“Notify Apex counsel that I dispute the March consent and do not authorize closing based on it.”
“Understood.”
“And preserve every version of every document carrying my signature.”
Benjamin paused.
“Understood.”
Claire ended the call.
Nobody applauded.
Good.
She did not want applause.
Ryan stared at her.
“You just destroyed the company.”
Claire shook her head.
“No.”
“You think Apex waits?”
“I don’t know.”
“Four hundred employees.”
“I know.”
“People’s options.”
“I know.”
“Jobs.”
“I know.”
His voice rose.
“And you don’t care because you walked in and saw a ring.”
Claire stared.
The accusation was almost clever.
Almost.
She picked up the binder.
“I care enough not to let four hundred employees depend on a sale built on documents I didn’t knowingly sign.”
Ryan laughed bitterly.
“This is revenge.”
“No.”
She looked at Vanessa.
“Revenge would be taking this out on her.”
Vanessa flinched.
Claire continued:
“Or calling Sophie before I know what to say.”
Ryan’s face changed at their daughter’s name.
Claire looked back at him.
“This is verification.”
She placed the binder on the table.
“That’s what founders are supposed to do.”
Then she turned toward the elevator.
Ryan followed.
“Claire.”
She kept walking.
“Claire.”
He grabbed her elbow.
She stopped.
Looked at his hand.
Ryan released her immediately.
The elevator doors opened.
He stepped inside with her before they closed.
The atrium disappeared.
For the first time, they were alone.
Ryan pressed the lobby button.
Claire stood beside him.
Neither spoke until the doors began moving.
Then Ryan said:
“I was going to tell you.”
Claire stared at the numbers descending.
“When?”
“After closing.”
She laughed softly.
Of course.
“Before or after the honeymoon?”
His jaw tightened.
“Don’t.”
“You proposed to another woman.”
“Our marriage was finished.”
“Stop saying that like it was a joint decision.”
“You weren’t happy.”
“No.”
Claire turned toward him.
“I wasn’t.”
Ryan’s eyes filled with frustration.
“Then what are we arguing about?”
“Honesty.”
“We’ve been roommates.”
“Then leave honestly.”
“I tried.”
“No.”
“You never heard me.”
“Because you never said, ‘Claire, I’m leaving you.’”
Ryan looked away.
“You said we were disconnected.”
“You said I cared more about my mother than you.”
“You said I was married to Meridian.”
“Those are arguments.”
Claire’s voice broke.
“Not divorce.”
The elevator continued downward.
Ryan leaned against the wall.
“I fell in love with Vanessa.”
Claire swallowed.
There.
A direct sentence at last.
“How long?”
“Eighteen months.”
She stared.
Her mother had been alive.