Chapter 3 - The Boardroom
At 5:55 PM, I sat at the head of the long marble table in the executive boardroom. The glass walls offered a panoramic, blood-red view of the Santorini sunset.
The heavy double doors swung open.
Caleb walked in, radiating the arrogant confidence of a man who believed he had just conquered the world. He wore a flawless navy suit. Right beside him, perfectly playing the role of the indispensable partner, was Nina Vale, still wearing the pale blue silk dress I had helped pick out.
They were smiling. Until Caleb’s eyes adjusted to the lighting and landed on the person sitting at the head of the table.
His confident stride faltered. He physically stumbled, his face turning the color of wet ash.
"Mara?" Caleb choked out, his eyes darting frantically around the empty boardroom. "What... what are you doing here? How did you get in here? This is a restricted executive floor!"
Nina froze, her hand dropping awkwardly from Caleb’s arm, suddenly realizing she was wearing the dress of the wife sitting ten feet away.
I didn't raise my voice. I didn't stand up. I simply slid a heavy cream folder across the polished marble table.
"Take a seat, Mr. Ellison," I commanded, my voice echoing with a lethal, icy authority that Caleb had never heard from me in five years of marriage.
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Caleb stood paralyzed, panic visibly rising in his chest. "Mara, please. The owner of the resort is going to be here any second. You have to leave. I can explain why I'm here with Nina, I swear, just let me—"
"The owner is already here, Caleb," I whispered.
