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Chapter 17
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Always Second, Even at My Wedding Chapter 17
Early the next morning, I got to my new office thirty minutes early.The city was just waking up, pale gold light stretching across the river.Admin brought over my nameplate with a smile."Mr. Crawford, does this spot work?"I took the silver plaque.Beneath my name, one line stood out:[Clint Crawford][Head of the Continental Strategy Unit]I slid it into the slot beside the door myself.Click.Locked in.At nine, the launch ceremony kicked off.Headquarters executives spoke remotely. Client reps filled the front row. My team took their seats.I stepped onstage and opened my notes.The scar across my palm had faded so much I could barely see it as I held the mic.But I knew it was still there.When I finished, the room broke into applause.Nora was the first one on her feet.She came over and handed me a hot latte."Half sweet. Extra shot. We're celebrating."I smiled and took it."Thanks."The warmth of the cup seeped into my fingers.At noon, legal sent one
Always Second, Even at My Wedding Chapter 16
Apparently, Joan still didn't get it.Over the next few days, she stopped showing up outside my office.Instead, white roses arrived every morning.No name on the card.Just one line.[I'm waiting.]The first time, I took one look and told Admin to send them back.The second time, Admin logged the delivery and refused it.The third time, the florist called to ask if they should use a different address.I forwarded the number to Legal.That afternoon, legal sent a cease-and-desist.The flowers stopped.Later that same day, people in an industry group chat started turning on Derek.Business partners back in Arlencia started posting proof.Fake authorization.Unauthorized access to security footage.False claims he'd spread.Then someone dug up his old suggestive posts.Someone else shared screenshots of him using Joan's name to demand favors and special treatment.Another person posted photos of him wearing that five-figure limited-edition watch alongside the receipt.
Always Second, Even at My Wedding Chapter 15
Our final meeting was in the company's legal conference room.Bright. Spotless.Two lists sat on the table.One listed the stuff Joan had brought back.The other listed the documents I needed to sign to officially cut ties.She showed up thirty minutes early.The second I walked in, she stood.Several boxes were lined up on the table.Wedding invitation samples.A hard drive with the studio photos.The wedding binder I'd thrown out—and somehow, she'd dug it back up.And the ring.I sat down without touching any of it.Legal started the formal process."Ms. Quinton, please confirm you deleted all of Mr. Crawford's private contact info, address records, and anything used to track his schedule. You also agree not to get that information through anyone else."Joan nodded."I confirm."Her voice was quiet.Legal continued."Have the shared wedding accounts and invitation links been deactivated, and has the studio's permission to display the photos been revoked?""Yes." S
Always Second, Even at My Wedding Chapter 14
I didn't agree to see Joan right away.The next morning, legal reviewed everything she'd sent.The equity transfer was legit.She'd also deposited a huge amount into an account set up to compensate me.Her public apology had gone out to group chats with our mutual friends back in Arlencia and to her company's entire internal mailing list.Nora handed me the screenshots."Quinton Corp's board is freaking out. That project was supposed to anchor their financing next quarter. Transferring it like this could seriously wreck their cash flow."I flipped through the screenshots.The same people who used to joke that Derek looked more like the groom had gone quiet.Someone had posted:[I'm sorry, Clint.]Others had deleted their old comments.I set my phone down."Send the money back. I already covered the wedding costs, and selling the apartment was my choice."Nora looked at me. "What about Joan?"I was quiet for a second."Conference room this afternoon. Fifteen minutes."J
Always Second, Even at My Wedding Chapter 13
At ten the next morning, Quinton Corp got the hotel's official investigation report.I wasn't involved, but Nora showed me the summary.The person who requested the security footage: Derek.The access used: a temporary Quinton Corp partner account.The video backup disappeared at 9:13 p.m. the night of the menu tasting.The later media claims came from Derek's personal email.Every entry had a timestamp.No wiggle room. No excuses.Nora set the documents on my desk. "Joan might contact you."Right on cue, the front desk called."Mr. Crawford, Ms. Quinton is downstairs. She wants to see you."I checked my schedule.Supplier meeting at ten thirty."Tell her I'm busy."The front desk called back almost immediately."She says she'll wait."I didn't answer.At lunch, Nora came upstairs looking conflicted."She's still in the lobby. Derek's here too."I took a sip of coffee."Joan confronted him in front of the hotel's legal team. She asked why he used her partner account
Always Second, Even at My Wedding Chapter 12
The meeting dragged late into the night.By the time I left the conference room, the reception was over.Nora walked downstairs with me."The hotel just emailed us. Derek tried to delete all of tonight's footage, but legal stopped him."No surprise there.He'd always been good at controlling the story.Back then, he'd crop me out of social media photos, post some suggestive caption, and get our mutual friends to play along. Now he wanted to bury the truth the same way.But this project reception had protocols, records, legal oversight, and restricted access to security footage.Nothing happened without authorization.Nora handed me the tablet. "There's more. The hotel's banquet team found that someone accessed the menu-tasting footage using temporary partner credentials from Quinton Corp."The request was signed by Derek Blake."A record filled the screen.The reason looked legit enough.[To protect the wedding clients' privacy.]His electronic signature sat right below i
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