Chapter 24
Chapter 24: The Ghost in the Boardroom
The financial year was coming to a close, and Carter Global was hosting its annual shareholders' gala. It was the first major social event Richard had attended since the divorce, and the city’s elite were eager to see how the titan would handle the spotlight without his queen.
The penthouse ballroom of the luxury hotel was a sea of black ties, diamond necklaces, and clinking champagne glasses. Richard moved through the crowd with flawless grace, greeting investors, politicians, and CEOs. He was a master of the corporate performance, his smile sharp and his conversation witty.
But as the night wore on, the absence of Victoria became a palpable entity.
For two decades, Victoria had been the social anchor of these events. She knew everyone’s names, their children’s birthdays, and their private scandals. She had been the soft, elegant counterweight to Richard’s hard, uncompromising business persona. Without her, the event felt colder, more transactional.
Richard stood near the balcony, watching the crowd. A prominent board member, an older man named Charles who had been a mentor to Richard in his early years, walked over holding two glasses of whiskey.
"You're putting on a hell of a show, Richard," Charles said, handing him a glass. "The Vanguard acquisition was a masterclass. The board is thrilled."
"Thank you, Charles," Richard said, taking a sip. "It was a necessary correction."
Charles looked out at the crowd, then back at Richard. "It's quiet tonight, though. People are talking, Richard. They miss Victoria’s touch on these events. Say what you want about what happened, but she was the heart of this company's social capital."
Richard’s jaw tightened. "The company doesn't run on social capital, Charles. It runs on revenue and market share."
"A machine runs on oil, Richard, but if you don't care about the people driving it, eventually it burns out," Charles said gently. "Don't let the betrayal turn you into a machine. I’ve seen men do that after a divorce. They become brilliant, wealthy, and completely dead inside. Don't do that to yourself. You have a daughter to raise."
Charles patted his shoulder and walked back into the crowd, leaving Richard alone with his thoughts.
May you like
Richard looked down at his glass, the words hitting a raw nerve. He looked across the ballroom and saw Emma, dressed in a beautiful, simple emerald dress, talking and laughing genuinely with Lily and her family, whom Richard had invited.
Emma wasn't performing. She was just being herself, surviving and growing despite the tragedy. Richard realized then that Charles was right. He couldn't let Victoria’s sin turn him into a monster. He had to stay human, if not for himself, then for the daughter who had saved him from a lifetime of lies.
