“Pauline, why don't you stay and watch?”
“Might learn a thing or two.”
“Stop letting Lawrence get so bored with you.”
My stomach lurched.
Elise had finally shed that obedient skin of hers, her voice growing lighter and brighter with every word.
“You taught me how to study, how to pick out a gown, how to hold my own at a dinner table.”
“But you never figured out how to make a man fall in love with you, did you? Want me to give you some pointers?”
Lawrence frowned.
“Elise.”
As if scolding her for going too far.
But his hand reached over and pulled her back to his side, the protectiveness so practiced it looked like second nature.
I thought of seven years ago.
The first time Lawrence came to me looking for investment.
He wore a suit washed so many times it had gone pale, palms slick with sweat.
Nobody believed in his project.
I gave him his first round of funding and introduced him to every contact that mattered.
Step by step, I pushed him to where he sat today.
People on the outside called him Mr. James, said he was a young man on the rise.
He heard it long enough that he must have actually forgotten.
Who put him at this table in the first place.
When I said nothing, Lawrence finally grew impatient.
“Pauline, don't blow this out of proportion.”
“You're a Swanson. You know better than anyone how to keep things dignified.”
“I'll give you and the baby all the respect you deserve.”
“And Elise, I won't mistreat her either.”
“Both of you matter to me.”
Both of us mattered.
I stared at him for a few seconds, then laughed.
“Lawrence.”
“You married me and actually started believing you belonged in this world?”
The color drained from his face.
“Pauline, what the hell is that supposed to mean?”
I didn't answer. I just pulled the wedding ring off my finger.
That ring. Lawrence had slid it on himself the day he proposed.
He told me I was the only woman he would ever love.
Thinking about it now made my skin crawl.
I tossed it into the trash can.
Elise glanced at it without thinking, and something greedy flickered through her eyes.
I caught it. I smiled.
“Like it? Go ahead and fish it out.”
“You've always had a thing for my leftovers, haven't you?”
Elise's face went scarlet.
Lawrence finally stood up.
“Pauline, that's enough.”
“Elise has been through enough already.”
I laughed again.
“Sure.”
“Since she's so talented, let's give the whole world a chance to learn from her.”
I pulled out my phone and hit record.
The camera pointed straight at Elise.
“Go on. Let's hear it.”
“Teach everyone how you cashed your benefactor's paychecks and slept with her husband.”
“Show me what exciting new tricks you've picked up.”
Every trace of color vanished from Elise's face.
She shrank behind Lawrence on instinct.
“Lawrence……”
Lawrence's expression turned to ice.
He shoved his hand over the lens, barely-contained fury lacing every word.
“Pauline, enough.”
“You're pregnant. Your emotions are all over the place. I get it.”
“But you don't get to destroy a young woman's life just because you're upset!”
“Elise made a mistake, fine.”
“But she clawed her way out of nothing on her own. That wasn't easy.”
“One word from you and she loses her job, her reputation, everything she's ever built.”
“You think that's fair?”
I stared at him. I almost laughed out loud.
Lawrence took my silence as surrender and let his expression soften a fraction.
“Pauline, put the phone down.”
“You're my wife. I won't let you down.”
