Chapter 5 - THE FIANCÉE WHO REFUSED TO LOSE
Celeste Vanderpool did not accept humiliation gracefully.
Within forty-eight hours of Rafferty ending their engagement, she had called three lawyers, two public relations consultants, and her father.
Edmund Vanderpool controlled a powerful network of real estate investments and political relationships across Louisiana.
He had expected the marriage to strengthen his family's position.
Instead, his daughter had become the center of a scandal.
Celeste sat in her father's office.
Her face was pale with anger.
“He embarrassed me.”
Edmund looked up.
“You embarrassed yourself.”
She stared.
“Father.”
He closed his folder.
“The video is everywhere.”
Celeste crossed her arms.
“She was a maid.”
Edmund's expression hardened.
“And that's why people are angry.”
Celeste looked away.
Then said:
“Rafferty is seeing her.”
Edmund frowned.
“Who?”
“The waitress.”
He stared.
“Fay Delacroix?”
Celeste nodded.
“He visited her apartment.”
Edmund leaned back.
For a moment, he looked thoughtful.
Then he opened a drawer.
Inside was a file.
Fay Delacroix.
Photographs.
Employment records.
An old address.
And a birth certificate.
Celeste stared.
“What is that?”
Edmund smiled faintly.
“Something Rafferty doesn't know.”
Meanwhile, Rafferty was dealing with pressure from his associates.
The Vanderpool alliance had been expected to secure several business agreements.
Without it, contracts were at risk.
Silvano warned him.
“Edmund won't let this go.”
Rafferty nodded.
“I know.”
“Celeste is furious.”
“I noticed.”
Silvano hesitated.
“And Fay?”
Rafferty looked toward the window.
“What about her?”
Silvano smiled faintly.
“You've visited her twice.”
Rafferty said nothing.
Silvano continued.
“You've never visited anyone twice unless they owed you money.”
Rafferty almost laughed.
That evening, Rafferty received an anonymous message.
A photograph.
Fay leaving her apartment with Josie.
Below it:
YOU SHOULD KNOW WHO HER DAUGHTER'S FATHER IS.
Rafferty stared.
Then another message arrived.
ASK HER WHY SHE NEVER TOLD YOU.
His expression darkened.
He called Fay.
She answered on the third ring.
“Hello?”
“Fay.”
She smiled.
“Hi.”
He hesitated.
“Can we talk?”
Something in his voice made her nervous.
“About what?”
He looked at the photograph.
“Josie's father.”
Silence.
Then Fay whispered:
“Why?”
Rafferty closed his eyes.
“Someone sent me something.”
Her breathing changed.
“What?”
“A message.”
Fay went still.
Then she asked:
“Did it come from Celeste?”
Rafferty didn't answer.
Fay's voice broke.
“Rafferty, please tell me what it said.”
He swallowed.
“It says I should know who Josie's father is.”
For several seconds, there was only silence.
May you like
Then Fay whispered:
“There's something I need to tell you.”
