Chapter 6: A Father’s Choice
Arthur Rutherford entered without waiting for an invitation.
Julian stood.
“Did Celeste send you?”
“She called me from the car and said your mother was trying to ruin her.”
“Your daughter forged my signature,” I said.
Arthur studied the photograph.
“This shows a bracelet and part of a face.”
“It shows Celeste accepting my board notice.”
“It may.
But the courier company deleted the original file two months ago.”
Lena gripped Miranda’s phone.
“How do you know that?”
Arthur’s attorney answered.
“Someone requested deletion using an executive account.”
Julian stepped closer.
“Whose account?”
“Mine,” Arthur said.
The room went still.
“You authorized it?” I asked.
“No.
Celeste had access while arranging the acquisition.”
Julian held up the letter of intent.
“Then stop the sale.”
“My board will not walk away from eleven salons because of one disputed photograph.”
I removed Miranda’s wrap and folded it over the chair.
“This is not about one photograph.
Donated gowns were sold, records were altered, and a witness was pressured.”
Arthur looked at Lena.
“Did my daughter threaten your sister?”
“She said her hotel job could disappear.”
His mouth tightened.
The fitting-room door opened again.
Celeste walked in with Victor and a Mercer board attorney.
“Dad, don’t listen to them.”
Arthur faced her.
“Did you use my account to remove a courier file?”
“No.”
“Did you accept Eleanor’s board notice?”
“No.”
“Did you threaten this woman’s family?”
Celeste pointed at Lena.
“She’s lying because Victor disciplined her.”
Victor nodded.
“She was about to be dismissed for inventory errors.”
“That’s not true,” Lena said.
Celeste took an envelope from Victor and pushed it toward her.
“Sign the resignation agreement.
Six months’ salary, and your sister keeps her position.”
Lena stared at the check inside.
“Take it,” Victor said.
“This is the only generous offer you’ll receive.”
I moved beside her.
“You don’t have to decide alone.”
Celeste smiled.
“Can Eleanor pay your rent?
Can she protect your sister after Monday?”
Lena’s fingers closed around the pen.
Julian whispered, “Lena, please.”
She signed her name.
Victor snatched the paper.
“Good choice.”
Celeste looked at me.
“Your witness has withdrawn her accusations.”
Lena placed the pen down.
Her eyes met mine, then fell.
Arthur’s attorney handed him a document.
“The bank has accepted the acquisition schedule.
Closing can proceed tomorrow unless a court intervenes.”
Celeste took her father’s arm.
“Let’s go.”
He did not move.
“What was gown 6118 sold for?” Arthur asked.
Victor blinked.
“I don’t recall.”
“Eighteen thousand dollars,” I said.
Arthur removed a small ledger from his inner pocket.
“My wife kept this before she passed.
She suspected Celeste was using her foundation accounts, but I told her she was confused.”
Celeste released his arm.
“That ledger is private.”
“So were the payments you made from it.”
She stepped closer.
“Dad, if you hand that over, I will never speak to you again.”
Arthur’s fingers trembled around the ledger.
“I spent years buying your forgiveness,” he said.
“All I bought was your certainty that I would always pay.”
He gave the ledger to me.
“That hotel position belongs to my company,” he told Lena.
“Your sister keeps her job whether you cooperate or not.”
Lena tore the resignation agreement in half.
Victor’s face twisted.
“You already signed it.”
“And Miranda recorded you offering money for my silence.”
Arthur turned to his attorneys.
“Freeze Celeste’s foundation access and suspend the acquisition.”
“You can’t do that!” Celeste shouted.
Arthur looked at her.
“Watch me.”
Julian opened the ledger.
His expression changed at the final page.
“Mother, these transfers were approved with my electronic signature.”
I took the book from him.
The authorization code belonged to Julian’s private executive account.
May you like
Celeste’s smile returned.
“Now,” she said, “tell them which Mercer is really responsible.”
