For the first time that evening, he seemed completely lost.
“Nolan, wait.”
Nolan didn’t respond.
The CEO pulled out his phone and stepped away from the table.
The room had changed.
Only minutes earlier, Derek had been moving through the ballroom as though he belonged at the center of everything. Now people were avoiding his eyes.
Nolan turned toward Clara’s side of the room.
“Furthermore, Clara’s consultancy will be facing civil fraud litigation for inflating vendor contracts and misappropriating third-party deposits.”
Two of Clara’s major corporate clients immediately stood.
One of them whispered to another guest.
Clara looked at me.
Then she looked at Derek.
“It’s not what it looks like.”
Derek stared at her.
“She pressured me into it.”
Clara’s expression changed instantly.
“You coward.”
Derek pointed toward her.
“She told me she had the account secured.”
“You begged me to book that flight with her savings!” Clara shouted.
The room fell silent again.
Then she said the words that made everything even uglier.
“You said she was too stupid to ever figure it out.”
Derek fired back.
Clara shouted over him.
They started blaming each other for the money, the trip, and the lies.
There was no polished couple anymore.
No successful executive.
No brilliant marketing consultant.
Just two people trying to decide which one of them should carry the blame.
Venue security arrived.
Derek tried to explain.
Clara tried to argue.
Neither got very far.
They were escorted out into the rainy night.