Chapter 2: The Thing He Wasn't Supposed to See
Daniel couldn't move.
His eyes remained fixed somewhere beyond Olivia's right shoulder.
Claire followed his gaze.
"What is it?"" she asked.
Daniel didn't respond.
"Daniel?""
He swallowed.
His right hand slowly reached for the suitcase handle, but he missed it.
Olivia watched him.
She didn't turn around.
She didn't need to.
For three weeks, Daniel had believed he was the only person who knew what was happening behind the scenes.
He had forgotten one important detail.
The company he was about to lose had never belonged to him.
Not completely.
And the person who had the power to decide his future was standing in front of him, holding their children.
"Olivia," Daniel finally whispered.
She adjusted the cream blanket around her son's shoulder.
"Yes?""
"Why is that here?""
Olivia looked at him.
"You told me to keep quiet. I thought you wanted everyone to have a peaceful afternoon.""
Daniel's face tightened.
"Don't play games with me.""
Claire looked between them.
"Can someone explain what's happening?""
Daniel turned sharply toward her.
"Not now.""
Claire's expression hardened.
"Excuse me?""
He ignored her.
"Olivia, we need to talk. Privately.""
Olivia gave a small nod.
"We can talk.""
"Not here.""
"Why not?""
Daniel glanced toward the right again.
His jaw tightened.
"Because this isn't the place.""
Olivia's expression remained neutral.
"Funny. You didn't seem to have a problem with the location five minutes ago.""
Claire took another step away from him.
"Daniel, what are you talking about?""
He grabbed her wrist.
"Claire. Please.""
She looked down at his hand.
"Let go.""
He released her immediately.
That frightened her more than his anger.
Daniel Bennett was not a man who usually let people speak to him that way.
He was the regional director of Bennett Maritime Holdings, a company that managed commercial port operations and shipping contracts along the East Coast.
He wore expensive watches, drove a luxury SUV, and had spent years cultivating the image of a self-made businessman.
At company dinners, people stood when he entered the room.
At home, Olivia had quietly managed everything he never wanted to think about.
The household accounts.
The twins' appointments.
The mortgage.
The paperwork for the family trust.
And, most importantly, the voting shares that Daniel had always assumed were safely under his control.
He had never bothered to understand the original ownership documents.
Olivia had.
"Daniel," she said softly, "you should probably pick up your suitcase.""
He stared at her.
"Why?""
"Because you're going to need your hands free.""
Claire looked confused.
"Need them free for what?""
Daniel didn't answer.
A faint electronic chime sounded from somewhere behind him.
His eyes flicked toward the same direction.
His face drained of color.
Olivia finally looked at Claire.
"Did he tell you where he was staying after the trip?""
Claire hesitated.
"At the Harbor Crown Hotel.""
"Did he tell you why?""
"Because we had meetings.""
Olivia nodded.
"And did he tell you that the company apartment he booked for you was paid for using an account reserved for employee relocation?""
Claire's face changed.
"What?""
Daniel stepped forward.
"Olivia, stop.""
She didn't raise her voice.
"I'm asking a question.""
Claire turned toward him.
"Daniel?""
He rubbed his forehead.
"There's been a misunderstanding.""
Olivia almost smiled.
That was his favorite phrase.
Misunderstanding.
When he missed a family anniversary, it was a misunderstanding.
When he transferred money without telling her, it was a misunderstanding.
When she discovered hotel receipts in his briefcase, it was a misunderstanding.
When she asked why he had changed the passwords on their joint financial accounts, he had told her she was being paranoid.
And when she had asked about Claire, he had laughed.
Now he was standing in front of her, looking toward something he couldn't control.
"Olivia," he said, "please.""
She shifted the pink-hatted baby slightly higher.
"Please what?""
"Don't do this.""
"Do what?""
"You know exactly what I mean.""
She held his gaze.
"No, Daniel. I really don't.""
For the first time, he seemed unable to find an answer.
Claire pulled her phone from her handbag.
"Daniel, what account is she talking about?""
He reached for the phone.
"Put that away.""
Claire stepped back.
"Don't touch my phone.""
Olivia watched the exchange.
Then she finally turned her head slightly toward the right.
A large digital display stood beyond the glass entrance, visible to everyone entering the terminal.
Its bright white letters had just changed.
The screen was not showing a welcome message.
It was displaying an announcement connected to the company Daniel had spent fifteen years building his reputation around.
And beneath the announcement was a name.
Olivia Bennett.
Daniel saw it again.
He closed his eyes for one brief second.
"Who authorized that?"" he whispered.
Olivia looked at him.
"I did.""
He stared at her.
"You can't.""
"I already have.""
His lips moved, but no sound came out.
Claire looked at the display.
Then at Olivia.
Then at Daniel.
And suddenly, she understood that the woman holding two babies wasn't the powerless wife Daniel had described.
She was something else entirely.
"Daniel," Claire whispered, "what did you do?""
He didn't answer.
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Because the announcement was only the beginning.
And the next document was scheduled to be released in less than ten minutes.
