Chapter 2 - The Empire Built Beside Her
Dominic’s company, Vale Meridian Systems, began growing rapidly.
Its software helped hospitals track medical equipment, reduce waste, and predict supply shortages. Audrey developed many of the company’s early operational procedures, although she refused a formal title.
She wanted their marriage to remain separate from Dominic’s ambition.
That decision became one of her greatest regrets.
During the first two years, Dominic often told people that Audrey had saved the company.
By the fourth year, he rarely mentioned her contributions.
He began appearing alone in magazine interviews. He described himself as a self-made founder who had built his business without help. At conferences, he introduced Audrey as his wife but never as the woman who had helped design his company’s hospital strategy.
Audrey noticed.
She said nothing.
Dominic’s personality changed as the company grew. He purchased expensive suits, leased luxury vehicles, and surrounded himself with executives who praised every decision.
He also began treating Audrey’s ordinary lifestyle as an embarrassment.
“You should dress differently at these events,” he told her before an investor dinner. “People judge the founder by his wife.”
“I am wearing a formal dress.”
“It looks inexpensive.”
“It was inexpensive.”
“That isn’t something to be proud of.”
Audrey stared at him.
“You used to be proud that we didn’t need expensive things.”
“That was before people were watching.”
Dominic eventually secured a major line of credit from Whitmore Capital.
He never knew Silas had approved it.
Audrey had not requested the investment. Silas’s analysts had evaluated Vale Meridian and decided the company had genuine potential. Silas agreed to the loan only after placing strict controls on how the funds could be used.
When Audrey learned of the deal, she confronted her grandfather.
“You promised not to interfere.”
“I did not interfere,” Silas answered. “My company financed a promising business. Dominic was approved through the same process as everyone else.”
“You knew it was his.”
“Of course.”
“And you said nothing?”
“I wanted to see what kind of man he became when he believed no one was watching.”
Audrey disliked the answer.
Yet part of her understood it.
By then, she had begun noticing unexplained charges, hidden bank statements, and late-night calls Dominic refused to discuss.
He blamed the company.
“Growth is messy,” he said. “You wouldn’t understand the pressure.”
Audrey almost reminded him that she had helped create the systems supporting that growth.
Instead, she apologized.
Dominic accepted the apology as though she had done something wrong.
When Audrey became pregnant, she believed the babies might bring them together again.
Dominic appeared delighted when the doctor revealed they were expecting twins. He purchased two matching cribs and posted a photograph of the ultrasound online.
“My legacy,” he called them.
Audrey disliked the word.
“They’re our children, not your legacy.”
“It means the same thing.”
“No, it doesn’t.”
For several weeks, Dominic became attentive again. He attended appointments, read books about fatherhood, and placed his hand over Audrey’s stomach each night.
Then Natalie Cross joined Vale Meridian as vice president of corporate development.
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Within two months, Dominic stopped attending the appointments.
Within four months, he stopped coming home before midnight.
