Chapter 16 - BRENDA REMOVED THE MASK
Brenda requested a meeting with Mariana.
Helena advised against it.
“She wants your sympathy.”
“She will not receive it,” Mariana replied.
They met in a neutral conference room.
Brenda arrived without makeup or expensive clothing.
The crimson gown had disappeared.
So had the confidence she wore beside Andrew.
She looked smaller now.
Not innocent.
Simply frightened.
“I know you hate me,” Brenda began.
Mariana sat across from her.
“I do not think about you enough to hate you.”
The answer unsettled Brenda.
“I did terrible things.”
“Yes.”
“Andrew lied to me.”
“You chose to believe lies that benefited you.”
“He said your marriage was already over.”
“You attended dinners in my home.”
“He said you stayed for money.”
“You knew the money came from me.”
Brenda lowered her eyes.
“I did not know at first.”
“But you learned.”
“Yes.”
“And you continued.”
Brenda’s voice broke.
“I thought if I left, I would lose everything.”
Mariana looked at her steadily.
“That is exactly what I told myself about my marriage.”
Brenda wiped her eyes.
“I have evidence Andrew hid from the auditors.”
Helena leaned forward.
“What evidence?”
“A second phone.”
“He used it to communicate with Owen Price.”
Owen was Whitmore Global’s former chief financial officer.
He had resigned two months before the emergency board meeting.
Brenda placed a small phone on the table.
Messages revealed that Andrew and Owen had hidden debt from the board.
They had also planned to blame Mariana if the company failed.
One message described creating false records that would make it appear Mariana approved the illegal transfers.
Andrew had planned to destroy her financial reputation before divorcing her.
“Why are you giving us this?” Helena asked.
“Because Andrew said I would take the blame for everything.”
“He told his attorney I stole the money.”
“You did receive it,” Mariana said.
“I did.”
“But he authorized it.”
“Yes.”
Brenda looked directly at Mariana.
“I know this does not excuse what I did.”
“It does not.”
“I know you will never forgive me.”
“Forgiveness is not part of this meeting.”
Brenda nodded.
“What will happen to me?”
“That depends on the law.”
“You could ask them to show mercy.”
“I could.”
Brenda waited.
Mariana continued.
“But I will not interfere.”
Brenda’s face fell.
Mariana stood.
“You believed power meant escaping consequences.”
“So did Andrew.”
“So did Margaret.”
“All three of you were wrong.”
As Mariana reached the door, Brenda spoke again.
“Did you ever really love him?”
Mariana stopped.
“Yes.”
“That was his greatest advantage.”
May you like
She looked back once.
“And wasting it was his greatest mistake.”
