Chapter 6 - The Dinner of Pretenses
By six-thirty in the evening, the grand living room of the Peak Ridge Chalet was bathed in the warm, amber glow of a three-sided central stone fireplace. Outside, heavy snow began to fall against the massive two-story windows, veiling the rugged Colorado peaks in a blanket of white. Inside, the long dining table was set with fine bone china, Waterford crystal, and polished sterling silver—every piece bearing my mother’s family monogram.
Patricia had spent the last two hours locked in one of the lower-level guest suites, sobbing hysterically and screaming at Richard through the door. But when the first town cars began pulling up the heated driveway, she had emerged. Vanity was the only thing stronger than her shame. She had reapplied her makeup, forced her trembling lips into a painted smile, and put on a floor-length emerald silk gown.
She thought she could still charm her way out of the abyss.
"Richard," she hissed as they stood near the entrance, her fingernails digging into his tuxedo sleeve. "You just have to be firm with Harrison. Nora is a child. She doesn't understand venture capital. When Marcus Vance and the Summit Ridge partners arrive, you take the floor. You announce the partnership. We’ll settle with Nora quietly behind closed doors on Monday."
Richard didn't answer. He looked like a condemned man walking toward the gallows. His collar felt too tight, his bow tie was crooked, and his hands shook so violently he couldn't hold a glass of water without it spilling.
The heavy oak front doors swung open, and Thomas ushered in the evening’s distinguished guests.
Among them were Charles Vance—a senior managing partner at Summit Ridge Venture and, coincidentally, the older brother of Captain Marcus Vance—along with Mayor Sterling and three of Wall Street’s most influential private equity managers. They arrived with high spirits, stamping the snow from their leather shoes and marveling at the soaring timber ceilings.
"Richard! Good to see you, old boy!" Charles Vance boomed, stepping forward to shake Richard’s limp hand. "Incredible property! When you said you were hosting us at Peak Ridge, I thought you were exaggerating. This is easily the premier estate on the entire mountain."
"Thank you, Charles," Richard croaked, his voice barely audible.
Patricia immediately swooped in, her voice dripping with syrupy warmth. "Charles, darling! Welcome! We are so thrilled to have you here. Mason, come over here and greet Mr. Vance! Mason has been reviewing the Summit Ridge portfolio all week, haven't you, sweetheart?"
Mason stepped forward, looking miserable in a bespoke tuxedo that seemed two sizes too large for his deflated posture. "Yeah... hi, Mr. Vance."
Charles Vance looked at Mason with mild curiosity, but before he could respond, his eyes drifted past the foyer toward the grand staircase.
I descended the stairs slowly, wearing a simple, impeccably tailored black velvet evening gown, my hair swept up, wearing only a single piece of jewelry: my mother’s antique sapphire pendant.
Charles Vance’s eyes widened in genuine delight. He immediately stepped away from Patricia and Mason, walking halfway across the room to meet me with both hands extended.
"Nora!" Charles said warmly, taking my hands in his. "What an honor! Marcus called me from the cockpit the moment you touched down this morning. He told me the Bennett Aero board finally ratified the unification! Congratulations, my dear. Your mother would be immensely proud of what you’ve accomplished over these last two years."
The room seemed to drop ten degrees in an instant.
Patricia stood frozen, her mouth open in a half-formed sentence. Mason looked like he had been struck by lightning.
"Thank you, Charles," I said with a gracious smile. "It was a long process, but the operational audits are finally complete. Bennett Aero is fully restructured, and our balance sheets are completely debt-free."
Mayor Sterling stepped forward, raising his glass in my direction. "Nora, it’s wonderful to see you back in Aspen. We’ve missed your family’s philanthropic presence. When your father mentioned a Bennett partnership tonight, I had no idea you were the driving force behind it!"
Patricia couldn't take it anymore. The delusion was slipping through her fingers like dry sand, and her desperation turned into reckless fury.
"Wait just a minute!" Patricia cried, marching toward the center of the room, her emerald gown rustling loudly. "Charles, Mayor Sterling, there has been a profound misunderstanding! Nora has nothing to do with Bennett Capital’s investment fund! She’s Richard’s daughter from his first marriage, yes, but she has been entirely absent! Mason is the one who prepared the expansion pitch! Richard is the managing partner!"
Charles Vance turned around, his expression shifting from warm conviviality to sharp, icy confusion.
"Mrs. Bennett," Charles said, his voice dropping into boardroom seriousness. "Are you not aware of who Summit Ridge is doing business with?"
"With Bennett Capital!" Patricia insisted, her voice pitching high and frantic. "With my husband!"
Charles Vance chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Mrs. Bennett... Bennett Capital was dissolved as an independent entity at four o'clock this afternoon. It was absorbed by Bennett Aero Holdings to cover eighteen million dollars in unauthorized margin calls."
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Charles pulled a document from his pocket and laid it flat on the mahogany side table.
"We aren't here to invest in your son, ma'am," Charles said flatly. "We’re here to sign a fifty-million-dollar logistics contract with the sole owner and CEO of Bennett Aero—Ms. Nora Bennett."
