Chapter 18 - CELIA’S REAL PLANJulian Mercer looked worse than Everett remembered.
Five years earlier he had been sharp, polished, almost arrogantly handsome.
Now he looked tired.
His suit was expensive but wrinkled.
His eyes kept moving toward his lawyer.
Dana sat beside Everett.
Preston sat across from Julian.
No one shook hands.
Julian started.
“I made mistakes.”
Everett said, “That sentence means nothing.”
Julian’s lawyer intervened.
“My client is here voluntarily.”
“And can leave voluntarily.”
Dana touched Everett’s arm.
He stopped.
Julian opened a laptop.
“Blue Heron was collapsing. Preston knows that.”
Preston nodded.
Julian continued.
“I proposed restructuring.”
Everett said, “Using my company as collateral.”
“Yes.”
“Without my approval.”
“Yes.”
“Then what?”
“Celia became involved.”
“When?”
“About five months ago.”
“Professionally?”
Julian looked down.
Preston laughed once.
Julian’s lawyer said, “Personal matters are outside—”
“No,” Preston said. “They aren’t.”
Dana let the silence work.
Finally Julian said:
“We began a relationship.”
Preston’s face hardened.
Everett looked at him, not Julian.
His son did not move.
Julian continued.
“Celia said Preston would never admit the problem to you.”
“She was right,” Everett said.
Preston flinched.
Julian nodded.
“She also said you would never voluntarily give Preston enough control.”
“Also true.”
“So she suggested a temporary transfer.”
“Suggested?”
Julian looked at the table.
“It became more than that.”
Everett leaned forward.
“How much more?”
Julian opened a file.
A timeline.
Draft documents.
Asset-sale projections.
Messages.
Celia had proposed using Preston’s financial crisis to accelerate succession.
At first, Preston would receive temporary voting control.
Then Everett would step down publicly for health reasons.
Two properties would be sold.
Blue Heron debt would be stabilized.
Julian would receive restructuring fees.
Celia would receive a private consulting payment.
Then, after things settled, she planned to divorce Preston.
Preston stared.
“You knew?”
Julian could not look at him.
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“Months.”
Preston stood.
Dana said, “Sit.”
He did.
Barely.
Everett asked:
“Why would Celia care whether I remained in control after divorcing Preston?”
Julian answered:
“Because she wanted money before leaving.”
“From where?”
“The asset sales.”
Preston’s voice broke.
“My father’s company.”
Julian nodded.
“And my losses.”
“Yes.”
“And then she leaves.”
“Yes.”
Preston looked like he might be sick.
Everett felt no triumph.
Only disgust.
“Did she tamper with my medication?”
Julian looked at his lawyer.
The lawyer said, “Answer only what you personally know.”
Julian swallowed.
“She talked about making sure you were relaxed.”
Everett’s cane pressed against the carpet.
“What does that mean?”
“She said you got stubborn when alert.”
Preston closed his eyes.
“Did she say drugs?”
Julian hesitated.
“Yes.”
The room went silent.
“What exactly?” Dana asked.
“She said she had sleep medication.”
“Did you see her put it in Everett’s medication?”
“No.”
“In a drink?”
“No.”
“Did you encourage it?”
Julian looked ashamed.
“I told her it was a bad idea.”
Everett’s voice sharpened.
“A bad idea.”
“Yes.”
“Not criminal. Not dangerous. A bad idea.”
Julian did not respond.
“Did she do it?”
“I don’t know.”
Everett stared.
Julian continued.
“She joked that Lorraine already thought you were declining.”
Lorraine was not in the room.
Everett was glad.
“Did you say the phrase Onyx repeated?”
Julian frowned.
“What phrase?”
Everett looked at him.
“We have to get rid of old Everett today.”
Julian’s face changed.
Recognition.
Preston saw it.
“So you heard it,” Everett said.
Julian looked at his lawyer.
The lawyer sighed.
“Answer.”
Julian swallowed.
“Yes.”
Everett’s grip tightened on his cane.
“Who said it?”
Julian stared at the table.
“Celia.”
Preston closed his eyes.
Everett did not move.
“When?”
“The night I came to the house.”
“At 1:17?”
“Later. In the study hall.”
“Context.”
Julian took a breath.
“She was frustrated Rebecca had cancelled. We were trying to find another way to get the signatures.”
“And she said?”
“She said, ‘We have to get rid of old Everett today or Preston loses everything.’”
Everett felt cold.
“Get rid of me how?”
“She meant remove you from control.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
“Not kill me.”
“No.”
Everett’s shoulders loosened slightly.
Then Julian added:
“But later she said if you were too tired to understand the paperwork, no one would question the family’s version afterward.”
The relief vanished.
Dana asked:
“Did she ever say Preston was next?”
Julian looked at Preston.
“Yes.”
Preston opened his eyes.
Julian continued.
“She said once Everett was out, Preston would be easier.”
“Easier to what?” Preston asked.
May you like
Julian whispered:
“Control.”
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