Gladys froze for a moment, a flash of exasperation crossing her face, tinged with anger.
"Asher! Are you done with this little tantrum?!"
"You think playing hard to get is going to scare me?"
"What if I decide I'm done too? What if I never marry you?!"
I looked at her, my tone flat.
"You stood me up fifteen times for Derek Voss. What makes you think I'd still want you?"
"The woman I'm marrying is someone else entirely. And the shares will go to my future wife."
I paused.
"All of them. Not half. Every last one."
"Someone else?"
Gladys laughed like she'd just heard the most ridiculous joke of the century. The sound was sharp, dripping with mockery.
"Asher, if you're going to put on an act, at least commit to it."
"You say you won't marry me, but then why did you send a five-hundred-million-dollar betrothal gift to my family? Why did you have a custom wedding gown made?"
"Besides, I'm the only daughter in the Pruitt family. Unless you're planning to marry my brother?"
A ripple of stifled laughter went through the room, people pressing hands to their mouths.
It seemed the Pruitts had enough sense not to tell her that my fiancée had been changed to Ada.
When I said nothing, Gladys settled into the seat beside me. Her tone softened considerably.
"Asher, I know I was wrong for not coming home with you to meet your family those times. I made you lose face in front of all of Havenport."
"And I understand. You're the man who runs the Barnes Group. Asking someone like you to apologize to a low-level employee like Derek... that was asking too much. It wounded your pride."
She leaned closer, dropping her voice.
"But I promise you, Derek and I are just soulmates. You're the only one in my heart."
"Just transfer the shares to him. Give him the respect and compensation he deserves. After we're married, I'll settle down. I'll be the kind of Mrs. Barnes who makes you proud, who makes the entire Barnes family proud."
I listened to this brazen, absurd speech of hers and spoke, my voice cold as steel.
"Gladys, is this how the Pruitt family raises their daughters?"
"Do you even know how to spell the word 'shameless'?"
Gladys's expression darkened instantly. She grabbed my hand, her grip tight.
"Asher! How dare you talk to me like that?! Who do you think you are?!"
Derek stepped forward, patting Gladys gently on the back. His voice came out hoarse.
"Miss Pruitt, forget it. This is all my fault."
"I'll resign right now. I'll leave Havenport."
He turned on his heel, heading for the office door without hesitation.
"What are you talking about?! I'm not letting you leave!"
Gladys flung my hand away and blocked Derek's path.
Then she turned back to me, something almost playful in her eyes.
"Asher, are you scared?"
"Scared that once Derek has shares, once he has a real platform and resources, his talent and ability will let him rise to the top? That he'll surpass you? Replace you?"
A mocking smile curled at her lips.
"Relax. After we're married, you can just send him to one of the overseas branches."
I raised my head and stared at Gladys the way someone might stare at a person who'd lost all grip on reality. The last shred of my patience evaporated.
"Gladys, Derek Voss hasn't brought a single dollar of value to this company. All he's done is rack up losses. And you have the nerve to stand here demanding I hand him shares and a cushy overseas post?"
"Let me make this clear. This is the Barnes Group. Not the Pruitt household."
Gladys let out a cold laugh. The look she gave me now carried open disgust.
"So that's your final answer. No apology. No compensation. Nothing. Is that right?"
I turned my back to her. My voice was flat.
