Chapter 8 - Forty-Six Percent
The emergency trust petition was aggressive.
Adrian claimed Damian’s assault on Celeste demonstrated a “serious risk of impulsive misconduct affecting a minor beneficiary.”
Celeste submitted an affidavit.
She described Damian as increasingly paranoid after Elena’s disappearance.
She claimed Lucas had become frightened of him.
Damian nearly tore the document in half.
Elena took it from him.
“Don’t.”
“She’s using Lucas.”
“Yes.”
“She held a hot iron against him.”
“And we will prove that.”
The hearing was set for Tuesday.
After the Monday Vale Oceanic vote.
Perfect timing.
Martin Keene explained the danger.
“If Adrian gains temporary control over Lucas’s trust shares, even for a week, he could influence the board vote.”
“What about Elena’s shares?”
“Her return changes that.”
Elena looked up.
“How?”
“You’re alive. Your voting rights revert to you once identity and legal capacity are established.”
“Then I vote against the transaction.”
Martin nodded.
“If you’re medically and legally able.”
Damian saw the next attack coming.
“They’ll challenge her capacity.”
Martin did not answer immediately.
Elena laughed bitterly.
“Of course.”
Eighteen months of captivity had become another weapon.
Shaw brought additional results from the memory card.
The digital forensic team recovered partially deleted footage.
One clip showed Adrian speaking to Celeste aboard the Aurelia the night Elena vanished.
“She knows about Harbor Meridian.”
Celeste said, “Then take the card.”
“We can’t find it.”
“What about Lucas?”
“He’s asleep.”
Celeste looked toward the hidden camera without seeing it.
“If Elena gave him anything?”
Adrian’s face hardened.
“Then we take whatever she gave him.”
The video ended.
Lucas had unknowingly carried evidence for eighteen months.
His red toy speedboat moved with him between bedrooms, vacation homes, and eventually back onto the Aurelia.
Celeste must have discovered the camera only recently.
“How?” Damian asked.
Lucas answered.
“I told her Mom said boats need eyes.”
Everyone turned.
“When?”
“Yesterday afternoon.”
Damian knelt.
“What happened?”
“She got weird.”
“What did she say?”
“She asked if Mom ever put a real camera in it.”
“And you said?”
“I said maybe.”
Lucas looked ashamed.
“I’m sorry.”
“No.”
Damian took his shoulders gently.
“You did nothing wrong.”
Lucas’s eyes filled.
“She said if I loved you, I would give her the boat.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Because Mom gave it to me.”
Elena started crying.
Lucas climbed onto the bed beside her.
That night, Damian and Elena spoke privately for the first time.
He sat by the window.
She sat across from him.
“Did you love her?”
Damian knew who she meant.
“Yes.”
Elena looked down.
“How much?”
“Enough to plan a wedding.”
Pain crossed her face.
He did not hide from it.
“I thought you were dead eventually, even without a body.”
“You dated my best friend six months after I vanished.”
“Yes.”
“You brought her into Lucas’s life.”
“Yes.”
“You gave her access to our home.”
“Yes.”
Elena’s eyes filled.
“I survived thinking about coming back.”
Damian could barely breathe.
“I know.”
“No, you don’t.”
She stood.
“I imagined walking into the kitchen. Lucas running to me. You—”
Her voice broke.
“I never imagined Celeste wearing my robe in my house.”
Damian looked away.
“I can’t undo it.”
“No.”
“Do you want me to leave?”
Elena hesitated.
Then nodded.
“Yes.”
He stood.
At the door she said, “Damian.”
He turned.
“I don’t hate you.”
That hurt worse than hate.
“I just don’t know you anymore.”
He left.
In the hallway, Margaret Cole called.
“We’ve received a whistleblower complaint.”
“Against Adrian?”
“No.”
Damian closed his eyes.
“Against me?”
“Yes.”
“What now?”
“Alleged bribery involving the Baltimore terminal acquisition three years ago.”
“I didn’t bribe anyone.”
“The payments came from your discretionary development account.”
Damian understood.
Another signature.
Another delegated account.
Another trap created from his own habit of trusting systems he barely reviewed.
Margaret continued.
“The board is considering referring the matter to federal regulators.”
“Do it.”
She sounded surprised.
“What?”
“Refer everything.”
“Damian—”
“Full audit. Every account. Every transaction. Including mine.”
Silence.
“You understand that could expose mistakes you actually made.”
“Yes.”
“Potentially serious ones.”
“Yes.”
May you like
He looked through the hospital glass at Elena and Lucas.
“For once, I’d rather know what’s true than control what everyone believes.”
