Chapter 11 - Judith Captured One More Conversation
Judith called Emily three days later.
“There’s something else.”
Her camera had recorded Margaret and Stephen Cross near the ballroom
terrace.
The audio was imperfect.
But several phrases were clear.
“If she gets recognized tonight, the vote gets complicated.”
Then:
“Vanessa just has to make her look unstable.”
And finally:
“After the wedding, Daniel won’t unwind everything.”
Daniel listened twice.
He did not speak for nearly a minute.
Margaret had been counting on marriage itself as pressure.
Once the ceremony happened, Daniel would be less willing to embarrass
Vanessa.
Less willing to challenge her mother.
Less willing to reopen corporate agreements tied to his new wife.
They had mistaken commitment for weakness.
Daniel looked at Emily.
“I almost signed myself into their leverage.”
Emily answered:
“You stopped.”
“That doesn’t erase how close I came.”
“No.”
May you like
She did not comfort him with a lie.
That was why Daniel trusted her.
