Chapter 24
The applause rose again.
I thought I was finished.
Then a voice cut through it.
"That's a very selective way of describing what happened."
Preston.
He had stood near his table.
The room quieted.
I stared at him.
He seemed to realize too late how much attention he had attracted.
But his pride wouldn't let him sit.
"Vivian was part of my team," he said loudly. "I don't want anyone getting the impression that I had nothing to do with the work."
Several guests exchanged glances.
Gideon remained calm.
"No one has suggested that, Preston."
My husband stepped forward.
"Then why is she being credited as though she led everything?"
The silence became painful.
I could see Cassidy gripping his arm.
She whispered something.
He shook her off.
Gideon looked at him steadily.
"Because the records establish that Vivian led the underlying strategy development in the projects being recognized tonight."
Preston's face flushed.
"She was working under my supervision."
"Your management responsibilities are part of the review," Gideon answered. "As are the contributions of everyone involved."
Preston looked around the room.
I watched him realize that he wasn't speaking to a wife he could intimidate in private.
He was challenging a documented internal review in front of senior executives and investors.
And he had chosen to do it himself.
I stepped toward the microphone.
"Preston."
He looked at me.
I kept my voice level.
"You presented several of the projects. You helped coordinate the teams. Those were real responsibilities."
For a moment, his expression softened.
Then I continued.
"But presenting my work doesn't make it yours."
A murmur moved through the room.
His face darkened.
"You wouldn't have had the opportunity without me."
The words escaped him before he could stop them.
I felt the familiar sting.
Then I recognized what had changed.
For years, he could say those things behind closed doors.
Now everyone could hear how little he valued me.
I looked directly at him.
"You were my husband, Preston. Helping me succeed wasn't supposed to be a debt I owed you forever."
He opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
I continued quietly.
"I never wanted to take anything that belonged to you."
I glanced toward the screen behind me.
"I only stopped agreeing that everything I accomplished belonged to you."
The room fell silent.
Gideon stepped forward.
"The equity review will proceed according to our established governance process," he said. "No award tonight changes that process, and no one will be denied the opportunity to respond to the evidence."