He swallowed.
“How?”
I studied him quietly.
For the first time since we’d met, Wade was truly paying attention to me.
It was unfortunate that curiosity had arrived only after disbelief.
I set my coffee cup down.
“You remember Alden Meridian Group.”
“Of course.”
“You know we developed Harbor Crown.”
“I knew your company worked on it.”
“My company didn’t.”
I paused.
“I did.”
His forehead creased.
“I don’t understand.”
“I founded Alden Meridian Group.”
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Twenty-seven people stared at me.
Even the city outside seemed quieter.
“I’m the founder.”
I continued calmly.
“The chief executive.”
“The majority shareholder.”
“And the lead developer behind Harbor Crown.”
No one moved.
No one spoke.
One of Wade’s younger cousins actually gasped aloud.
Another whispered,
“She’s the Maren Alden?”
Apparently someone in the room had finally connected the name.
Because anyone working in Boston commercial real estate knew exactly who Maren Alden was.
I had spent years avoiding magazine interviews and business television.
I preferred buildings over publicity.
Contracts over headlines.
Privacy over recognition.
That decision had clearly worked.
Even my own husband hadn’t recognized my name.
Wade stared at me.
“I…”
He laughed weakly.
“You’re joking.”
“I’m not.”
“You mean…”
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