Chapter 3 - Seven Minutes
The afternoon of the banquet, soft sunlight poured through tall white-framed windows and reflected across the polished wooden floor.
Officers in formal dress uniforms filled the elegant dining room. Civilian guests admired the view of Chesapeake Bay while servers arranged glasses and floral centerpieces.
Adrian arrived forty minutes early.
He inspected the table settings, corrected a server’s placement of a water glass, and ordered Maya to move two name cards even though the seating plan had already been approved.
“Admiral Bennett belongs at the center,” Maya said. “That is where the association placed him.”
Adrian lowered his voice.
“I did not ask what the association wanted.”
Maya moved the card.
One place remained empty at Adrian’s table.
The card read Rear Admiral Serena Cole.
The public promotion notice had been released that morning, but Adrian had spent the day preparing his speech and had ignored most official messages. He saw Serena’s name and assumed she was a newly appointed administrative guest whose title had been entered incorrectly.
“Who is she?” he asked.
“A senior officer from Norfolk,” Maya replied.
“Senior according to whom?”
Maya looked directly at him.
“According to the United States Navy.”
Adrian gave her a cold smile.
“Careful, Lieutenant.”
At precisely two o’clock, the banquet chairman began his opening remarks.
Serena’s chair remained empty.
At two minutes past, Adrian checked his watch.
At five minutes past, he whispered that lateness revealed weak character.
At seven minutes past, the dining room doors opened.
Serena entered alone.
Her dark-brown hair was secured in a neat low bun. Her formal Navy dress uniform was immaculate, with gold sleeve stripes, ribbons, insignia, and carefully arranged decorations.
Several senior officers recognized her immediately and began to stand.
Serena made a small gesture encouraging them to remain seated.
Adrian did not notice.
He was looking at his watch.
Serena approached the table.
“My apologies,” she said. “A meeting continued longer than expected.”
Adrian remained seated.
“Seven minutes late.”
Serena looked at him with mild surprise.
“Yes, Commander. I am aware.”
He pointed toward the empty chair beside him.
“Sit down. We’ll discuss standards after the meal.”
May you like
Across the table, Maya lowered her eyes to hide her reaction.
Serena calmly took her seat.
