Chapter 14 - THE GALA ONE YEAR LATER
One year after the affair became public, Hale Hospitality held an anniversary fundraiser in the same ballroom.
Claire almost declined.
Then decided the room did not belong to the worst thing that happened there.
She arrived with Julian.
Not as a revenge entrance.
As a guest.
Mason was hosting.
Ryan worked the donor table.
Luke carried Julian for half the evening because he liked babies more than speeches.
Then Claire saw Vanessa.
Across the ballroom.
Silver dress replaced by dark blue.
She was coordinating a nonprofit’s event segment.
Grant Event Strategies had survived.
Smaller.
Changed.
Vanessa saw Claire.
Both froze.
Then Vanessa approached.
Mason started moving.
Claire lifted one finger.
He stopped.
Vanessa said:
“I didn’t know you’d be here.”
“Same.”
She looked at Julian.
“Is that—”
“Yes.”
Vanessa nodded.
No congratulations.
No apology performance.
Then:
“Ethan told me you were pregnant after we ended.”
Claire’s expression changed.
“You spoke to him?”
“Once. Months ago. He told me not to contact him again.”
Claire nodded.
Vanessa looked around the ballroom.
“I used to think this family owned everything.”
Claire said:
“They own the building.”
Vanessa almost laughed.
“Right.”
Then:
“I’m sorry for calling you stupid.”
Claire looked at her.
“You wanted me to feel small.”
“Yes.”
“Did it work?”
Vanessa thought.
“For about ten seconds.”
Claire appreciated the honesty.
Then Julian started crying.
Conversation over.
Claire walked away.
No hug.
No forgiveness scene.
Just two women no longer orbiting Ethan.
Then Claire saw him near the entrance.
He had been invited separately as Julian’s father for the family portion of the evening.
Mason hated it.
Claire insisted.
Co-parenting could not depend on Mason’s comfort.
Ethan looked around the ballroom.
“This place still scares me.”
Claire said:
May you like
“Good lighting, though.”
He laughed.
