Chapter 2 - The Mask Falls
The word echo sounded like a thunderclap in the silent ballroom.
Wife.
Madison’s smug smile shattered into absolute confusion. "W-Wife? Nate... what are you talking about? She's a waitress!"
Lucas looked as if he had been struck by lightning. He stared from Nathaniel to Claire, his mind racing through years of high-society rumors. Nathaniel Everhart had married in complete secrecy three years ago in Europe. The media had speculated endlessly about the identity of the mysterious Mrs. Everhart, but Nathaniel had built an iron wall around his personal life.
The woman standing in front of them wasn't a nameless service worker. She was Claire Everhart—co-owner of Everhart Global’s private asset management branch, a former senior intelligence auditor, and the most powerful woman in the room.
"Lucas..." Madison whispered, grabbing his arm in panic. "Who is she?"
"Shut up," Lucas hissed, his voice trembling violently. "Madison, shut your mouth right now."
Nathaniel stepped closer, closing the distance between himself and Claire. The sheer weight of his presence made the surrounding guests take a step back. Without saying a word to anyone else, Nathaniel unbuttoned his custom wool blazer, slipped it off his shoulders, and wrapped it gently around Claire, covering her exposed skin and torn dress.
His hand lingered on her cheek, his thumb gently brushing her cheekbone. "Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine, Nate," Claire said softly, her icy demeanor melting slightly under his touch. "The dress didn't survive, though."
"I'll buy you the atelier that made it," Nathaniel replied, his tone quiet but devoid of any humor.
He turned slowly to face Madison and Lucas. The temperature in the room dropped again.
"Grant Vale's daughter," Nathaniel said, pronouncing every syllable with lethal precision. "Your father's broadcast group relies on Everhart Global's satellite networks for sixty percent of its distribution."
Madison swallowed hard, her artificial bravado crumbling into terror. "Mr. Everhart, please... she was disrespecting Lucas! She was acting suspicious!"
"My wife was conducting an internal financial evaluation of this gala's primary donor," Nathaniel said coldly, glaring directly at Lucas. "An evaluation requested by the board of directors after forty million dollars vanished from Everhart Vector's subsidiary accounts."
Lucas felt his knees go weak. "Nate... listen to me. It's a misunderstanding. The transfers were legitimate research expenses—"
"Save it for the board meeting at seven tomorrow morning," Nathaniel interrupted smoothly. "And as for you, Miss Vale..."
Nathaniel pulled out his phone, tapped the screen once, and placed a call on speaker.
"Jonathan," Nathaniel said into the mic.
"Yes, Mr. Everhart?" replied the voice of Everhart Global’s head legal counsel over the speaker.
"Cancel all pending distribution agreements with Vale Broadcast Group effective immediately. Pull our sponsorship from their winter media summit, and initiate a full asset audit on the Vale Family Trust."
Madison screamed out in horror. "You can't do that! That will ruin my family!"
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"You tore my wife's dress because you believed she had no power to fight back," Nathaniel said, his eyes empty of mercy. "I am simply showing you what actual power looks like."
He extended his hand to Claire. She placed her hand in his, and together, they turned away from the stunned crowd, leaving Madison weeping hysterically and Lucas staring into the abyss of his financial ruin.
