I knew she had a tech company. I didn’t realize it was the same one you were working with. That’s a lie, I said quietly.
Eleanor Wright mentioned our family connection to you three weeks ago when she discovered it. She told me she spoke to you directly. Scott’s face confirmed the truth before he could formulate another denial.
Richard’s expression hardened as he realized he’d been deliberately kept in the dark. We need to discuss this. Now.
Richard stood abruptly, grabbing Scott’s arm. Somewhere private. Tiffany rose as well, her face flushed with anger.
You’re ruining everything, she hissed at me. This wedding cost over two million dollars and you’re turning it into a business dispute. No, Tiffany.
You ruined it when you decided I wasn’t good enough to sit with my own family. I maintained my composure, refusing to match her emotional outburst. I simply decided I wasn’t going to accept that treatment any longer.
As Richard led Scott away, with Tiffany following closely behind, Marcus placed his hand on the small of my back. That, he said quietly, was the most professionally executed takedown I’ve ever witnessed. For the first time that day, I felt a genuine smile spread across my face.
Let’s get out of here. I suddenly have a taste for real food, preferably somewhere where I can sit at an actual table. As we turned to leave, several of the business associates from the head table approached me.
Business cards appearing from inside suit jackets. Miss Powell. Thomas Harrington.
Coastal Development. I’d be very interested in learning more about what Nexus Technologies has to offer. Another man stepped forward.
Gerald Winters. Apex Investments. I’ve been following your company’s growth.
Perhaps we could schedule a meeting next week. The very people Richard and Scott had been courting were now approaching me directly. The irony wasn’t lost on me, but I didn’t feel any particular satisfaction from it.
This wasn’t about revenge or one-upmanship. It was about standing up for myself and my company’s value. I accepted their cards politely, but didn’t linger.
My assistant will be in touch to arrange meetings. But right now, I’m afraid I need to leave. As Marcus and I walked out of the tent, the sounds of raised voices could be heard coming from the direction Richard had taken Scott.
The perfect wedding was unraveling, not because of my actions, but because of the choices they had made long before I arrived. We had barely reached the valet stand when my phone began ringing repeatedly. I silenced it without looking at the caller ID, already knowing who it would be.
The young valet brought my Tesla around, his eyes widening slightly as he handed me the keys. Nice car, he commented. Thanks, I replied, tipping him generously.
It’s amazing what you can afford when you build your own company instead of relying on family connections. Marcus chuckled as he slid into the passenger seat. Feeling a bit petty, are we? Just a touch, I admitted, starting the engine.
I think I’ve earned it today. Before I could pull away, a familiar figure appeared in my side mirror, moving quickly across the parking area. My father, his face flushed and tie askew, was practically jogging toward the car.
Vanessa, stop right there. Young lady. I sighed and rolled down the window but kept the engine running.
Yes, dad. He reached the car, breathing heavily from the exertion. What the hell do you think you’re doing? Richard Bradford is livid.
Scott’s wedding is in shambles. Your mother is in tears. And it’s all because you couldn’t handle a simple seating mix-up? A mix-up? I repeated incredulously.
They seated me in the kitchen, dad. The kitchen. And Tiffany made it very clear it was deliberate.
So what? You sit where you’re told at someone else’s wedding. That’s basic manners. But instead, you had to make it all about you and your wounded pride.
Marcus leaned forward. Sir, with all due respect, your daughter is the CEO of a successful technology company that Bradford Enterprises sought out specifically because of its excellence. She deserves better treatment than she received today.
My father’s eyes narrowed as he took in Marcus for the first time. And who exactly are you to tell me how my daughter should be treated? Dad, this is Marcus Chin. He’s with me, and he’s right.
This wasn’t about pride. It was about basic respect, something I haven’t received from this family in a very long time. Respect.
My father’s voice rose. You want to talk about respect when you just cancelled a contract with your brother’s father-in-law? Do you have any idea what you’ve done to Scott’s position in the family? Richard was going to make him a partner in their next development project. And there it was.
The real concern wasn’t about me or even about the wedding. It was about Scott’s business opportunity, his chance to climb higher on the ladder of success that had always been extended to him while I built my own from scratch. I’m sorry if my actions impacted Scott’s business prospects.
I said, not feeling sorry at all. But I need to protect my company’s interests and my own professional reputation. Bradford Enterprises doesn’t get to treat me like second-class citizen while benefiting from my technology.
You need to fix this, my father insisted. Call them back. Tell them it was a misunderstanding, that you were emotional because of the wedding.
I will not, I replied firmly. The decision stands, and if anything, this conversation only confirms I made the right choice. My mother appeared behind my father.
Her carefully applied makeup now smudged around her eyes. Vanessa, please. Scott is devastated.
Can’t you see what you’re doing to this family? What I’m doing? I felt a laugh escape, though there was no humor in it. I’ve spent my entire life being overlooked and dismissed by this family. I built a successful company without any support or encouragement from any of you.
And the first time I stand up for myself, I’m the one destroying the family? That’s not fair. My mother protested weakly. We’ve always been proud of you.
Really? Name one time you’ve bragged about my accomplishments the way you constantly broadcast Scott’s. One time you’ve introduced me to someone important with the same enthusiasm you just showed for Scott’s connection to the Bradfords. Her silence was answer enough.
The commotion had attracted attention. Several wedding guests had gathered at a distance, watching the family drama unfold with poorly disguised interest. Among them, I spotted cousin Olivia, who had witnessed the kitchen incident earlier and now gave me a subtle thumbs up from behind my parents’ backs.
I think we should continue this conversation another time, I suggested, acutely aware of the audience when emotions aren’t running so high. There’s nothing to discuss. My father replied coldly.
You’ve made your choice very clear today. Scott is family. Richard Bradford is now family.
And you just declared yourself against both of them. No, Dad. I declared myself worthy of basic respect.
There’s a difference. Before he could respond, another figure emerged from the main house. Scott, his face ashen and his perfect wedding attire now rumpled, approached the car with Tiffany and Richard Bradford trailing several steps behind.
Van, what the hell? Scott’s voice cracked with emotion. Richard is talking about pulling all his business from Powell Construction now. Do you know what that would do to Dad’s company? I’m sorry, Scott.
That wasn’t my intention. But it’s the result, he shouted, uncharacteristically losing his composure. You couldn’t just sit where you were told for one day.
You had to make some grand stand about your stupid tech company. Marcus tents beside me, but I placed a hand on his arm, silently asking him to let me handle this. My stupid tech company is valued at over $200 million, Scott.
It employs 65 people. And until an hour ago, it was providing essential services to Bradford Enterprises. I didn’t make a grand stand.
I made a business decision based on how I was treated. Fix it, Scott demanded. Call whoever you called and tell them it was a mistake.
It wasn’t a mistake, I replied calmly. And I’m not going to pretend it was just to salvage your business opportunity. Tiffany pushed past Scott, her perfect bridal appearance now considerably disheveled.