Chapter 6
General Hayes broke the silence.
“Captain Whitmore.”
Daniel turned sharply.
“Yes, sir.”
The general’s voice was calm.
That made it worse.
“I suggest you handle your family matter carefully.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And I also suggest no one here interfere with Deputy Director Monroe’s lawful presence at this event.”
Victoria looked wounded.
“I never intended—”
General Hayes cut her off without raising his voice.
“Mrs. Whitmore, you summoned military police against a credentialed federal official because you removed her seat from a dinner table.”
Victoria went pale.
When he put it that simply, there was nowhere for her to hide.
The general looked at me.
“My apologies, Deputy Director.”
“You have nothing to apologize for.”
“I disagree.”
Then he turned to the room.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated.”
Chairs slowly moved.
Conversation returned in whispers.
The orchestra resumed, though several musicians kept glancing toward us.
I picked up my clutch.
Daniel immediately stepped closer.
“Rachel, wait.”
I looked at him.
There was panic in his face now.
Not because he had suddenly understood my pain.
Because he had finally understood my importance.
And that realization hurt more than anything his mother had done.
He lowered his voice.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I did.”
“No. You didn’t tell me this.”
“You knew enough.”
His brow tightened.
“How was I supposed to know you were…”
He stopped.
“What?”
“This senior.”
There it was.
I almost laughed.
“So if I had been less senior, tonight would have been acceptable?”
His mouth closed.
“If I really had been an administrative consultant, would you have defended me?”
“Rachel, that’s not fair.”
“Would you?”
He glanced around the ballroom.
“Not here.”
“Exactly.”
He reached for my arm.
I stepped away.
“Don’t.”
His hand dropped.
Victoria had recovered enough to speak.
“This is exactly what I’ve always disliked about you.”
Daniel turned.
“Mom, stop.”
“No. She hid this from us for years and now she’s enjoying humiliating everyone.”
I stared at her.
“Victoria, you called military police on me.”
“You embarrassed me!”
“No. You embarrassed yourself.”
Her eyes flashed.
“You could have simply explained who you were.”
I leaned slightly closer.
“I shouldn’t need a federal credential to be treated like your son’s wife.”
That silenced her.
Caroline spoke next.
Quietly.
“I think I should leave.”
Victoria looked horrified.
“Caroline, no.”
Caroline ignored her.
She turned to me.
“Rachel, I owe you an apology.”
Daniel looked at her.
She continued.
“I knew Victoria wanted me seated next to Daniel. I knew it was inappropriate. I went along with it anyway.”
I studied her.
At least she had the courage to admit it.
“Thank you.”
She nodded once.
Then she turned to Daniel.
“And for the record, your mother has been calling me for months.”
Daniel’s face changed.
“What?”
Victoria snapped, “Caroline.”
“No.”
Caroline looked directly at Daniel.
“She invited me to dinners you thought were accidental. She sent me your promotion schedule. She told me you and Rachel were having problems.”
May you like
Daniel stared at his mother.
“You did what?”
