Chapter 18 - A Woman Running Out of DoorsCeleste had spent years preparing for a life in which no one could threaten her security.
She owned designer clothes.
She wore jewelry that cost more than her childhood apartment.
She lived in a house with twelve bedrooms and a kitchen larger than the entire home where she'd grown up.
But as her access to the company's financial accounts disappeared, she discovered something frightening.
Most of the wealth around her did not belong to her.
The mansion was owned by Adrian through a premarital property arrangement.
Her personal assets were substantial, but far smaller than the lifestyle suggested.
She had no ownership interest in Leo's trust.
And much of the money she expected from the acquisition depended on a transaction that might never close.
On Thursday morning, she sat across from attorney Patricia Lang.
Patricia was fifty-four, a seasoned criminal-defense and commercial-litigation lawyer who had no interest in flattering clients.
Celeste explained the business dispute first.
Then the financial restrictions.
Then Adrian's growing suspicions.
Patricia listened without interruption.
Finally, she asked, “Were you aware that the vendor invoices contained inaccurate information?”
Celeste hesitated.
“I relied on my department.”
“That wasn't my question.”
“I knew there were accounting discrepancies.”
“Did you personally approve invoices you believed were false?”
Celeste stared at her.
Patricia placed her pen down.
“You need to understand that I cannot help you by pretending uncertain facts are certain. I can advise you about your rights and obligations, but I need the truth.”
Celeste looked toward the window.
“I want to protect my marriage.”
“Then we should also discuss the incident involving your stepson.”
Celeste stiffened.
“What about it?”
“Have investigators contacted you?”
“Not yet.”
“Did you encourage Leo to approach the aircraft while its engine was running?”
Celeste's mouth went dry.
She remembered Daniel's warning.
She remembered the green jacket moving in the wind.
She remembered Graham's furious expression.
“I never intended him to be hurt.”
Patricia was silent.
Celeste looked back.
“Doesn't that matter?”
“It can matter to the legal analysis. It does not answer whether your conduct created an unreasonable danger.”
Celeste clenched her hands.
“I thought Graham would stop him.”
Patricia took a slow breath.
“Then you should stop discussing this incident with anyone except counsel until we establish the facts and determine how to respond lawfully.”
Celeste stared.
“Are you going to tell Adrian?”
“I'm your attorney. My obligations are to you within the law.”
Celeste felt a brief rush of relief.
Then Patricia continued.
“But I will not help you destroy evidence, coordinate false statements, or intimidate witnesses.”
The relief vanished.
After the appointment, Celeste drove to Daniel's apartment.
She found him packing a suitcase.
“Where are you going?”
“Boston.”
“Why?”
“Business.”
She looked at the open suitcase.
“Don't lie to me.”
Daniel zipped a garment bag.
“Ridgeway's counsel contacted my lawyer.”
Celeste froze.
“About what?”
“Related-party disclosures.”
“What did you say?”
“Nothing yet.”
“You cannot tell them about the invoices.”
He turned.
“Then perhaps you shouldn't have approved them.”
She stared.
“You're going to blame me?”
“I am going to protect myself.”
“You designed the supplier structure!”
“And you signed the payments.”
Celeste stepped closer.
“Adrian will destroy both of us.”
Daniel shook his head.
“No. The records will do that.”
For a moment, she considered pleading with him.
They were siblings.
They had survived poverty together.
Surely that still meant something.
But Daniel looked at her with the detached calculation she recognized from childhood.
He was no longer her partner.
He was looking for an exit.
“Don't leave,” she said.
He almost laughed.
“Why not?”
“Because you owe me.”
Daniel's expression darkened.
“Celeste, you brought a little boy near a running aircraft to make a mechanic look dangerous.”
She flinched.
“You knew what was happening.”
“I knew you wanted Graham removed. You didn't tell me how until afterward.”
She stared at him.
Daniel continued.
“And now there may be video.”
The words stopped her.
“What video?”
He looked surprised.
“You haven't heard?”
Celeste's heart pounded.
“Daniel.”
“The airport has another camera.”
She stepped backward.
“That's impossible.”
He watched her carefully.
“Why?”
Celeste didn't answer.
Daniel lowered his voice.
“Because you thought the Mercer cameras were offline?”
She stared at him.
And in that moment, Daniel understood more than she intended.
He set down his suitcase.
“Oh, Celeste.”
She turned away.
“Don't.”
“You planned the camera outage too.”
“It was routine maintenance.”
“Then why are you shaking?”
Celeste grabbed her handbag.
Daniel moved toward her.
“Listen to me. If there's footage, cooperate with your lawyer. Don't make another mistake.”
She spun around.
“Don't tell me what to do.”
He stopped.
There was no affection left in his expression.
Only fear.
Celeste left.
That evening, she sent Adrian a message.
We need to talk privately. No lawyers. No accusations. Just us.
Adrian stared at the screen.
He had spent three years trusting her emotional instincts more than his own.
Now he recognized the invitation for what it was.
An attempt to move the discussion away from witnesses and records.
He replied:
Any discussion about the investigation will involve counsel. We can discuss our marriage separately, but Leo's safety comes first.
Her response arrived almost immediately.
You are choosing them over me.
Adrian read it.
Then he wrote the words he should have said much earlier.
I'm choosing to find out the truth.
Celeste stared at his reply.
For the first time, she understood that the husband she'd learned to influence might no longer be available to her.
She opened a private messaging application.
A conversation with Benjamin Cross appeared.
She typed:
If this deal falls apart, I won't be the only one answering questions.
Before she could send it, her lawyer called.
“Celeste, we need to meet tomorrow morning.”
“Why?”
“Because I've been informed that investigators may seek an interview regarding the hangar incident.”
Celeste looked toward the dark windows.
May you like
Patricia continued.
“And because there is potentially relevant video evidence you need to be prepared to address truthfully.”
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