The Daughter at the Table

PART 3 — THE SEAT BESIDE HIM

Governor Marcus Hale embraced his son before turning toward Richard.

“I see you’ve already met Evan.”

Richard raised an eyebrow.

“Your temporary driver?”

Evan sighed.

“That was supposed to remain a secret.”

Marcus laughed.

“Well, now everyone knows.”

Patricia quickly recovered.

“Governor, what a wonderful surprise! We had no idea Evan would be joining us.”

Evan looked at her.

“Actually, Mrs. Bennett, I was invited.”

Patricia’s smile tightened.

“Of course. Please, everyone, let’s sit down.”

She immediately gestured toward Lauren.

“Lauren, why don’t you sit beside Evan? You two should have plenty to talk about.”

Lauren blushed and adjusted her dress.

But Evan didn’t move.

Instead, he looked toward Claire.

“Would you mind if I sat here?”

Claire glanced at the empty chair beside her.

“You’re asking me?”

“Unless there’s someone else named Claire at this table.”

She laughed.

“Go ahead.”

Evan pulled out the chair and sat beside her.

Patricia’s expression became uncomfortable.

During dinner, Lauren tried several times to direct the conversation toward herself.

She talked about her social events, upcoming vacations, and the charity committee she had recently joined.

Evan listened politely.

But his attention kept returning to Claire.

She was discussing a new accessibility technology project she had been developing for hospitals and public transportation systems.

“You’re designing the entire platform yourself?” Marcus asked.

“Not alone. I have a small team. But I lead the product development.”

“That’s impressive.”

Claire shrugged.

“It’s work. I enjoy solving problems.”

Evan leaned slightly toward her.

“What kind of problems?”

“Usually the kind people don’t notice until they need something they can’t access.”

He nodded thoughtfully.

“That’s a useful way to look at the world.”

Claire smiled.

“Most people look at my wheelchair before they look at my work. So I try to remind myself that appearances aren’t always the most important thing.”

Evan held her gaze.

“I agree.”

Across the table, Patricia put down her fork.

“Claire has always been very determined,” she said. “Although we sometimes worry she takes on too much.”

Claire didn’t look up.

“Mom, I can manage my own workload.”

“Of course, sweetheart. I’m only concerned.”

Evan quietly placed his glass down.

“From what I’ve heard tonight, Claire seems perfectly capable of deciding what she can manage.”

The table went silent.

Richard hid a small smile.

After dinner, Marcus and Richard moved into the study to discuss business. Lauren followed Patricia toward the kitchen, hoping to find another opportunity to speak with the governor’s family.

Claire remained in the dining room, checking a message on her tablet.

Evan approached.

“May I ask you something?”

“Depends.”

“Would you have coffee with me sometime?”

Claire looked up, surprised.

“Is that because your father wants you to meet a Bennett daughter?”

“No.”

“Because my mother would certainly approve.”

Evan smiled.

“Then perhaps we shouldn’t tell her.”

Claire laughed.

He continued, more seriously.

“I’d like to get to know you. Not your family name, not your father’s business, and certainly not what other people think about you.”

Claire studied his face.

“You barely know me.”

“That’s why I’m asking.”

For a moment, she didn’t answer.

Then she smiled.

“Coffee sounds good.”

Evan’s expression softened.

Just as he was about to leave, Patricia appeared in the doorway.

“Claire, I need to speak with you.”

Claire looked at her.

“About what?”

Patricia glanced at Evan before lowering her voice.

“Don’t get the wrong idea. Evan is a governor’s son. His future is complicated. I don’t want you embarrassing yourself by imagining something that isn’t possible.”

Claire’s smile slowly disappeared.

Before she could respond, Evan turned around.

“Mrs. Bennett.”

Patricia stiffened.

“Yes?”

Evan walked back toward Claire and gently placed a hand on the back of her chair.

“I think you’ve misunderstood something.”

He looked directly at Patricia.

“I’m not looking for a woman who fits someone else’s idea of perfection.”

Then he turned toward Claire.

“I’m looking for someone I actually want to know.”

Patricia said nothing.

And Claire, for the first time in a very long while, felt that perhaps someone was finally seeing her exactly as she was.

But Evan had one more secret.

A week before that dinner, he had received a confidential investment proposal from Bennett Urban Development.

The project was a major accessibility initiative designed to transform public transportation across several American cities.

The lead designer listed on the proposal was none other than Claire Bennett.

And Evan was about to make a decision that could change both their lives.