Something precise.
I wanted Grant to understand consequences.
“Let me,” I told my dad.
He nodded once, like he had expected that answer. “All right. But it will be done professionally.”
The HR director scheduled Grant for a final-round interview two days later. They didn’t tell him who the senior leadership panel would be. They rarely did at that stage. Grant would walk in assuming he had impressed them with his résumé and polished answers.
On the day of the interview, I wore a simple navy dress and tied my hair back. Noah stayed with my aunt. I practiced breathing in the bathroom mirror because I refused to let Grant see me shake.
The conference room had a long glass table, a pitcher of water, and a view of downtown. My dad sat at one end, expression neutral. The HR director sat beside him. I took the third seat with a folder in front of me.
Grant arrived five minutes early, confident, smiling like he owned the room. He looked healthier than he had in months—new haircut, expensive watch, the same grin he used to flash at waiters to get free drinks.
“Good morning,” he said.
Then his eyes landed on me.Husband support groups
For half a second his face went blank, like his brain couldn’t process what he was seeing. Then the smile returned, forced.
“Claire,” he said carefully. “What are you doing here?”
I kept my voice steady. “I work here.”
Grant laughed softly. “No, you don’t.”
The HR director cleared her throat. “Mr. Ellis, this is Ms. Claire Dawson, Executive Project Lead.”
Grant’s eyes widened. He looked between me and my dad, searching for a joke.
My father finally spoke. “And I’m Richard Dawson,” he said. “CEO.”
Grant’s mouth opened slightly. Then closed. His gaze snapped back to me with a flash of anger—like I had tricked him by not advertising my family.
“You never told me,” he said tightly.Divorce support groups
“You never asked,” I replied.
His jaw tightened. “So this is revenge. You’re going to punish me.”
“This is an interview,” I said, sliding a document across the table. “And we’re going to review your employment history.”
