Chapter 6 - SABRINA'S CLAIM
Sabrina agreed to meet in a hotel lobby.
Not because Claire asked.
Because Ruth did.
Sabrina wore jeans, no makeup, and none of Claire’s clothing.
The white robe had been left folded on the bed.
“I didn’t forge the proxy,” Sabrina said.
“Did you know about Arthur Cole?”
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“Eight months.”
“And you didn’t tell me.”
“I tried.”
“When?”
“Your birthday dinner.”
Claire remembered Sabrina asking to speak privately.
Claire had taken a call from Singapore instead.
“Then Christmas.”
Claire had left early for Boston.
“Then your mother’s memorial.”
Claire’s jaw tightened.
“You chose my mother’s memorial?”
“I was angry.”
“That was cruel.”
“Yes.”
No excuse.
That surprised Claire.
Sabrina admitted hiring Elias Voss.
Not to steal the company.
To investigate whether her family had been cheated.
Daniel knew she was investigating “old company history,” but not the details.
“Why the forged proxy?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why move into my house?”
Sabrina looked away.
“Because I was cruel too.”
Claire waited.
“I wanted you to see me there.”
“Why?”
“Because for twenty-three years, every room we entered became yours.”
“That is not true.”
“It felt true.”
“Then you could have stopped being my friend.”
“I should have.”
Silence.
Sabrina’s eyes filled.
“I slept with your husband because I wanted him. Not because of Arthur Cole. Not because of the company. That part is mine.”
Claire appreciated the honesty.
She hated the content.
Then Sabrina slid a flash drive across the table.
“Voss sent me this yesterday.”
“What is it?”
“A recording.”
Claire played it.
Daniel’s voice filled her headphones.
“If Claire signs in Zurich, we have ninety days. After that, it doesn’t matter what she learns.”
Claire slowly removed the headphones.
Sabrina looked sick.
“He told me he wasn’t involved.”
Claire stared across the lobby.
May you like
“So did he.”
