Her voice rose for the first time.
“I knew we were struggling.”
The room fell completely silent.
“I knew you resented me for leaving Meridian.”
“I knew you hated that I spent two years caring for my mother.”
Ryan flinched.
“That is not true.”
“I knew you thought therapy was inconvenient.”
“That is not what I said.”
Claire stepped closer.
“I did not know you were announcing an engagement while I still slept in your bed.”
Several employees looked away.
Ryan’s face reddened.
“We haven’t slept together in months.”
Claire stared.
“That sentence can mean two things, Ryan.”
He understood.
Claire continued:
“We slept in the same room Sunday.”
He said nothing.
“You kissed me goodbye Monday morning.”
Nothing.
“You texted me Tuesday asking whether I could pick up your dry cleaning because you’d be late.”
A few people actually grimaced.
Claire nodded toward Vanessa.
“And today you proposed?”
Vanessa whispered:
“He proposed last night.”
Claire looked at her.
Vanessa’s eyes filled.
“Private dinner.”
She touched the ring.
“Tonight was the announcement.”
Claire looked at Ryan.
“Where were you last night?”
He stared.
“New York.”
“That’s what you told me.”
“I was.”
“With her.”
“Yes.”
Claire nodded slowly.
Something inside her became quieter.
Not calmer.
Clearer.
She looked back at the binder.
Then saw the closing date.
Tomorrow.
9:00 a.m.
Her anniversary surprise had accidentally arrived less than seventeen hours before Ryan planned to close a half-billion-dollar transaction using documents that claimed their marriage was already ending and her voting shares had been converted.
Claire took out her phone.
Ryan’s expression changed instantly.
“Who are you calling?”
She looked at him.
“Someone who reads documents before signing them.”
“Claire.”
She searched for Benjamin Ross.
Outside corporate counsel.
He had represented Meridian since the first seed round.
Ryan stepped closer.
“Do not do this here.”
Claire pressed call.
Ryan reached toward the phone.
She stepped away.
“Don’t touch me.”
He stopped.
Benjamin answered on the second ring.
“Claire?”
“Ben.”
A pause.
“Everything okay?”
“No.”
She looked at the binder.
“I’m standing at Meridian.”
Silence.
Benjamin understood enough to become careful.
“Okay.”
“I have Project Northstar in front of me.”
Another pause.
“Who gave you the binder?”
“Does that matter?”
“No.”
His voice changed.
“What’s wrong?”
Claire read the declaration.
Separate since January.
Founder recapitalization.
Eight point four percent.
Benjamin said nothing for several seconds.
Then:
“Claire, did you sign the March consent package?”
“I signed electronic tabs.”
“Did you receive the full packet?”
“I thought I did.”
Ryan stepped forward.
“You did.”
Claire ignored him.
Benjamin continued:
“Did you knowingly approve conversion of your voting common shares?”
“No.”