Chapter 11 - THE FALL OF GRANT HOLLOWAY
Grant Holloway was arrested six weeks later.
Investigators had gathered evidence of financial fraud, illegal timber operations, obstruction, and suspected involvement in Caleb Mercer's death.
Blackridge's board suspended several executives.
Regulators opened investigations.
And the annual alliance system began collapsing under public scrutiny.
The newspapers called it the Blackridge Scandal.
I called it the truth finally catching up.
Rebecca filed claims concerning my wrongful termination and the misuse of my credentials.
Blackridge eventually agreed to a settlement.
The terms were confidential.
But the agreement included compensation and correction of my employment record.
I didn't become rich.
But I became stable.
For the first time in years, I could breathe.
Nathaniel called the day Grant was arrested.
“Emma.”
“Yes?”
“It's happening.”
I looked at the news.
Grant Holloway being led into a courthouse.
I swallowed.
“I see.”
Nathaniel was silent.
Then said:
“Caleb deserved better.”
I nodded.
“He did.”
I hesitated.
“And so did you.”
Nathaniel exhaled.
That evening, he visited.
We sat on the roof of my apartment building.
The mountains stretched beneath the evening sky.
He looked at me.
“What happens now?”
I smiled faintly.
“I find a job.”
He laughed.
“That's your plan?”
“It's a good plan.”
He nodded.
“Yes.”
Then he looked at me.
“Would you have dinner with me?”
I stared.
“Dinner?”
He smiled.
“An actual date.”
My heart pounded.
I thought about Daniel.
The humiliation.
The lies.
The months of healing.
Then I looked at Nathaniel.
A man who had never asked me to pretend my pain didn't exist.
I smiled.
“Yes.”
He looked surprised.
“Really?”
I laughed.
“Don't make me change my mind.”
He smiled.
May you like
And for the first time, I saw something softer than power in his face.
Hope.
