Chapter 6 - The Rival at Table Twelve.
Sophie knew Victor Lane by reputation long before she met him.
He ran Lane Premier Hospitality with the kind of polished charm that made aggressive business moves sound like friendly suggestions.
For two years, he had tried to persuade Sophie to sell him a controlling interest in Hale House Events.
Sophie had refused every offer.
Six months earlier, Victor stopped calling.
Now his name was lighting up Diane's phone during the most damaging hour of Diane's career.
Sophie looked at her mother.
“Why is Victor Lane calling you?”
Diane slipped the phone into her bag.
“He knows people at this wedding.”
“That was not my question.”
Meline looked between them.
“Who is Victor Lane?”
“My competitor.”
Diane shook her head.
“Do not make this more dramatic than it is.”
Sophie turned toward the office window overlooking the ballroom below.
From the second floor, she could see clusters of guests beginning to talk again.
Near table twelve sat a silver-haired man in a dark dinner jacket.
Victor Lane.
Sophie had not invited him.
Meline followed her gaze and went still.
“Mom said he was an old family friend.”
Sophie looked at Diane.
Diane did not deny it.
The pattern snapped into focus with painful clarity.
Diane had arranged vendor charges through Sophie's company.
She had requested deeper administrative access.
A contract renewal appeared with Sophie's copied signature.
That renewal granted Diane management authority over Lakeside Pavilion.
And Sophie's largest competitor was sitting downstairs at the wedding as Diane's guest.
Grace's voice came through the speaker.
“Sophie, do not accuse anyone of a larger plan until we have evidence.”
“I know.”
Sophie kept her eyes on Victor.
“But we have enough to end the contract now.”
“Yes.”
Diane stepped forward.
“You already ended it in front of two hundred people.”
“No.”
Sophie looked at her.
“I gave you notice.”
“The termination becomes effective when your access expires at the end of the hour.”
Diane's expression changed.
For the first time, Sophie realized her mother had misunderstood the countdown.
She thought the hour was theatrical.
It was operational.
Every building credential, vendor login, corporate email, and purchasing authority tied to Diane would shut down automatically at 10:15 p.m.
Diane checked the time.
Forty-one minutes remained.
She moved toward the door.
Meline blocked her path.
“Where are you going?”
“Back to your wedding.”
“Why is Victor Lane here?”
Diane's face softened instantly.
It was the expression she used when she wanted Meline to feel childish for asking an adult question.
“Honey, tonight is not about business.”
Meline did not move.
“Then answer me.”
A knock interrupted them.
One of the venue managers entered with a sealed envelope.
“Ms. Hale, this was found under the registration table downstairs.”
Sophie accepted it.
Her name was printed on the front.
Inside was a proposed partnership agreement between Diane Hale and Lane Premier Hospitality.
The first page referenced Lakeside Pavilion.
The last page included a blank line waiting for Diane's signature.
Meline turned the partnership pages one by one and noticed that her wedding date appeared in the proposed transition timeline.
The date was listed beside the phrase “relationship activation event.”
She read those words twice.
Her face hardened.
May you like
“My wedding is written into a business plan.”
Nobody answered, because there was no harmless explanation ready for that sentence.
