Then Darren’s team leader asked Claire, “So what keeps you busy these days?” It was an ordinary question. Kind, even. Claire opened her mouth, but Darren laughed and stepped in. “Honestly? Not much. She pretends the house is a full-time corporation.” The group chuckled. Claire felt her fingers tighten around her cup.
Darren kept going, warmed by the attention. “She makes lists, rearranges cabinets, tells me when to send thank-you emails. Very important executive work.” “Darren,” Claire said quietly. But he did not stop. He leaned closer to his coworkers, lowering his voice in a way that made it carry even more. “Look, I love her, but Claire wouldn’t last one day in my office. She’s useless under real pressure.”
That was when Vivian Harlow looked over. The word useless seemed to hang between the picnic tables, ugly and heavy. Claire remembered every late night, every edited presentation, every job application, every client email Darren had sent after she fixed it. For years, she had protected his pride. In that moment, she realized his pride had never once protected her.