She Kicked the Janitor's Bucket and Lost the Job in Ten Seconds

CHAPTER 4 - ST. MARK'S

St. Mark's Church stood six blocks from Bennett Industries, red brick and old wood, the kind of place where every whisper sounded like a confession.

Vanessa found Arthur Bennett in the side chapel, sitting alone in the third pew. No suit. No assistant. Just a dark overcoat folded beside him and a candle burning near the altar rail.

He did not turn when she approached.

"I wasn't sure you'd come," he said.

She sat at the far end of the pew, leaving space between them.

"I almost didn't."

Arthur nodded. "Reasonable."

For a moment, they listened to the low hum of the church heater and the faint sound of traffic outside.

"I owe you an apology," Vanessa said. "Not because you're chairman. Because I was cruel."

He looked at her then, and age showed in his face, but so did relief. "That matters more to me than the first part."

She breathed in slowly. "My mother told me about you."

"I guessed she finally might."

"And you knew who I was."

"I knew who you might be." He folded his hands. "Your mother contacted me last month. She sounded frightened. I agreed to see your resume, but I wanted to meet you first without titles in the way."

Vanessa let out a bitter little laugh. "You certainly did that."

His mouth twitched, almost a smile. "I clean that lobby myself sometimes. It tells me more than a board meeting."

Then his expression changed.

"I also had a reason beyond the company." He reached into his coat and pulled out a sealed envelope, worn at the edges. "Your mother sent this twenty-eight years ago. I received it yesterday."

Vanessa frowned. "Yesterday?"

"My sister found it in our late father's desk. He never mailed it to me. He disapproved of Diane. He handled some of my personal correspondence when I was traveling." Arthur's jaw tightened. "He read it. Hid it. And changed both our lives."

Her fingers shook as she opened the letter.

Inside, in her mother's younger hand, were the words: I am pregnant. I don't know what comes next, but you deserve the truth.

Vanessa looked up, stunned.

Arthur's voice was rough now. "I didn't abandon you. I never knew."

Then the church doors opened behind them, and Diane stepped inside, pale and trembling.

"I came to tell him myself," she said. "Even if you both hate me."