Chapter 8 - ELEANOR OFFERED ME A DEAL
Eleanor called Naomi.
Not me.
She wanted a private settlement.
Naomi told me I was free to refuse without hearing it.
I wanted to hear it.
Eleanor entered the conference room in a navy suit.
Perfect hair.
No jewelry except her wedding ring.
She looked smaller outside the vineyard house.
“I’m sorry Adrian hurt you.”
I waited.
“But—”
“There it is.”
She frowned.
“What?”
“The word after every apology in your family.”
She looked down.
Then began again.
“I’m sorry.”
No but.
It still changed nothing.
She offered.
The family would abandon any claim to my condo.
Cancel the $2,800 demand.
Repay legal expenses.
Adrian would waive spousal property claims.
In return.
I would ask prosecutors to treat the dinner as a private domestic incident.
And Maya would be encouraged not to pursue the basement matter.
I almost admired the audacity.
“You’re trying to settle Maya’s crime with my property.”
Eleanor stiffened.
“I’m trying to preserve the family.”
“No.”
“You’re trying to preserve the version of the family that has no consequences.”
Her eyes filled.
“You don’t understand what Charles has built.”
“I understand exactly enough.”
“Hundreds of employees depend on him.”
“There it is again.”
“What?”
“People you employ being used as hostages for your choices.”
She leaned forward.
“If Harrington Development fails, families lose jobs.”
“Then restructure it.”
“Sell assets.”
“Reduce your lifestyle.”
“Sell the vineyard.”
Her face changed.
“The vineyard has been in our family for sixty years.”
“My condo has been mine for eleven.”
Silence.
Property felt sacred only when it belonged to them.
Eleanor finally whispered.
“Adrian loves you.”
I believed that.
That was the worst part.
“He can love me and still be unsafe.”
She stared at me.
“You would throw away twelve years?”
“No.”
“Adrian threw a plate.”
May you like
I stood.
The meeting was over.
