Chapter 13 - The Hidden Investment
The $320,000 was not Celeste’s only secret investment.
Baybridge Capital had received another $180,000 from a personal credit line secured by assets Celeste claimed were hers.
They were not entirely hers.
Some belonged to marital property.
Daniel’s divorce attorney uncovered the transactions through disclosure.
Total hidden investment:
$500,000.
Projected value if Verona sold to Mercer Luxe:
Nearly $5 million.
Celeste had not been helping Owen only because she resented Daniel.
She had a fortune riding on his removal.
Daniel sat with Nora.
“Would this affect the prenup?”
“The prenup remains relevant. Concealed marital transactions may affect settlement depending on facts.”
“I don’t care about punishing her financially.”
Nora raised an eyebrow.
“You say that now.”
“I want Emma protected.”
“That is family court and criminal protective conditions.”
“And the money?”
“We trace it.”
Daniel sighed.
Everything became tracing.
Money.
Messages.
Cameras.
People.
Truth was rarely found in one confession.
It emerged from patterns.
Meanwhile, Owen had retained counsel.
His position:
Celeste exaggerated her knowledge.
Leonard acted beyond instructions.
The event was supposed to involve a harmless confrontation.
Owen never ordered the tower pushed.
Daniel read the statement.
Everyone apparently planned everything except the dangerous part.
Convenient.
Detective Keene agreed.
But she needed evidence.
The breakthrough came from Leonard’s burner phone.
Deleted messages were partially recovered.
One contact used the name OG.
Likely Owen Grant.
Messages included:
Need visible chaos. D must engage.
Then:
C will move E toward mark.
Daniel stared.
C.
E.
Celeste.
Emma.
Another:
No serious injury. Pike only scare / destabilize upper section.
Daniel’s hands shook.
Owen had known the tower.
Maybe claimed only upper glasses.
Still reckless.
Then Celeste’s contact appeared under another encrypted ID.
She’s in cream dress. I can get her to bend for shoe.
Daniel stopped reading.
Proof.
Not perfect.
But horrifying.
Celeste knew Emma would bend.
She had participated in placing her.
Daniel pushed the phone transcript away.
“I’m done.”
Keene nodded.
“You don’t need to read everything.”
“No.”
He stood.
Then sat again.
“One question.”
“Yes?”
“Did Celeste say she knew the tower?”
Keene looked at him.
“Her message does not mention tower.”
“So she can say she didn’t.”
“She can.”
Daniel hated that.
Keene continued.
“But she knowingly helped position Emma for a staged incident intended to provoke you.”
“Yes.”
“That is significant.”
Daniel nodded.
He had enough for his own life.
Courts could decide categories.
He could decide boundaries.
That evening Emma asked:
“Is Celeste coming back?”
Daniel sat beside her.
“No.”
“Ever?”
“Not to live with us.”
Emma looked down.
“Because shoes?”
Daniel’s heart broke.
“No.”
“Because tower?”
“Partly.”
“What else?”
Age-appropriate truth.
“Celeste made choices that were unsafe and dishonest.”
Emma frowned.
“Did she want me hurt?”
Daniel took his time.
“I don’t know if she wanted you hurt.”
Emma waited.
“But she agreed to something she should never have agreed to.”
“Why?”
“Because adults sometimes want money or control so much that they stop thinking clearly about people.”
Emma stared.
“Money?”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
Daniel almost laughed.
Of course.
“Too much.”
Emma thought.
“More than forty-five?”
He smiled sadly.
“Much more.”
Emma looked toward the shoes by the door.
“They weren’t even bad.”
“No.”
“They had sparkles.”
“They did.”
Emma leaned against him.
“Rosa says people who make you feel small are showing you how small they are.”
Daniel raised an eyebrow.
“Rosa says that?”
“Yes.”
“I’m stealing it.”
Emma yawned.
“Can Rosa come tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
She walked upstairs.
Daniel remained.
The house felt emptier without Celeste.
Also safer.
Both truths could exist.
His phone buzzed.
Margaret.
Board vote tomorrow. Independent counsel recommends terminating Owen for cause.
Daniel stared.
Then another line:
They also want to discuss reinstating you.
He should have felt triumph.
Instead he remembered throwing Pike into the wall.
Margaret had asked him to demonstrate judgment.
May you like
Returning to power was not proof of innocence.
It was another test.
