Chapter 19 - CELESTE CONFRONTS NORACeleste came to Warren’s house uninvited.
Warren opened the door.
“No.”
Celeste looked past him.
“I’m here to see Nora.”
“She decides.”
Nora appeared behind him.
“Let her in.”
Warren stepped aside.
Celeste entered.
No jewelry except her wedding ring.
No perfect gala face.
She looked tired.
They sat.
Celeste began:
“I made mistakes.”
Nora almost laughed.
“Specific ones?”
Celeste looked annoyed.
“I allowed Calvin too much discretion.”
“Did you hire him to follow me?”
“I authorized reputation monitoring.”
“Did you know Derek was following me?”
“Not initially.”
“Did you know before the gala?”
A pause.
“Yes.”
Warren’s jaw tightened.
Nora stayed calm.
“Did you know about the restroom?”
“I knew Calvin wanted compromising material.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
Celeste looked away.
Nora waited.
Finally:
“I knew he planned to photograph you taking medication.”
“Inside the restroom?”
“I did not ask where.”
Nora stared.
Celeste continued quickly.
“I never authorized anything sexual.”
“No one said you did.”
“I never wanted you physically harmed.”
“Congratulations.”
Celeste flinched.
Then:
“I’m willing to accept responsibility for hiring investigators.”
Nora waited.
“If you stop pushing the foundation audit.”
Warren almost laughed.
Nora did not.
“There it is.”
Celeste leaned forward.
“You do not understand what will happen.”
“To you?”
“To thousands of people.”
“The programs will continue.”
“You can’t know that.”
“We have independent counsel.”
“You think donors will separate the foundation from scandal?”
“Some will.”
“And the rest?”
Nora stared.
“You should have considered them before stealing from it.”
Celeste’s face hardened.
“You think Ethan survives this?”
Nora’s eyes narrowed.
“What?”
“His career. His board relationships. Your marriage.”
Nora understood.
Threat.
Not physical.
Emotional leverage.
Celeste continued.
“If this goes public, your marriage probably doesn’t survive.”
Nora sat back.
Then smiled sadly.
“If my marriage depends on protecting your lies, it already didn’t.”
Celeste stared.
Warren looked at his daughter with something like pride.
Nora noticed.
“Dad.”
He immediately neutralized his face.
She nearly laughed.
Celeste stood.
“You’ll regret this.”
Nora answered:
“I regret not trusting myself sooner.”
Celeste left.
The door closed.
Warren said:
“Do you want my opinion?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Nora looked at him.
May you like
He smiled faintly.
“Growth.”
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