Chapter 5 - THE MORNING AFTER THE GALA
By Sunday morning, photographs from the gala were everywhere.
Someone had posted a picture of Derek standing beside Sienna while I held Grace's hand.
Another photograph showed me handing Derek the envelope.
The captions were cruel.
CEO'S WIFE CONFRONTS MISTRESS AT CHARITY EVENT.
HALSTON MARRIAGE COLLAPSES IN PUBLIC.
DRAMA OVERSHADOWS SCHOLARSHIP GALA.
I turned off my phone.
Grace was still asleep.
Claudia had stayed overnight in the guest room.
At eight thirty, Evelyn called.
"I saw the coverage."
I closed my eyes.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For making a scene."
"Claire, your husband brought his mistress to a public event honoring your mother."
I swallowed.
"That doesn't mean I handled everything perfectly."
"No," Evelyn agreed. "But we're going to focus on what happens next."
I told her about the video.
She listened carefully.
Then said, "Don't distribute it publicly. Preserve the original file and the phone. We'll arrange a forensic copy and establish when it was recorded."
I nodded.
"Does it prove fraud?"
"It raises serious concerns. But we'll need corroborating financial records."
I looked toward the kitchen.
"What about Grace?"
"Keep her out of further questioning unless it's necessary. If investigators need information, we'll make sure the process is appropriate for a child."
I exhaled.
"Thank you."
Evelyn paused.
"There's something else."
My stomach tightened.
"What?"
"Derek's attorney contacted me this morning."
I stared.
"Already?"
"He wants an emergency meeting."
"Why?"
Evelyn's voice became careful.
"He's claiming you removed confidential company information and threatened to release it."
I almost laughed.
"He brought his mistress to the gala, and now I'm the criminal?"
"He's trying to control the narrative."
I rubbed my forehead.
"What do we do?"
"We respond through counsel."
Derek returned home just before noon.
He found me in the kitchen.
"Where's Grace?"
"Upstairs."
He looked exhausted.
His tie was missing.
His eyes were bloodshot.
"Claire, we need to talk."
I folded my arms.
"Then talk."
He glanced toward the staircase.
"Not here."
"Here is fine."
He exhaled.
"Last night got out of hand."
I stared.
"That's your explanation?"
He rubbed his face.
"I made mistakes."
"Mistakes?"
"Claire—"
"You brought another woman to an event honoring my dead mother."
He looked away.
"And then you tried to take our daughter's phone."
His jaw tightened.
"She shouldn't have recorded us."
"She was making the slideshow you asked her to make."
Silence.
I stepped closer.
"What happened to the scholarship money?"
He stared.
"Nothing."
"Then why did you tell Sienna the board wouldn't notice the consulting fees until the audit?"
His face hardened.
"You're taking a private conversation out of context."
I felt something inside me settle.
There it was.
The familiar answer.
The familiar dismissal.
The assumption that I would eventually stop asking.
"No," I said.
He frowned.
"No?"
"I'm done accepting explanations that don't explain anything."
Derek looked toward the staircase.
"You're going to ruin our family."
I stared at him.
"Our family didn't become unstable when I found out."
My voice trembled.
"It became unstable when you started lying."
He said nothing.
I continued.
"I've retained counsel. All communication about the divorce and foundation investigation goes through our attorneys."
He laughed bitterly.
"You're serious."
"Completely."
His expression darkened.
"You have no idea what you're starting."
May you like
I looked at him.
"Then I suppose it's time I found out."
