Edward’s pupils seemed to change.
Gerald continued.
“Founder of Ashbrook.”
Edward’s mouth opened.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Edward, I was on video with her. That is her.”
Edward looked across the ballroom.
For the first time that evening, he saw the scene not as inconvenience.
Not as scandal.
As catastrophe.
“That’s impossible.”
Gerald’s voice dropped.
“The impossible thing is what your family just did.”
Edward began walking.
Then running.
“Preston!”
Everyone turned.
“Let go of her!”
Preston released Aliyah so suddenly she nearly lost balance.
Gerald reached them first.
“Ms. Owens.”
Aliyah rubbed one arm.
Constance stared.
Gerald looked at her.
Then at Preston.
Then at the torn dress.
His professional composure nearly failed.
“Ms. Owens, are you injured?”
Aliyah looked at him.
“My cheek hurts. My arms hurt. My dress is torn.”
“I’m calling medical assistance.”
“Please do.”
Edward arrived.
“Aliyah.”
She looked at him.
He flinched.
“Ms. Owens.”
Better.
“This is—”
“Do not say misunderstanding.”
Edward stopped.
Constance’s face was white.
Gerald turned toward her.
“Constance.”
“What?”
“That is Aliyah Owens.”
“I heard you.”
“Ashbrook.”
“I heard you.”
“The managing partner.”
“Yes.”
“The person scheduled to sign.”
“I understand.”
“No,” Gerald said. “I don’t think you do.”
He checked his watch.
9:08.
“The company has a lender standstill based on expected execution tonight.”
Edward whispered:
“Stop.”
“The financing package is conditioned on Ashbrook approval.”
“Gerald.”
“You wanted to know who she is. Now you know.”
Constance looked at Aliyah.
For the first time, her expression shifted toward apology.
But the first words she chose destroyed even that opportunity.
“I didn’t know.”
Aliyah stared.
Constance continued.
“No one told me what you looked like.”
There it was.
The defense.
The same one people offered whenever power suddenly appeared behind someone they had already decided was powerless.
Aliyah spoke quietly.
“Would it have mattered?”
Constance swallowed.
“What?”
“If you knew who I was.”
“Of course.”
Aliyah nodded.
“That is the problem.”
Edward stepped forward.
“Please. We can go somewhere private.”
“No.”
“There are hundreds of people—”
“I know.”
“We can discuss this.”