Chapter 12 - THE SECOND VISITOR
Nora sent me the image.
I opened it.
My stomach dropped.
Cynthia.
My mother-in-law.
She stood in the museum hallway wearing a cream coat I recognized immediately.
Timestamp:
October 19.
Nine days after Graham and Richard’s visit.
I turned the phone toward her.
“Why were you at my office?”
Cynthia stopped crying.
Everybody looked at her.
She stared at the image.
Then at Graham.
He looked equally stunned.
“Mom?”
Her mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
I walked closer.
“You told security I approved your visit.”
She whispered, “Graham said it would be fine.”
Graham stepped toward her.
“What did you do?”
She looked at him.
“I was helping you.”
The room went dead silent.
My heart began pounding.
“With what?”
“Elise—”
“What did you take?”
“Nothing.”
“You entered my office after hours.”
“I only photographed something.”
I felt dizzy.
“What?”
She looked at Graham again.
“Your presentation needed actual numbers.”
Graham’s face turned white.
“Mom.”
“What numbers?”
I already knew I didn’t want the answer.
Cynthia swallowed.
“The donor tiers.”
I closed my eyes.
Our internal fundraising board.
Not exact wealth.
Not bank information.
But giving histories, donor levels, renewal targets.
Confidential.
“You photographed our donor board?”
“I didn’t understand it was confidential.”
“It was inside a locked office.”
“Your badge worked.”
“My badge?”
She looked confused.
“Graham gave it to me.”
I turned.
He shook his head immediately.
“No.”
“You gave her my badge?”
“No.”
Cynthia frowned.
“You did.”
“When?”
“The morning after you went to the museum with Richard.”
Graham stared at her.
“I told you to return it to Elise.”
“No. You said you didn’t need it anymore.”
“I said put it back.”
“You said—”
“STOP.”
My voice shook the room.
They both went silent.
I looked from husband to mother.
For months, they had passed access to my workplace around like a spare house key.
Neither one had thought to ask.
Neither one had thought I mattered enough to control my own boundaries.
“What happened to the photos?”
Cynthia looked down.
“I sent them to Graham.”
His eyes closed.
I turned to him.
“You knew.”
“I deleted them.”
“After using them?”
“No.”
“Graham.”
“I looked at them.”
“Did you put those numbers in your proposal?”
“No.”
Richard spoke.
“Not the version I saw.”
I looked at him.
“Could there be another version?”
He nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
Graham suddenly grabbed his coat.
“I’m done with this.”
I moved between him and the hallway.
“No.”
“Elise, move.”
“No.”
His eyes flashed.
“I said move.”
“And I said no.”
Richard stood.
So did my mother.
Even Graham’s brother rose from his chair.
For the first time, Graham looked around and realized nobody was standing with him.
His shoulders dropped.
Then he said, “Fine.”
He took out his phone.
Unlocked it.
Placed it on the table.
“Look.”
I didn’t touch it.
“What am I looking for?”
“My email.”
“Why?”
“Because there’s something I haven’t told you.”
I stared at him.
He swallowed.
“The partnership packet Richard has isn’t the final version.”
Nobody moved.
Graham continued.
“I submitted another one.”
Richard’s face hardened.
“When?”
“Monday.”
Three days ago.
“What was different?”
May you like
Graham looked at me.
“Everything.”
