proposed partnership, I'd like clarification on the forty-eight-million-dollar credit application.”
His face lost color.
The room went still.
Celeste turned toward him.
Adrian swallowed.
“What application?”
I slid a copy across the table.
“The one naming me as proposed guarantor.”
He stared at the paper.
Then looked at me.
“Elise, we should discuss this privately.”
I nodded.
“That's exactly what I thought when I saw you enter my hotel with Celeste.”
Nobody moved.
Adrian's face turned white.
Celeste looked down.
I closed the folder.
“But today isn't about my marriage.”
I looked around the table.
“It's about whether this company is being asked to approve a transaction supported by forged authority.”
Eleanor's expression hardened.
“Then I suggest we suspend consideration immediately.”
Adrian stood.
“Elise—”
I looked at him.
“Sit down.”
May you like
He stared.
For the first time in our marriage, he had nothing to say.
