Chapter 12 - THE PRICE OF TELLING THE TRUTH
We gave the note to investigators.
Natalie stayed with her sister that night.
Mara moved to a location known to Elena.
My parents had neighbors checking in and a new camera pointed at the front walk.
None of it felt dramatic.
It felt exhausting.
By Friday morning, I had slept three hours.
The sale meeting was scheduled for two.
At nine, Westbridge sent Elena a proposed employment agreement.
They would withdraw the allegations.
Pay severance.
Provide a neutral reference.
In return, I would remain silent about internal matters.
I read it twice.
For one shameful moment, I wanted to sign.
I wanted my job search to be boring.
I wanted Dad’s blood pressure to come down.
I wanted one morning that didn’t begin with evidence.
Elena let me sit with it.
Then she asked, “What would this leave unresolved?”
“The sale.”
“And?”
“Natalie. Mara. My parents’ house.”
“And your name.”
I pushed the agreement away.
“No.”
At eleven, Luca arrived with a folder.
His board had removed him from the transaction while an outside review proceeded.
He had given them his own declaration.
“You could lose your position,” I said.
“Yes.”
“Does that scare you?”
“A lot.”
It was the first answer he gave without armor.
We sat side by side.
“I meant what I said at dinner,” he told me.
“Which part?”
“I wanted to get to know you.”
“You also wanted to hurt your wife.”
“Yes.”
“Those are terrible ingredients.”
“I know.”
I looked at his hands.
No reaching.
No assumption.
“I’m not ready to turn this into something romantic.”
“Then we don’t.”
Before I could answer, his phone rang.
Vanessa.
He put it on speaker with Elena present.
“I can fix this,” Vanessa said.
“Then return what you took.”
“Don’t be childish. I have the original file.”
“We have enough copies.”
“Not of everything.”
My throat tightened.
She continued, “There’s a page connecting Martin to the side payment. You want Claire cleared? Come get it.”
“Send it to counsel,” Elena said.
Vanessa laughed.
“No. Ryan comes too. He needs to understand his position.”
“Where?” Luca asked.
“The unfinished hotel. Service entrance. One o’clock.”
The project I had spent a year planning.
May you like
The building they intended to steal.
Then Vanessa added, “And tell Claire to bring the document she refused to sign.”
