Chapter 9 - The Promotion Gala
Ten months after that terrible night in the ER, an unexpected invitation arrived.
Ethan’s firm was hosting its annual Executive Gala at the Grand Plaza Hotel in downtown. Through hard networking and brutal overtime, Ethan had managed to secure a major promotion to Senior Director—a milestone he had chased for five years.
Because of the high-profile nature of the event, the company invited all major stakeholders, including key corporate clients. One of those premier clients was my newly formed design agency, which had recently revamped the firm's multi-million-dollar software platform. The CEO of Ethan’s company, Mr. Harrison, personally insisted that I attend as a guest of honor.
I chose not to hide. I bought a breathtaking emerald-green evening gown, styled my hair into an elegant updo, and attended the gala accompanied by Marcus.
When I entered the grand ballroom, heads turned. The room was buzzing with champagne flutes, string quartets, and high-society chatter. Ethan was standing near the center stage, wearing a tuxedo, surrounded by colleagues. Sylvia was right beside him, draped in ostentatious furs, preening as if she were the queen of the evening.
Then Sylvia spotted me.
Her smile vanished instantly. She whispered urgently into Ethan’s ear, and Ethan turned pale, nearly spilling his champagne.
Before Ethan could react, Mr. Harrison took the microphone at the podium. "Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we celebrate leadership, integrity, and excellence. We honor our rising executives, but we also honor the visionary partners who make our success possible. I'd like to extend special gratitude to Clara Hayes, founder of Hayes Design, whose brilliant team engineered our latest digital triumph!"
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Applause swept the room. Spotlights illuminated me as I offered a gracious, poised nod to the crowd. Ethan stood frozen, staring at me in utter disbelief. He had no idea that the "helpless housewife" he abandoned had become one of his company’s most celebrated executive contractors.
As the formal presentations ended and the networking resumed, Sylvia, visibly shaking with anger and wounded pride, grabbed Ethan’s arm and dragged him directly toward my table.
