Chapter 4: The Price of My Silence
I followed Daniel into the corridor.
“What did you see?”
He checked behind us.
“The agreement I reviewed ended after ninety days.
This morning, Christopher gave me a new fourth page.”
“Will you testify?”
“I have a wife and two children.
Christopher’s company pays every bill we have.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
Daniel pressed a small flash drive into my palm.
“The original draft is on this.
So are his instructions.”
Christopher appeared at the end of the corridor.
“What did he give you?”
Daniel stepped between us.
“A copy of the wedding documents.”
Christopher grabbed my wrist.
“Hand it over.”
“Let go of me.”
Lucas came through the doors.
“Take your hand off my sister.”
Christopher released me and smiled at the guests gathering behind Lucas.
“Everyone needs to calm down.”
“You struck her in a chapel,” Lucas said.
“You don’t get to ask for calm.”
Florence joined us with Samuel’s file under her arm.
“Giselle, let’s be practical.
Sign the property waiver, marry Christopher, and we will release your parents’ house.”
“You expect me to marry him after what he did?”
“I expect you to protect your family.”
“And if I don’t?”
Florence removed a notice from the file.
“The bank receives this on Monday.
Your parents will have thirty days to leave.”
Josephine went white.
“That house was paid off twelve years ago.”
“Not if the security agreement remained active,” Florence said.
I held out my hand to Christopher.
“Give me the papers.”
Lucas stared at me.
“Giselle, no.”
“I want two things,” I said.
“My parents seated in the front row and Florence’s public apology.”
Christopher’s shoulders relaxed.
“Done.”
Florence’s mouth tightened.
“I will not apologize to—”
“You will,” Christopher snapped.
“The land is worth more than your pride.”
The room went quiet.
I looked at him.
“How much is it worth?”
Christopher’s expression changed.
Florence answered first.
“Sentimental value can be difficult to measure.”
Lucas laughed once.
“The state approved a coastal access project last month.
The compensation offer is eighteen million dollars.”
Samuel sat down hard.
Christopher reached for me.
“Giselle, we can share that money.”
“You didn’t know my parents’ names this morning.
Now you want to share their land?”
His hand closed around the flash drive.
“Did Daniel give you this?”
He threw it onto the marble floor and crushed it beneath his shoe.
Daniel did not move.
Christopher pointed at him.
“You’re finished.
Security will escort you out.”
“My files automatically back up,” Daniel said.
Christopher’s smile vanished.
Florence lifted her phone.
“Then his law firm will receive the recording of him offering confidential documents to an opposing party.”
“You recorded me?” Daniel asked.
“I record people who may become inconvenient.”
Two security guards entered, followed by a woman carrying a document pouch.
“Samuel Carter?” the woman called.
My father stood.
She handed him an official notice.
“This was filed twenty minutes ago.
A hearing on possession has been scheduled for nine tomorrow morning.”
May you like
Christopher slipped his hands into his pockets.
“Sign tonight,” he said, “or lose the house tomorrow.”
