Chapter 2: The CEO's Question
Felicity recovered quickly.
She always did.
Give her a few seconds, and she could turn almost any situation into a performance designed to make herself look innocent.
“Mr. Montgomery,” she began, placing one hand against her chest, “I think you've misunderstood the situation. Jenna and I have a very complicated relationship.
We tease each other. That's how our family communicates.””
Silas looked at me.
“Jenna, is that true?””
Every eye in the immediate area turned toward me.
I could feel my father's warning stare from across the room. Vanessa had stopped pretending to enjoy her champagne. Felicity was watching me with an expression that said she expected me to rescue her.
I had spent my entire life rescuing her.
When she broke our mother's favorite vase at thirteen, I took the blame.
When she failed a college course and lied to our father, I helped her invent an excuse.
When she totaled his car at twenty-one after driving home from a party, I stayed awake until morning while she cried, then convinced Dad not to report the damage to his insurance company.
And when I became pregnant at twenty-four, Felicity told our relatives I had thrown my future away.
Nobody had ever asked me what happened to the man who fathered Amara.
Nobody had asked why I refused to marry him.
They had simply accepted Felicity's version of my life because it was easier than listening to mine.
I looked at Silas.
“No,” I said.
“It isn't true.””
Felicity's smile disappeared.
“Jenna!””
I continued before she could interrupt.
“My sister has made comments about my daughter and my work for years. I've asked her to stop. She doesn't.””
Silas nodded once.
“Thank you for being honest.””
Felicity stepped closer.
“This is unbelievable. You're going to make me look like some horrible person because of a private family disagreement?””
“You made yourself look that way,” I replied.
Her face turned scarlet.
“How dare you speak to me like that?””
I almost laughed.
She had insulted me in front of a hundred and twenty people, yet my calm response was the unforgivable offense.
Silas held up one hand.
“Miss Bennett, I suggest you stop speaking to your sister that way.””
Felicity froze.
Then she glanced around, searching for support.
My father approached us with his hands raised in a gesture of forced diplomacy.
“Mr. Montgomery, I apologize for the misunderstanding. These things happen in families. I'm sure we can settle it without involving anyone else.””
Silas turned toward him.
“Your daughter was publicly humiliated. Your granddaughter was brought to tears. Which part of that are you asking everyone to overlook?””
Richard's mouth tightened.
“I wasn't asking anyone to overlook anything.””
“You just called it a misunderstanding.””
My father looked toward the floor.
Vanessa stepped in before he could respond.
“Mr. Montgomery, surely you understand that weddings can be emotional. Felicity is under a lot of pressure. She helped organize several details for the reception, and perhaps she had a little too much champagne.””
Felicity seized the opportunity.
“Exactly! I've been working nonstop. I'm exhausted. I didn't mean to hurt anyone.””
I stared at her champagne glass.
She had barely touched it.
But the excuse didn't surprise me.
Felicity could never admit to doing something wrong when she could blame exhaustion, jealousy, stress, or someone else's sensitivity.
Silas's expression remained unchanged.
“Let me ask you a different question.””
He looked at Felicity.
“If a colleague at work stood in front of a room full of clients and described another employee as a failure because she was a single mother, would you consider that acceptable professional behavior?””
Felicity blinked.
“That's completely different.””
“Why?””
“Because we're talking about family.””
“Does being related to someone give you permission to treat them with contempt?””
She hesitated.
Silas waited.
Around us, the ballroom had become so quiet that I could hear the soft scrape of a chair near the dance floor.
Finally, Felicity said, “No, but—”
“Then stop using your family as an excuse.””
Her lips pressed together.
I expected her to apologize.
A sincere apology would have been enough for that evening. I didn't need Silas to punish her, and I certainly hadn't come to the wedding hoping to watch my sister lose her job.
I had come because Amara wanted to see the bride's dress and eat cake beneath sparkling lights.
That was all.
I wanted to leave with my daughter's memories intact.
Instead, Felicity turned to the guests and raised her voice.
“This is ridiculous! My sister has always been jealous of me. She couldn't stand it when I got promoted, and now she's using this situation to make me look bad in front of my boss.””
I felt my stomach drop.
There it was again.
The familiar attempt to turn the person she hurt into the person responsible.
“Felicity,” I said, “I have never been jealous of you.””
“Really? Then why do you always act like you're morally superior?””
“Because I don't think being cruel makes me successful.””
Several guests exchanged glances.
Felicity pointed at me.
“See? That's exactly what I mean! She always has to make herself sound better than everyone else.””
Amara lifted her head from my shoulder.
“Mommy doesn't do that.””
Her tiny voice carried farther than she intended.
Felicity stared at her niece.
“Amara, this is an adult conversation.””
“She asked you to stop,” Amara whispered.
“Why won't you stop?””
The words were simple.
No accusation could have been more devastating.
For one brief moment, Felicity looked genuinely unsettled.
Then she did something that made my blood run cold.
She reached toward Amara's shoulder.
“Sweetheart, your mother has clearly been telling you—”
I stepped back.
“Don't.””
My voice came out sharper than I intended.
Felicity's hand stopped in midair.
“You don't get to involve my daughter in this.””
“She is my niece!””
“Then act like an aunt who loves her.””
The silence that followed was absolute.
Silas watched the exchange with a look I couldn't read.
Then he turned toward Felicity again.
“I'd like you to understand something. Your conduct tonight is troubling for several reasons. But the most troubling part isn't that you insulted your sister.””
Felicity swallowed.
“What do you mean?””
“You used your professional position as a measure of human worth. You assumed that because you had a prestigious job, expensive possessions, and social status, you were entitled to treat another person as inferior.””
He paused.
“People who think that way eventually bring the same behavior into the workplace.””
Felicity shook her head.
“I've never behaved like this at work.””
“Are you certain?””
Her eyes flickered.
It was only a fraction of a second, but Silas noticed.
So did I.
He reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and took out his phone.
“Before tonight, I had no intention of discussing your employment at a wedding. But something you said has reminded me of a matter that requires my attention.””
Felicity went pale.
“What matter?””
Silas glanced at the screen.
“I received a report this afternoon concerning your department.””
She stared at him.
“What kind of report?””
“An internal complaint involving the treatment of a junior employee.””
Felicity's lips parted.
For the first time, her fear looked real.
“That has nothing to do with this.””
“Perhaps not. That's why it will be reviewed separately.””
He slipped the phone back into his pocket.
“However, your behavior tonight has made one thing very clear. I need to take a closer look at the people we entrust with responsibility.””
Felicity looked toward my father.
“Dad, say something!””
Richard cleared his throat.
“Mr. Montgomery, my daughter is a good employee. She works hard.””
Silas nodded.
“Then the facts should support that.””
He turned back to Felicity.
“You will receive formal communication from Human Resources regarding the matter I mentioned. As for tonight, I suggest you give your sister and her daughter some space.””
Felicity looked as if she had been slapped.
“You can't threaten my career because of a family argument!””
“I'm not threatening your career. I'm telling you that your career is not a shield against accountability.””
He stepped aside to let me pass.
“Jenna, would you and Amara like to get some fresh air? I'll have someone bring your coat.””
I nodded, barely trusting my voice.
“Thank you.””
As I started toward the exit, Felicity called after me.
“Jenna, don't you dare walk away! You have no idea what you've just done!””
I stopped.
For years, I would have turned around. I would have apologized to keep the peace, even when I wasn't the one who had broken it.
This time, I looked at my daughter.
She was watching me.
Waiting to see what I would do.
I took her little hand.
“I know exactly what I've done,” I said.
“I've stopped letting you hurt us.””
Then I walked away.
Behind me, I heard Felicity's voice crack.
“Mr. Montgomery, please! You know how much this job means to me!””
Silas didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he spoke to someone standing near the head table.
“Daniel, would you ask Human Resources to preserve the complaint file and the supporting records?””
A man's voice replied, “Of course. Is there something specific I should look for?””
Silas's answer was quiet, but I heard every word.
“Yes. I want to know whether the employee who filed that complaint is the only person Felicity has treated this way.””
I tightened my grip on Amara's hand.
Something told me that the wedding humiliation was only the beginning.
And as the ballroom doors closed behind us, my phone vibrated inside my handbag.
May you like
A message had arrived from an unknown number.
*Jenna, you don't know me, but I work with your sister. Please don't let Mr. Montgomery leave this matter alone. There's something you need to know about Felicity.*
