The Montgomery Atelier boardroom had always been Sloane's domain. She had spent years proving she wasn't just an heiress, that she belonged at the table, that her vision was what had turned the company into a global powerhouse.
But today, the air was different.
The board had gathered for a quarterly financial review, but Sloane could already tell this was about more than numbers. The older members exchanged subtle glances, tension simmering beneath the surface.
She leaned back in her chair, fingers tapping against the polished wood.
"Let's skip the formalities. Someone clearly has something to say."
Charles Montgomery, her father and the company's chairman, exhaled.
"There have been concerns, Sloane."
Her jaw tightened. "Concerns about what, exactly?"
Edward Harrington, one of the longest-serving board members, cleared his throat.
"Your upcoming marriage to Vincent Saint-Clair. Some of us feel it… complicates things."
