Chapter 2
She glanced around the restaurant.
Every waiter had quietly stopped moving.
Every manager appeared strangely alert.
Almost as if they were waiting.
Emily slowly stood.
She was nearly the same height as Ethan.
For the first time all evening, her posture changed.
The timid woman disappeared.
In her place stood someone impossibly composed.
Someone who carried authority without raising her voice.
"I lied to you."
Ethan laughed.
"Oh?"
"I'm not poor."
Vanessa rolled her eyes.
"Please."
Emily ignored her.
"I wanted to know whether someone could love me before knowing what I owned."
The smile slowly faded from Ethan's face.
"What are you talking about?"
Emily folded her hands calmly.
"My grandfather built Carter Holdings."
Ethan blinked.
Everyone in New York knew Carter Holdings.
A privately owned investment empire with interests in technology, real estate, hospitality, renewable energy, healthcare, and luxury retail.
Billions in assets.
Thousands of employees.
Vanessa scoffed.
"Sure."
"And I'm the Queen of England."
Emily continued.
"My family required every future executive to spend one year working anonymously inside our businesses."
Ethan frowned.
"What?"
"I've cleaned hotel rooms."
"I've waited tables."
"I've worked reception."
"I've answered customer complaints."
"I've served coffee."
She looked around the restaurant.
"This was my final assignment."
The room had become completely silent.
Ethan laughed again.
Only this time...
No one joined him.
Instead...
The restaurant's general manager hurried across the dining room.
Not toward Ethan.
Toward Emily.
He stopped.
Straightened his jacket.
Then respectfully bowed his head.
"Good evening, Ms. Carter."
"The board has arrived."
Every fork in the restaurant stopped moving.
Vanessa stared.
"...Ms. Carter?"
The manager smiled politely.
"We've prepared the private dining room exactly as requested."
Emily nodded.
"Thank you, Daniel."
"I'll be there shortly."
He hesitated.
"Would you like security?"
Emily glanced at Ethan.
"No."
"I think they're beginning to understand."
Daniel nodded respectfully.
"Of course."
He walked away.
Nobody spoke.
Ethan forced a laugh.
"This is some kind of joke."
Emily looked directly at him.
"No."
"It's corporate governance."
She reached into her pocket and removed a slim black business card.
Not glossy.
Not decorated.
Only her name.
Emily Carter
Chairwoman
Carter Holdings
Ethan's smile vanished.
"...Chairwoman?"
Emily nodded.
"You joined Stratton Technologies eighteen months ago."
His stomach tightened.
"How do you know that?"
"Because Carter Holdings purchased a controlling interest six weeks ago."
His heartbeat accelerated.
"No..."
May you like
"You..."
"I'm now the largest shareholder."
