I heard the squeak of his leather office chair as he stood up.

I quickly stepped backward into the shadow of a large marble pillar.

My heart was beating in my ears.

Through the gap in the pillar, I saw Jared walk to his office door.

He was wearing his tailored charcoal suit, looking every bit the powerful executive.

He checked his watch and walked toward the executive elevator.

He didn’t look in my direction.

Once the elevator doors closed behind him, I stepped out from behind the pillar.

My hands were ice cold.

I looked at my briefcase.

The board meeting was scheduled for tomorrow morning.

Uncle Arthur and the rest of the conservative board members would be sitting in that very room.

They would expect Jared to give his quarterly report and share the news of his impending fatherhood.

I walked slowly toward the boardroom doors.

The room was empty, the long mahogany table polished to a mirror shine.

I looked at the high-backed leather chairs where the elders of the family sat.

They had always looked down on me because I came from a modest background.