You were emotional.
There were hundreds of people at the gala who saw you with champagne in your hand.”
“I had half a glass.”
“You could barely stand.”
“After you handed me the second one.”
Silence.
Richard’s eyes flicked toward me again.
I understood then why Victoria had refused security, refused her driver, and refused Richard.
He had already built the story he planned to tell.
The brilliant CEO had gotten drunk at her own charity gala.
Her devoted fiancé had tried to help.
She had become irrational.
Maybe violent.
Maybe unstable.
And by Monday morning, anyone questioning what happened would be arguing against witnesses who had already been shown the version Richard wanted them to remember.
Victoria pressed play again.
The recording resumed.
Richard’s voice came through clearly.
“You need rest.
Real rest.
A few months away from the company.”
Victoria on the recording answered, “And while I’m resting, you control my voting authority?”
“It’s temporary.”
“You already filled in the dates.”
A pause.
Then Richard said, “Sign the authorization.”
“No.”
Something scraped across a table.
“You’re making this harder than it needs to be.”
The Victoria standing beside me stared at the floor as she listened.
Her breathing changed.
Not panic this time.
Memory.
Richard crossed the room quickly and reached for the reader.
I stepped between them.
He stopped inches from me.
“You are making a career-ending mistake.”
“Maybe.”
“You have a child.”
That landed harder the second time.
I felt Victoria turn toward me.
Richard saw it.
He smiled.
“Seven, isn’t she? Lily?”
My hands curled.
He continued before I could speak.
“Cardiology is expensive.
So is Queens.
So is unemployment.”
Victoria stared at him.
“How do you know about his daughter?”
Richard shrugged.
“Employees have files.”
“I don’t read facilities employees’ medical-benefit files.”
“I’m more thorough than you.”
That was the moment Richard overplayed his hand.
