Chapter 8 - THE BOX OF ORIGINALS
Lena refused to enter until Robert promised to call an independent attorney rather than company security.
I understood her fear.
She had the frightened look of a person who had been told that everyone powerful was dangerous.
Evelyn arrived within an hour.
She arranged a secure handoff of the box and told Lena not to describe any contents in front of us until she had advice.
Robert agreed without protest.
Later, Lena spoke to investigators with counsel present.
She had been an administrative assistant at Northbridge.
Her job included changing invoice descriptions after money had already been paid.
She said Travis called those changes housekeeping.
The word struck me with cruel force.
Housekeeping had been my work for most of my life.
To them it was a word for hiding dirt.
The investigators found evidence suggesting that Northbridge billed for consulting services it could not document.
They also found a list of people invited to private dinners.
Wade was on it.
Charles was on it.
A woman named Marianne Vale was on it too.
Robert stared at that name.
“Marianne?”
“Who is she?” I asked.
“An investor who sat on our board until five years ago.”
“Do you trust her?”
He considered the question.
“I used to.”
I wondered how many secrets could be hidden beneath two little words.
The next morning Fallon went on social media.
She posted a photograph of Wade looking exhausted beside their fireplace.
Her caption said that an elderly relative had fabricated allegations to punish a successful young couple.
She didn't name me.
She didn't need to.
Neighbors began sending messages.
Some asked what had happened.
Others sent cruel advice about bitter mothers who couldn't let their sons grow up.
Ruth arrived with soup and sat with me while I cried.
“Don't read them,” she said.
“People who do not know you are not entitled to judge you.”
At four, Wade left me a voicemail.
“You made Fallon cry in front of everyone.”
He sounded angry and lost.
“She says you want to destroy our marriage.”
“I want the truth,” I whispered to the silent phone.
A moment later another message appeared, this time from a number I didn't know.
It contained three words.
ASK ROBERT ABOUT MARIANNE.
Beneath the words was a photograph of Robert standing beside Marianne Vale at a gala fifteen years earlier.
May you like
His arm was around her waist.
