Chapter 7 - THE FALSE APOLOGY
Daniel asked to see Claire the following evening.
Rachel advised against it.
Claire agreed only after Marcus secured a private dining room at a hotel owned by one of Richard’s longtime partners.
Hidden cameras were unnecessary.
The room’s security system openly recorded audio and video.
Daniel was informed of that when he entered.
He still came.
That told Claire how confident he remained.
He wore a navy suit.
No tie.
His face looked exhausted in exactly the way public-relations consultants taught executives to appear exhausted.
Concerned.
Human.
Victimized by circumstances.
Claire was already seated.
Daniel stopped when he saw her shoulder brace.
His expression changed.
“Is that necessary?”
Claire almost smiled.
Not how are you.
Not how is the baby.
Is that necessary?
“The doctor thinks so.”
Daniel sat.
“I’m sorry.”
Claire waited.
“For what?”
Daniel looked down.
“For everything.”
“Be specific.”
His eyes lifted.
“Claire.”
“Be specific.”
He exhaled.
“I’m sorry things got out of control.”
“That isn’t an apology.”
“I’m sorry you got hurt.”
“Still not an apology.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
Claire leaned forward.
“Did Vanessa push me?”
He hesitated.
“She made contact with you.”
Claire almost laughed.
“Did you lock the dressing-room door?”
“I was trying to stop the situation from escalating.”
“Did Vanessa take my phone?”
“You were threatening to call your father before anyone understood what happened.”
Claire stared at him.
“You still haven’t asked whether our daughter is okay.”
Daniel froze.
It took him nearly two seconds to answer.
“Of course I care about the baby.”
Claire looked at him for a long moment.
“No.”
Daniel leaned closer.
“Your father is manipulating you.”
There it was.
“He has hated me since the beginning.”
Claire said nothing.
“He sees this as an opportunity.”
“What opportunity?”
“To destroy me.”
“Why would he need an opportunity?”
Daniel’s expression tightened.
Claire continued.
“If Dad wanted to destroy your company, he could cancel two joint financing arrangements and three vendor guarantees before lunch tomorrow.”
Daniel looked around instinctively.
The old Claire would have ignored that glance.
The new Claire understood it.
He was calculating which financial relationships she knew about.
“Daniel.”
“Yes?”
“Who is Dr. Feldman?”
His face remained controlled.
But the muscles along his jaw moved.
“I thought you needed someone objective.”
“You paid him six weeks before the mirror incident.”
Daniel said nothing.
Claire leaned back.
“Did you think I wouldn’t find that?”
Daniel’s tone changed.
“You’ve been going through my private financial records?”
Claire looked at him.
“You forged my signature on a life insurance policy.”
For the first time, Daniel lost control.
His hand struck the table.
“That policy was part of estate planning.”
The sound echoed through the dining room.
Claire did not flinch.
“Thank you.”
Daniel stared.
“For what?”
“For confirming you knew about it.”
His face drained.
Claire stood.
Daniel stood too.
“Claire, wait.”
She moved toward the door.
“Your father is going to use you.”
She stopped.
Daniel stepped closer.
“He will turn you into a weapon because that’s what Richard Whitmore does.”
Claire faced him.
“You keep talking about my father because you still think this is about him.”
Daniel said nothing.
Claire touched her stomach.
“It isn’t.”
She walked out.
Outside the room, Marcus joined her.
Rachel followed moments later.
She held up the recording device.
“We have the admission.”
Claire nodded.
“And something else.”
Rachel frowned.
“What?”
May you like
Claire looked through the glass door at Daniel.
“He’s scared of Friday.”
