Chapter 6 - THE INVITATION
Two days before the gala, a black envelope arrived at my apartment.
No return address.
Inside was a formal invitation.
My name was written by hand.
Rebecca Whitmore.
Not Rebecca Carter.
Not yet.
At the bottom was a short note from Harrison.
Come through the front door.
I called him.
“Marcus removed me from the list.”
“I know.”
“So security will stop me.”
“Yes.”
“You want that?”
“I want witnesses.”
I went quiet.
Harrison continued.
“If Marcus behaves professionally, nothing happens.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
“Then the board sees exactly who he is.”
I hated the idea.
Not because I was afraid of Marcus.
Because I was afraid of becoming part of some public spectacle.
I had spent six months rebuilding myself in private.
I didn’t want revenge.
At least, that’s what I told myself.
But on the night of the gala, when I stood in front of the mirror wearing a simple black dress and Aunt Helen’s pearl earrings, I realized revenge wasn’t the right word.
Truth was.
Dana picked me up.
She looked at me once and nodded.
“You look dangerous.”
“I look tired.”
“Same thing after forty.”
I laughed.
It was the first real laugh I’d had all day.
At the hotel, cameras flashed outside.
Executives stepped from black cars.
Vanessa arrived wearing silver.
Marcus followed.
He kissed her cheek for the photographers.
Dana looked at me.
“You still want to do this?”
“Yes.”
We entered through the front doors.
The young woman at registration searched for my name.
Then searched again.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Whitmore. I don’t see you.”
I handed her the black invitation.
Her face changed.
“One moment.”
Before she could call anyone, an older board member named Thomas Avery spotted me.
“Rebecca?”
He hugged me.
Suddenly the registration problem disappeared.
I entered the ballroom.
For ten minutes, nothing happened.
Then Marcus saw me.
His face changed instantly.
Vanessa followed his gaze.
She leaned toward him.
“What is she doing here?”
Marcus marched across the floor.
“Rebecca.”
“Marcus.”
“What are you doing?”
“Attending the gala.”
“You’re not invited.”
I held up the black card.
“I appear to be.”
He grabbed it.
His eyes moved over Harrison’s handwriting.
For the first time, real fear flashed across his face.
Then it vanished.
“You need to leave.”
“No.”
He stepped closer.
“Don’t do this.”
“Do what?”
“Create a scene.”
I laughed softly.
“Marcus, I’m standing still.”
People were watching now.
Vanessa walked up.
Her smile was sweet.
Fake.
“Rebecca, maybe tonight isn’t the right place.”
“For what?”
“This.”
She waved between me and Marcus.
I looked at her hand.
A diamond ring glittered on her finger.
My old ring had been bigger.
That childish thought almost made me laugh.
Marcus lowered his voice.
“Leave now.”
“No.”
His eyes hardened.
Then he did exactly what Harrison predicted.
He raised his hand.
“Security.”
Two guards approached.
Marcus pointed at me.
May you like
“Get her out.”
And just like that, the trap closed around him.
