Chapter 10 - Dominic’s Bargain
Dominic wanted immunity from the company.
Not criminal immunity.
He could not promise himself that.
He wanted me to agree not to pursue a civil fraud claim against him personally if he cooperated.
I laughed when Eleanor told me.
“He watched our child crawl on the floor and now he wants financial mercy?”
“I didn’t say we should accept.”
“What does he have?”
“A lot.”
That stopped me.
Dominic had copied Brooke’s laptop two months earlier.
Not because he suddenly became moral.
Because he discovered money missing from his own accounts.
He had been preparing to confront her.
Then I came home.
“He knew about the shell companies?”
“Some.”
“He knew about Aaron?”
“Yes.”
“He knew Liam might not be his?”
“He suspected.”
I stared through the window.
“How long?”
“Six weeks.”
Six weeks.
He still let Victoria call Liam her grandson.
Still let Brooke live in my home.
Still let Leo sleep in a basement room some nights.
“He doesn’t get a deal.”
Eleanor watched me carefully.
“Clara.”
“No.”
“This is not only about punishment.”
“I know.”
“His files may prove Victoria and Brooke committed corporate fraud.”
“I know.”
“And they may contain more recordings of Leo.”
That changed everything.
I hated that it changed everything.
But Leo mattered more than my anger.
“What does he want?”
“No civil claim against his remaining personal assets.”
“Not the company shares.”
“No.”
“Not custody.”
“No.”
“Not the house.”
“No.”
I thought for a long time.
“Make him testify first.”
“Full sworn deposition.”
“Every password.”
“Every device.”
“Every account.”
“Every name.”
“And?”
“If one statement is false, the agreement dies.”
Eleanor nodded.
“I’ll draft it.”
Dominic’s deposition lasted eleven hours.
He admitted the affair.
Admitted allowing Brooke to move into the house.
Admitted approving transfers without review.
Admitted knowing Victoria punished Leo by withholding privileges.
Then Eleanor asked the question I could barely listen to.
“Did you ever see your son being required to eat on the floor?”
Dominic stared at the table.
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Several times.”
“Did you stop it?”
Silence.
“Mr. Sterling.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
His voice broke.
“Because my mother said giving in would reinforce his behavior.”
Eleanor continued.
“Did Leo have behavioral problems before Clara left?”
“No.”
“Did you know he was afraid of your mother?”
“Yes.”
“Did you know Brooke mocked him?”
“Yes.”
“Did you stop her?”
“No.”
I left the room.
Not because I was weak.
Because if I stayed, I would forget that the law needed his confession more than my rage needed his face.
Two hours later, Eleanor found me.
“There’s something on Brooke’s laptop.”
“What?”
“A folder named Singapore.”
Inside were copies of my flight schedules.
My apartment address.
May you like
Photographs taken outside my office.
Brooke had been tracking me for over a year.
