Chapter 6 - CELESTE PLANTS THE FIRST LIECeleste Arden never lied when a half-truth would work better.
By Monday morning she had spoken to three board members.
Nothing dramatic.
No accusations.
Only concern.
“Nora has been under extraordinary pressure.”
“Her migraines have become severe.”
“I worry she’s not sleeping.”
“She thought someone was following her even before the gala.”
All true.
Then came the suggestion.
“I hope the incident wasn’t somehow misunderstood.”
No one needed more.
By lunchtime, two board members had called Ethan privately.
One asked whether Nora should take temporary leave from the foundation.
Ethan refused.
At least that.
But when he told Nora, she heard something in his voice.
“Do you think I should?”
“No.”
A pause.
“Ethan.”
“I said no.”
“That wasn’t convincing.”
He sighed.
“You need rest.”
Nora laughed.
“Your mother starts telling people I’m unstable and you tell me to rest.”
“She didn’t call you unstable.”
“She doesn’t need to.”
Ethan lowered his voice.
“You think everything she says is an attack now.”
Nora went silent.
He heard himself.
“Nora.”
“That sentence.”
“What?”
“That is exactly how this works.”
“I didn’t mean—”
“Yes.”
Her voice shook.
“She questions my judgment, then you point to my reaction as evidence she’s right.”
Ethan had no answer.
Nora hung up.
Across town, Celeste sat in her foundation office.
A woman named Claire Benton entered.
Forty-two.
Foundation operations director.
“You wanted me?”
Celeste closed the door.
“Has Nora requested any financial files?”
Claire hesitated.
“Yes.”
“Which?”
“Vendor records.”
“How far back?”
“Three years.”
Celeste’s face did not move.
“Why?”
“She noticed duplicate consulting payments.”
“Did you give them to her?”
“She’s on finance committee.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
Claire looked uncomfortable.
“Yes.”
Celeste nodded.
“Anything else?”
“She asked about C.A. Strategic Consulting.”
For the first time, Celeste’s fingers stopped moving.
“Did she say why?”
“No.”
Celeste smiled.
“Thank you, Claire.”
After Claire left, Celeste stared out the window.
Then picked up a second phone.
She typed:
We have a bigger problem.
The reply came:
Derek?
Celeste:
Nora has vendor records.
A pause.
Then:
Destroy what you can.
Celeste looked at the message.
For the first time since the gala, fear entered her face.
May you like
Not because Derek had been caught.
Because Nora had been looking in exactly the right place.
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