Chapter 3 - Claire Attends Her Own Anniversary
At six o’clock, I walked downstairs without covering my head.
Richard stopped in the foyer.
His smile disappeared.
“I told you to wear something.”
“I heard you.”
Eighty guests arrived over the next hour.
Friends.
Relatives.
Business associates.
Richard performed concern beautifully.
He touched my shoulder and told people I had made a “bold anniversary
choice.”
I let him.
Mathilde attended as my guest.
Richard did not know she was coming.
When he saw her, his expression changed for half a second.
Then he smiled.
“Mathilde. What a surprise.”
“I wouldn’t miss Claire’s anniversary.”
Dinner began.
After dessert, Richard stood.
He gave a speech about ten years of partnership.
Then he produced a leather folder.
My pulse slowed.
“There’s one more thing,” he said. “Claire and I have been planning our
future.”
He placed the folder in front of me.
Inside was the anniversary authorization.
The same document I had frozen that morning.
“Sign it,” he whispered.
I looked up.
“Why?”
May you like
His smile remained.
“Because everyone’s watching.”
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