Chapter 13 - The Man Who Wanted the Chair

Victor Hale denied everything.

He denied instructing his chief of staff to download my recusal letter.

He denied speaking to the reporter.

He denied wanting Aaron removed.

Then the reporter’s lawyer received a subpoena, and the story changed.

Nathan called me into his office.

“Sit.”

“I hate when you say that.”

“Sit anyway.”

He placed an email printout in front of me.

From Victor to a private communications consultant.

Need background on spouse’s lender ties. If this breaks publicly, Aaron cannot survive governance vote.

I read it twice.

“This is real?”

“Produced in the board investigation.”

“Did Victor leak the documents?”

“Not proven yet.”

“But he was preparing to.”

“Yes.”

Another email followed.

If Aaron falls, succession needs to look inevitable, not opportunistic.

I looked up.

“He wanted to become CEO.”

“Interim CEO at minimum.”

“That is almost embarrassingly obvious.”

“Corporate coups are often less Shakespearean than people hope.”

My phone rang.

Aaron.

I answered.

“I assume you saw it.”

“Yes.”

“Victor resigned from the board this morning.”

“That fast?”

“Samuel gave him a choice.”

“Did he admit the leak?”

“No.”

“So we still don’t know.”

“We know enough about motive.”

Nathan held up a finger.

“Do not turn motive into fact.”

Aaron sighed.

“Brooks is there?”

“Always.”

“I’m beginning to think he lives in your handbag.”

Nathan called toward the phone.

“Retainer does not cover handbags.”

I almost smiled.

Aaron continued.

“The board’s cyber team found the recusal letter was printed from Victor’s office suite.”

“Printed by whom?”

“They can’t tell.”

“So still not proof.”

“No.”

I leaned back.

“Then what happens?”

“To Victor? He’s gone.”

“To you.”

Silence.

“The board meets Friday.”

“To decide whether you return?”

“Yes.”

“Do you want to?”

Another silence.

“I don’t know.”

That answer startled me more than anything else he had said.

“You don’t know?”

“For most of my adult life, the answer was the company before anyone finished asking the question.”

“And now?”

“Now I keep thinking about how many things I called emergencies because I liked being the person who solved them.”

I thought of Jasmine’s words.

Necessary.

“Your therapist again?”

“Yes.”

“She’s irritatingly efficient.”

“She charges more than Nathan.”

Nathan looked offended.

“No one charges more than I do.”

Aaron laughed.

Then his voice turned serious.

“Claire, the board asked whether you would issue a statement saying Mercer Vale has not pressured them.”

“I already said that through counsel.”

“They want your name on it.”

“No.”

“I told them you’d say no.”

“Then why are you asking?”

“Because I promised I would relay the request.”

I looked at Nathan.

He nodded approvingly.

“No,” I repeated.

“Understood.”

It was such a small exchange.

No pressure.

No accusation.

No attempt to turn my refusal into betrayal.

I wished three years of marriage had contained more moments like it.

That afternoon, Jasmine called.

Not texted.

Called.

I answered after a long hesitation.

“Hello.”

“Claire. I’m sorry.”

“For what now?”

“Victor.”

I frowned.

“What about him?”

“He approached me three months ago.”

Nathan, across the desk, immediately started writing.

“What did he say?”

“He asked whether Aaron’s attention to me made me uncomfortable.”

“Did it?”

“Sometimes.”

“What did you tell him?”

“That Aaron could be too personal, but I could manage my own boundaries.”

I closed my eyes.

“Jasmine.”

“I know.”

“What else?”

“He asked whether I had documentation.”

“Did you give him any?”

“No.”

“Did you tell Aaron?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because I thought Victor was fishing for political ammunition.”

“He was.”

“Yes.”

“But he was also asking about something real.”

“I know.”

Her voice sounded thin.

“I keep finding moments where I could have done the right thing earlier.”

“So do I.”

She was quiet.

“Do you think I should talk to the board?”

“Yes.”

Nathan pointed at himself.

I added, “Through your lawyer.”

He nodded.

Jasmine exhaled.

“I miss my job.”

“I know.”

“I was good at it.”

“I know that too.”

Her voice broke slightly.

“I hate that every article calls me ‘the woman at the center of the scandal.’”

I looked at the headline on Nathan’s screen.

“I know something about being turned into a role.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You already said that.”

“So did you.”

“Yes.”

We sat with that.

After the call, Nathan said, “You two are alarmingly mature.”

“Don’t ruin it.”

“Victor may have exposed himself trying to exploit misconduct that actually existed.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning Aaron’s behavior created vulnerability. Victor exploited it. Both can be true.”

I nodded slowly.

For weeks, I had wanted one clean villain.

Jasmine.

Aaron.

Maybe Victor.

But reality kept refusing simplicity.

Aaron had neglected me.

Jasmine had crossed boundaries.

I had humiliated them publicly.

Victor had weaponized private information.

Each action belonged to the person who chose it.

That was less satisfying than blame.

It was also more honest.

On Friday, the board would decide Aaron’s future.

For the first time, I realized I did not want him destroyed.

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I wanted him accountable.

Those were not the same thing.