Chapter 7 - Ethan Realizes His Military Career Is Ruined
Table Seven felt like an isolated island in the middle of a frozen ocean.
No one approached Ethan, no one offered a polite smile, and no one came over to offer a glass of wine.
The officers who had been chatting happily with Evelyn earlier in the evening had quietly moved their chairs away or shifted to other tables.
Ethan sat down heavily in his chair, staring blankly at the empty spot where my place card should have been.
His mother dropped into her seat beside him, her hands trembling so hard she could barely hold her evening purse.
“Ethan... Ethan, do something,” Evelyn whimpered, her arrogant facade completely crumbled into desperate panic.
“Go talk to her! Tell her you’re her husband! She can't let them treat us like this!”
Ethan slowly turned his head to look at his mother, his eyes hollow, dark, and filled with a sudden, boiling resentment.
“Do something?” Ethan asked, his voice low, raspy, and dangerous.
“You pulled her name card off the table, Mom.”
“You invited Audrey here tonight to parade her in front of everyone like she was my real wife.”
“You called the military police to have my wife dragged out of the ball in handcuffs!”
“I didn't know!” Evelyn argued hysterically, her eyes darting around to see if anyone was listening.
“How was I supposed to know she was an Inspector General? She dresses like a librarian!”
“She works for the Pentagon, Mom!” Ethan yelled, forgetting for a moment where he was sitting.
“She holds the key to every promotion board, every security clearance, and every command assignment in this district!”
“She didn't just ruin my night, Mom... you just helped me commit career suicide in front of Major General Caldwell!”
A major sitting at the edge of Table Eight turned around and shot Ethan a look of sharp disgust.
“Quiet down at Table Seven,” the major commanded in a stern, authoritative voice.
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“Show some respect for the Undersecretary’s dinner.”
Ethan shrank back into his chair, realizing that his authority as a captain meant absolutely nothing in this room anymore.
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