Chapter 11 - When the Ballroom Doors Closed.
Victor did not ask Samuel to explain twice.
"What transaction?"
Samuel looked toward the police officers, then toward Celeste.
For the first time all evening, the lawyer appeared uncertain about which side could still protect him.
Celeste spoke first.
"Don't be dramatic, Samuel."
"You told me there would be no violence."
Her smile thinned.
"And you believed me?"
That answer changed the room.
Even Samuel seemed startled by it.
Victor stepped between them.
"Tell me what she wanted."
Samuel rubbed his bruised lip.
"Control."
"Of Adrian's shares?"
"Eventually."
"Then what first?"
Samuel looked at Claire.
"A board vote."
Claire remembered the emergency board meeting scheduled for Monday morning.
Hale Holdings was considering the acquisition of Northridge Medical Systems, the largest deal in Victor's career.
Adrian controlled enough votes after marriage to decide whether the deal survived.
Victor stared at Samuel.
"Northridge."
Samuel nodded.
"Celeste's private company was positioned to receive consulting fees if the acquisition passed."
"How much?"
"Thirty-two million dollars over four years."
Adrian looked sick.
"You told me Northridge was your father's opportunity."
Celeste laughed.
"You never asked to meet my father."
"You showed me photographs."
"Photographs are easy."
Adrian stepped toward her.
"Was any of it real?"
"Does it matter now?"
"Did you ever love me?"
Celeste rolled her eyes.
Claire watched her brother absorb the answer she had been trying to give him for months.
Victor turned back to Samuel.
"Why hurt Claire?"
"She found the transfers."
"That explains intimidation."
Victor's voice became colder.
"It doesn't explain 'remove the daughter before signing.'"
Samuel hesitated.
Celeste's gaze sharpened.
"Careful."
Samuel looked at her.
Then he made his choice.
"It wasn't supposed to mean kill her."
A shocked murmur spread through the guests close enough to hear.
Claire went completely still.
Victor's hands curled into fists.
"What was it supposed to mean?"
"Get her out of the company."
"How?"
"Scandal."
Samuel nodded toward Celeste.
"They planned to release edited video showing Claire attacking the bride, then claim she had become unstable after being removed from a foundation committee."
Claire understood the missing camera footage.
"You were going to frame me."
Celeste shrugged.
"You make yourself so easy to dislike."
Victor took one step toward her.
The police officer raised a hand.
"Sir, stay back."
Victor stopped.
Celeste smiled at him.
"See?"
She lowered her voice.
"Authority has limits."
Then the ballroom lights flickered again.
Marcus looked toward the ceiling.
"Not us."
The chandelier went dark.
Guests screamed.
Emergency lights flashed red.
A crash sounded near the service corridor.
Claire heard running footsteps.
"Celeste!"
By the time the lights returned twelve seconds later, both security officers beside the bride were on the floor after being shoved in the confusion.
Celeste was gone.
So was the black hard drive.
Marcus swore and ran toward the service doors.
Adrian followed.
Claire grabbed her brother's arm.
"Don't chase her alone."
He looked at the bruises on her back.
"I've spent a year letting everyone else pay for my choices."
He pulled free.
May you like
"Not this time."
Then he ran into the dark corridor after his wife.
