Chapter 11 - The Woman in Champagne Silk
Celeste arrived at the workshop at eight thirty that evening.
She walked through the front doors as though she owned the building.
The champagne-colored dress was gone.
She wore a black suit, carried an expensive handbag, and looked perfectly composed.
Denise intercepted her near the entrance.
"Employees only after hours."
"I'm here to speak with Emma."
"Then you can call."
"I think she'll want to hear what I have to say."
I stepped out of the office.
"Let her through."
Denise gave me a warning look.
I shook my head slightly.
There were still workers present, and the security cameras were running.
I had no intention of being alone with Celeste.
She stopped beside my mother's rolling mill.
"I suppose you think you're being very brave."
"I think you're standing in a building where nobody invited you."
She glanced around.
"You're working awfully hard to preserve something that isn't viable."
"That depends on whose numbers you're using."
Her smile faded.
"Emma, this sale can solve everyone's problems."
"Especially yours?"
She tilted her head.
"I don't know what you mean."
"Your acquisition firm receives a fee if Arden buys Vale Atelier."
"That's standard."
"Is it standard to sleep with the seller's chief executive while negotiating the transaction?"
Her jaw tightened.
"Your marriage isn't part of my professional obligations."
"No. But your conflict of interest might be."
For the first time, she looked genuinely angry.
"Be careful."
"About what?"
"Accusing people of misconduct without evidence."
I took a step closer.
"Did you help Nathan prepare the voting proxy?"
Celeste's eyes shifted.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
"I didn't come here to discuss paperwork."
"Then why did you come?"
She opened her handbag and removed a printed agreement.
It offered me a consulting role with Arden for two years.
A generous salary.
A payment for agreeing not to oppose the sale.
And a clause requiring me to withdraw my allegations concerning Nathan's conduct in connection with the transaction.
I read it twice.
"You want to pay me to stop challenging the forgery."
"I'm offering you an exit."
I thought of my mother sleeping on the office couch during the workshop's hardest years.
I thought of Denise keeping production records because management couldn't be trusted.
I thought of my father working quietly in Vermont, carrying seventeen years of shame.
Then I handed the agreement back.
"No."
Celeste stared at me.
"You're going to regret making this personal."
"You came into my husband's store, watched him hit me, and smiled. It was already personal."
Her expression hardened.
"You don't know what Nathan's willing to do."
"Then perhaps you should start worrying about what he'll do to you."
That struck something.
For an instant, fear moved across her face.
Then she recovered.
"You have until midnight to reconsider."
She walked out.
Denise came beside me.
"Was that supposed to scare you?"
"Yes."
"Did it?"
I watched Celeste disappear into the street.
"A little."
Denise folded her arms.
"Good. Fear keeps you careful."
My phone rang before I could answer.
It was Maya.
"The court granted us an emergency hearing tomorrow morning."
I looked at the clock.
Less than sixteen hours remained before the shareholder meeting.
"And Emma," Maya added, "Nathan has filed a response."
"What does it say?"
"He claims your mother personally instructed you to give him control of the company."
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What's his evidence?"
May you like
Maya hesitated.
"A letter supposedly written by Louise."
