Page 32 of Executive Decision
“Daphne, I… she has a crush on me. She’s been inappropriate.”
“So, if I go through your messages, I will not see anything concerning on your end?
“You already have, haven’t you?”
I hadn’t. I didn’t have the heart to torture myself more on this day. I shrugged.
“Daphne, I love you. You are my wife. You are the one I want to spend my life with. It was stupid, and I’ll end it all. I will fix it and?—”
“There is no time to end it,” I said. “Because it’s over.”
He grabbed my wrist hard. “It isn’t over, Daphne! Not until I say it is!”
I tried to free myself, but he held tight.
“If things had not been so bad with the fertility struggles, I would have felt differently.”
“Things with the fertility struggles? That’s all? That’s what you worry about? I tried. I suffered and tried and put myself through hell—all to please you. And this is how you repay me!”
Tears welled, but I held them back.
“You must forgive me.”
“I cannot. I will not.”
“You will forgive me!”
Not for the first, but the last time, I felt he might strike me. I braced, knowing that somehow, I was done for good after this—somehow, some way.
In my moment of need, the door opened. Dahlia appeared with my baby sister Dora close behind. I made eye contact. She looked at my wrist, then back at my husband. She puffed, emboldened with a need to save me. Dora looked frightened, but Dahlia was ready to throw hands.
“We need to go. The car is waiting. Come on.” Dahlia glared at Chandler.
“I am speaking with my wife!” Chandler roared.
“Get your hands off of her and move,” Dora said. “Whatever you think is critical right now, it’s not. We have a schedule.”
She grabbed my arm, pulling me toward the funeral of the century, or whatever cable news called it. People expected big things when the most important person in Chicago died. My sisters’ concern for my safety above all remained apparent, but there was no time to dally. Without discussion and as if we knew one another well enough to guess what happened, Dahlia handed Chandler off to Davey.
“Are you… safe?” Dora asked.
“I’m fine,” I answered. “It’s complicated. Tempers are whipped up. Trust me. It’s okay.”
Dora was unconvinced, even in her blissful youth. She could feel whatever she wanted or needed, but one fact remained. We had to survive this together as a family. The stakeholders required unity. The nation watched as we laid an American business great and philanthropist to rest.
I squeezed her hand in assurance. “It will be okay. We will make it through. The Delphines always make it through. We give good face, and we keep it together. That is what today is about.”
“Is it?” Dora asked.
“Dora, I promise you it is going to be okay. And I am fine. Or, I will be when this is all wrapped up with a bow.”
I patted her cheek and continued outside. I gazed over the small crowd gathered on the doorstep. Davey met my gaze as he circled our flock. Chandler looked ready to pitch a fit, but wouldn’t tangle with Davey or Derrick, my younger brother who appeared lost. Dahlia chatted with her girlfriend Susanne, one eye always on Chandler as if ready to punch him. Lanie stared at her phone, endlessly scrolling social media.
Mum stared off into the distance with a lost, directionless gaze. No one dared hug her for fear of losing an eye. We did not make a fuss. Her stiff upper lip mentality prevented it.
I wrapped an arm around her waist. “We’re ready, Mum. Just say the word.”
Mum nodded. “I’m ready.”
