Chapter 12 - THE ROOM FULL OF LIARS
Gabriel wanted to call every editor in the city and shout until someone removed the photographs.
Daniel took his phone.
“Anger later. Useful work now.”
They sent requests to remove Léa’s image and identifying details. Some outlets complied quickly. Others needed a second letter.
Gabriel gave one short statement.
“A child and her mother sought help during a medical emergency. They deserve privacy. Claims of financial wrongdoing are being investigated, and I am cooperating fully.”
Lucien called within ten minutes.
“That sounded expensive.”
Gabriel stood in Daniel’s kitchen.
“Did you give them the photographs?”
“People talk.”
“Children don’t belong in this.”
“Then stop putting one between yourself and the board.”
Gabriel looked through the doorway.
Léa was teaching June how to draw a cat.
“You’ve confused my silence with weakness.”
“And you’ve confused a personal mess with corporate responsibility.”
“Call the board.”
“We already did.”
The emergency meeting began at nine the next morning.
Gabriel attended in person.
Vivienne sat at one end of the conference table. Lucien sat beside her, wearing the pleased expression of a man arriving early to collect something.
“We’re concerned about your recent judgment,” Lucien began.
Gabriel placed a folder on the table.
“Then let’s discuss judgment.”
Daniel and Mara entered behind him.
For the next forty minutes, Mara walked the directors through payments, invoices, and approval records.
No speeches.
No accusations she couldn’t support.
Just dates, amounts, and names.
Lucien interrupted three times.
On the fourth, the board chair told him to stop.
Vivienne folded her hands.
“These are foundation matters.”
Gabriel opened another file.
“Then why were company security resources used to watch Claire and her daughter?”
He laid down the photographs.
A director picked one up and frowned.
“That’s a preschool.”
Nobody answered.
Daniel explained that records had been preserved and relevant material referred to investigators.
The room changed.
Chairs shifted away from Lucien.
Vivienne noticed.
“Gabriel, whatever mistakes were made, they were made for this family.”
He looked directly at her.
“My daughter is this family.”
His phone vibrated beneath the table.
A message from Claire.
LÉA HEARD THE NEWS ON JUNE’S PHONE.
May you like
Then another.
SHE WANTS TO KNOW IF YOU’RE ONLY HERE BECAUSE OF THE TEST.
