Chapter 7: Celeste’s Companies
The internal audit expanded rapidly.
Celeste Laurent was not related to Theodore despite sharing his surname. She had used the coincidence to suggest a connection when it benefited her.
Over eighteen months, Vale-Crest had paid nearly four million dollars to three consulting companies.
Each company claimed to provide luxury branding services.
None had employees.
All three were controlled through intermediaries connected to Celeste.
Marcus had approved every payment.
When questioned, he insisted the contracts were legitimate.
The records disagreed.
One invoice charged six hundred thousand dollars for “international brand positioning.” The attached report contained twelve pages copied from a public tourism website.
Another payment covered “European market research” during a week when Marcus and Celeste had traveled through Italy on a private vacation.
The company had paid for the jet.
The villas.
The jewelry.
Even the champagne Celeste drank while wearing Isabella’s robe.
Evelyn Shaw warned Isabella that the evidence could lead to civil claims and a criminal investigation.
Isabella did not celebrate.
She sat alone in her temporary office overlooking Central Park.
For years, she had explained away missing dinners, unexplained travel, and late-night calls.
She had thought Marcus was overwhelmed.
He had not been overwhelmed.
He had been stealing.
Her father entered without knocking.
“You do not have to manage this alone,” Theodore said.
“I helped hide what he became.”
“You tried to save your marriage.”
“I protected him every time the board questioned his decisions.”
“You believed in him.”
“I believed in the person he pretended to be.”
Theodore sat across from her.
“Isabella, trust is not stupidity. The shame belongs to the person who abused it.”
She looked at the sapphire brooch on her desk.
“Why didn’t you force me to see it?”
“Because parents can warn their children. We cannot live their lives for them.”
For the first time since the hotel doors closed behind her, Isabella allowed herself to cry.
May you like
Not for Marcus.
For the eleven years she could never recover.
