Three Years in the Shadows

I kept our marriage a secret for three years, enduring every sneer as her VP while helping her build her empire.

Tanya Cox rose from a scorned, illegitimate daughter to a revered CEO.

She once nestled in my embrace and promised to be open about our relationship when the company went public.

I waited year after year. Even when our child was born, she still hadn’t made good on her word.

One day, I pressed for a timeline. However, Tanya simply put the baby in my arms.

“Callum, things are complicated at the moment. The disclosure will only hurt the stock price. I gave you a child. Isn’t that enough?”

Alas, when her childhood friend, Gavin Nolan, returned from abroad on New Year’s Day, he took the seat of honor during our newborn’s sip and see event.

Gavin, cradling my baby girl, accepted well-wishes from friends and family with a smile.

“Don’t take things the wrong way. The right etiquette probably slipped his mind since he’s been away for so long. He’s only sitting there to keep the baby entertained. That’s all. Don’t read too much into it.

“We’ve always been close since childhood. He’s going to be the godfather of our child. Don’t tell me you’re jealous of him.”

Beaming, I raised my glass as a toast to Gavin.

Tanya was wrong.

I wasn’t at all jealous. Heck, I was done with her.

“I get that Gavin is out of touch with the rules since he’s been away for so long, but what’s your excuse?”

I looked up at Gavin Nolan.

Dressed in a white custom suit, Gavin took the seat at the head of the table and cradled the newborn with a tender smile.

I was supposed to be Sarah’s father. Yet, Tanya Cox put me in a corner, away from my child.

It was my cue to approach Tanya. I walked up behind her and asked, “We are here to celebrate our daughter. Why did you assign me to a seat furthest away from her? What’s the meaning of this?”

“Can you just stop, Callum?”

Tanya spoke in hushed tones, the weariness apparent in her eyes.

“Gavin has just gotten back, and he’s a big deal in capital venture. He is incredibly connected.

“He is Sarah’s godfather anyway. It’s not a bad thing for our daughter if he takes the seat of honor. The board is going to call us out on nepotism if they see you up there.

“Besides, your attire isn’t exactly appropriate for hosting the city’s elites here. Callum, I expected you to have better judgment.”

I chose comfort—a cotton tee and khakis—to better care for Sarah.

However, Tanya viewed my choice of apparel as unpresentable.

Staring at the sheer entitlement in Tanya’s face, I clenched my hands.

“I am Sarah’s father. If I don’t deserve to sit out front, what gives him the right?”

Tanya’s eyes flickered in annoyance. Before she could say anything more, Sarah burst into tears.

Gavin bounced the newborn on his lap with ease, his eyes nearly hiding the aggression.

“I should step aside, Tanya. I’d hate to be the reason you two fight.”

With that, he motioned to get up.

Tanya pressed him down on his seat by the shoulders before snapping an angry look at me.

“Sit back down. You have every right to sit here as Sarah’s godfather.

“Callum, are you really going to start when we are all trying to have a good time? Are you trying to make me look bad?

“If you have nothing better to do, you can check on catering. Don’t get in the way here.”

Several business associates approached, wine glasses in hand.

Among them, Nick Gordon eyed Gavin, then Tanya, before his gaze fell on me.

He asked with a smirk, “Ms. Cox, I don’t recognize this handsome young man. Is he with your firm too?”

Even though my marriage wasn’t known to the public, I ran the operations as VP.

Just last week, I closed a business deal with Nick.

There was no way I was a stranger to him.

Nick simply read the room. With Gavin getting the seat of honor and Tanya putting me down, Nick knew I wasn’t worth respecting.

I turned to Tanya, waiting for her response.

It wouldn’t be so bad if she introduced me as the VP or partner.

Nevertheless, all she did was give me a side glance.

“Oh, he’s Callum Hunter, the firm’s VP. He’s helping out with logistics and errands today since we’re short-staffed.

“You’re dismissed, Mr. Hunter. Can you bring my car around, so it’s ready for the guests when they leave?”

Her voice was indifferent and icy.

A server wheeled in a five-tiered cake.

“It’s time to cut the cake.

“Can we have the father cut the first slice?”