Chapter 11 - His Version of the Truth
Preston agreed to meet Emily at noon.
Raymond wanted attorneys present.
Emily refused.
She chose a private hospital conference room with cameras recording and Sarah watching from behind the adjoining glass.
Preston entered looking like he had not slept.
His expensive suit was wrinkled.
His confidence was worse.
Emily remained seated.
Preston closed the door.
“How’s the baby?”
Emily stared at him.
“You had twenty-four hours to ask me that.”
He looked away.
“I was dealing with the board.”
“Of course.”
Preston sat across from her.
“Emily, things got out of control.”
“They were already under control.”
“What?”
“You filed the security warning before I arrived.”
Preston said nothing.
“You canceled my escort.”
Silence.
“You told staff not to intervene unless I became aggressive.”
His jaw tightened.
“Vanessa told me she wanted to confront you.”
“And you allowed it.”
“I thought she was going to talk to you.”
Emily leaned forward.
“Why?”
Preston rubbed both hands over his face.
“Because you were asking questions about my schedule.”
“So?”
“I needed time.”
“For the divorce?”
“For the restructuring.”
There it was.
Emily’s expression changed.
“You needed me emotional.”
Preston looked at her.
“You were already suspicious.”
“So you wanted witnesses to see me lose control.”
“I wanted a documented domestic incident.”
The words sat between them.
Emily felt colder with every second.
“Why?”
Preston did not answer.
“Say it.”
“To challenge your voting authority temporarily.”
Emily stared at him.
“You were going to call me unstable.”
“Only until the refinancing closed.”
She almost laughed.
“You were going to use my pregnancy, my marriage, and my reaction to your affair to steal my mother’s voting rights.”
“I wasn’t stealing them.”
“You forged my signature.”
Preston leaned forward.
“I was trying to save my family’s company.”
Emily’s voice became very quiet.
“And Vanessa?”
“She was supposed to provoke you.”
Emily felt the final piece fall into place.
“Did you tell her to hurt me?”
“No.”
The answer came quickly.
Too quickly.
“I told her to confront you.”
“Did you tell her to make me lose control?”
Preston hesitated.
Emily watched his face.
“That’s what I thought.”
He stood.
“I never wanted you injured.”
“You just needed me humiliated enough to react.”
“I didn’t know she would kick you.”
“But when she did, you stood beside her.”
Preston’s face cracked.
“Emily.”
“You looked at me on that floor and told me not to embarrass you.”
He had no answer.
Emily stood.
“You wanted an unstable wife.”
She walked toward the door.
“Now you have a witness.”
Preston turned.
“What does that mean?”
May you like
Emily opened the door.
“It means I recorded you saying it.”
