Chapter 4: The Woman Who Knew Everything
“Daniel, give me the phone.””
Ava's voice was barely above a whisper.
Daniel didn't move.
He stood beneath the balcony lights, listening to Jennifer from Human Resources explain something that seemed to grow more serious with every passing second.
“Are you absolutely certain?”” he asked.
A pause.
“Understood. Send everything to Marcus. I'll speak with him Monday morning.””
He ended the call.
Ava grabbed his sleeve.
“What did she say?””
Daniel looked at her.
“Victoria Shaw contacted the company.””
“So?””
“She wants to discuss your employment history.””
Ava rolled her eyes.
“She's probably still bitter because I left.””
Daniel didn't smile.
“She specifically requested a conversation with Marcus.””
“That's ridiculous.””
“Why?””
“Because she never liked me.””
Daniel studied her face.
“What happened between you two?””
“Nothing.””
“Ava.””
“She was a terrible manager. That's all.””
Daniel slipped his phone into his pocket.
“Then why are you worried?””
“I'm not worried.””
Her answer came too quickly.
Daniel noticed.
Inside the ballroom, someone tapped a champagne glass. Guests turned toward the stage as the wedding photographer announced that the newlyweds were about to cut their cake.
Ava looked through the glass doors.
Her mother was waving at her.
She forced a smile and waved back.
“Can we please finish this later?”” she asked.
Daniel nodded.
“Fine. But I want the truth.””
Ava walked inside without answering.
For the next hour, she performed the role of a happy bride.
She cut the cake.
She kissed Daniel for photographs.
She danced with her father.
When the DJ played their chosen song, Daniel held her close.
But his attention kept drifting toward his phone.
And Ava knew why.
Victoria Shaw.
The name had followed her for nearly four years.
Monday morning was supposed to be the beginning of Ava's new life.
Instead, it became the morning she started losing control of the old one.
At 8:15, Daniel was already dressed when Ava entered the kitchen.
He stood beside the coffee machine, reading an email.
“Morning,” she said.
“Morning.””
She reached for a mug.
“Are you going into the office?””
“Yes.””
“Can I come with you?””
Daniel looked up.
“Why?””
“My interview is at ten.””
“I know.””
“I thought we could drive together.””
He hesitated.
“I'm leaving early. I have a leadership meeting.””
Ava poured coffee.
“Is Marcus going to be there?””
“Yes.””
She stirred her coffee.
“Did he say anything about me?””
“No.””
“Did you ask?””
Daniel lowered his phone.
“Ava, I'm not going to spend the morning discussing your interview.””
She turned toward him.
“I'm your wife. You could at least show a little support.””
“I am supporting you. I'm also asking you to be honest.””
She placed the spoon down harder than necessary.
“Fine. I exaggerated my title. Happy?””
Daniel didn't answer.
“I was doing the work of a regional director. I just didn't have the official title.””
“Then why not explain that during the application?””
“Because companies don't hire people who sound like they lack confidence.””
Daniel shook his head.
“Confidence isn't the problem. Honesty is.””
Ava picked up her handbag.
“I'm going to be late.””
“Your interview is at ten.””
“Exactly.””
She walked out.
Daniel watched the door close.
Then he looked down at the email still open on his phone.
Jennifer had attached Victoria's original statement.
Daniel hadn't opened the full document yet.
He decided to wait until he was at the office.
At 9:42, Ava stepped into the company's headquarters.
The building had thirty floors of glass, steel, and polished stone. Employees moved through the lobby with laptops and coffee cups.
A large screen displayed the company logo.
*MERIDIAN GLOBAL.*
Ava remembered seeing that logo on Marcus's old napkin.
She had laughed at it once.
Now it occupied an entire wall.
At reception, a young woman smiled.
“Good morning. How can I help you?””
“I have an interview with the executive hiring committee.””
“Your name?””
“Ava Collins.””
The receptionist checked her computer.
“Yes. Mr. Marcus Reed's office has confirmed your appointment. Please take the elevator to the twenty-seventh floor.””
Ava nodded.
“Thank you.””
As she walked toward the elevators, two employees passed behind her.
“Is Marcus back from London?””
“I think so. He's got the quarterly review this morning.””
“Good. Nobody wants to present those numbers without him.””
Ava pressed the elevator button.
She could feel the eyes of the employees moving toward her.
Perhaps they recognized her from the wedding photographs.
Perhaps not.
She didn't care.
She was here to prove that she deserved the position.
The elevator opened.
On the twenty-seventh floor, a receptionist led her toward a glass conference room.
“Please wait here. Someone will be with you shortly.””
Ava sat down.
A minute later, the conference room door opened.
A woman entered.
Silver-blonde hair.
Navy suit.
A leather folder tucked beneath one arm.
Ava stood so quickly that her chair scraped the floor.
“Victoria?””
Victoria Shaw looked at her.
“Good morning, Ava.””
Ava forced a smile.
“I didn't know you'd be here.””
“Neither did I expect to see you.””
Victoria placed her folder on the table.
“Sit down.””
Ava sat.
Victoria remained standing for a moment.
Then she pulled out a chair opposite her.
“I understand you're applying for a senior executive position.””
“Yes.””
“Regional operations director?””
Ava nodded.
“That's right.””
Victoria opened the folder.
“Interesting.””
Ava folded her hands.
“I've gained a lot of experience since we last worked together.””
“I'm sure you have.””
Victoria removed a printed résumé.
“According to this, you supervised three regional managers, controlled a multimillion-dollar budget, and led the restructuring of our western division.””
Ava nodded.
“Yes.””
Victoria looked directly at her.
“Can you explain why none of those responsibilities appear in your official employment record?””
Ava shifted.
“My role was broader than my job description.””
“That's possible.””
“I was trusted with major projects.””
“That's also possible.””
Victoria turned a page.
“But you weren't a regional director.””
Ava's jaw tightened.
“I never said I was officially appointed.””
Victoria tapped the résumé.
“You listed the title directly beneath your employment dates.””
“I was describing the level I worked at.””
Victoria leaned back.
“Then perhaps you can explain the performance review we completed before you left.””
Ava's expression changed.
“What performance review?””
Victoria opened another document.
“This one.””
Ava recognized the company's old letterhead.
She remembered the office.
The smell of printer ink.
The rain against the windows.
And the day Victoria had called her into her office.
Victoria turned the document around.
At the top was Ava's name.
Below it was a formal disciplinary report.
*Unauthorized alteration of regional expense records.*
Ava went pale.
“That's not what happened.””
Victoria didn't raise her voice.
“Then tell me what happened.””
Ava glanced at the door.
“Why are you bringing this up?””
“Because the hiring committee requested a professional reference.””
“You could have simply said I worked there.””
“I could have.””
Victoria closed the folder.
“But I won't give a misleading reference.””
Ava leaned forward.
“You know I didn't steal anything.””
Victoria looked at her for several seconds.
“I never said you stole anything.””
Ava froze.
Victoria continued.
“You were accused of changing expense allocations to make your department appear more profitable. The investigation found that the changes were made using your credentials.””
“That wasn't me.””
“Your password was used.””
“Someone else had access.””
“Who?””
Ava opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
Victoria watched her carefully.
“You see, that's the problem. You never gave us a name.””
Ava's fingers trembled.
“I was protecting the department.””
“From what?””
Ava looked down.
Victoria gathered the papers.
“I've provided the company with the original findings. What they decide to do is their responsibility.””
She stood.
Then she paused at the door.
“One more thing, Ava.””
Ava looked up.
“Marcus asked me a question when he reviewed your application.””
“What question?””
Victoria's expression softened slightly.
“He asked whether you had ever been given an opportunity to explain yourself.””
Ava blinked.
“What did you tell him?””
Victoria opened the door.
“I told him you had.””
Then she left.
Ava sat alone in the conference room.
The interview hadn't even started.
And already, the past was sitting at the table.
At 10:03, Marcus entered the room.
He wore a charcoal suit and carried a thin folder.
“Good morning, Ava.””
She stood.
“Good morning.””
He gestured toward the chair.
“Please sit.””
Ava sat.
Marcus placed the folder in front of him.
“Before we begin, I'd like to make something clear.””
She looked at him.
“This is a professional interview. Your personal history with me will not determine the outcome.””
Ava nodded.
“I understand.””
“Good.””
He opened the folder.
“Then let's begin with your employment at Westbridge.””
Ava's stomach tightened.
Marcus looked at her résumé.
“Tell me about the expense discrepancy.””
She stared at him.
May you like
And suddenly, she realized that Monday's interview wasn't going to be about whether she deserved the position.
It was going to be about whether she had ever told the truth.
