Chapter 4 - The Truth He Should Have Told
An hour later Elias found Clara’s green notebook beneath the bench.
He handed it to Nathaniel.
“It fell from her apron.”
Nathaniel turned it over.
The cover was worn.
A small sticker on the back read:
One good thing.
“Did you read it?” Nathaniel asked.
“No.”
Nathaniel handed it back.
“Neither will I.”
Elias frowned.
“Where are you going?”
Nathaniel reached for his coat.
“To return something.”
Clara lived with her mother above a diner in Stamford.
Nathaniel stood beneath a flickering stairwell light at 9:12 p.m. and rang the bell.
A woman in her late fifties opened the door.
She looked him over.
Expensive coat.
Expensive shoes.
Guilt all over his face.
“You must be the billionaire.”
Nathaniel blinked.
“I’m sorry?”
“My daughter says you ask questions and wait for answers. That narrowed it down.”
“Is Clara here?”
“Unfortunately for you.”
“Mom,” Clara called from inside.
Her mother smiled.
“Five minutes.”
Clara appeared wearing jeans and an old college sweatshirt.
No uniform.
No careful household smile.
She looked younger.
And angrier.
“You forgot this,” Nathaniel said, holding out the notebook.
Clara took it quickly.
“Did you read it?”
“No.”
She searched his face.
“Why are you here?”
“I know you didn’t steal the brooch.”
Clara went still.
Nathaniel continued.
“I watched Camille put it in your coat.”
Her eyes widened.
“You watched?”
“I saw the camera footage.”
“When?”
“Before she accused you.”
Clara’s face hardened.
“Then why didn’t you stop her?”
Nathaniel had negotiated deals with people who could destroy companies with one phone call.
Nothing had ever made him feel smaller than Clara did in that hallway.
“Because I wanted everyone to see the truth tomorrow.”
Clara stared at him.
“So I was evidence.”
“No.”
“A demonstration?”
“No.”
“A convenient person you could let be humiliated because you already knew the ending?”
Nathaniel had no defense.
“I made the wrong choice.”
Clara’s mother watched silently from behind her.
Nathaniel said, “I thought if I confronted Camille privately, she would lie. She would say the footage lacked context. She would tell people you manipulated me. I wanted her to expose herself completely.”
“She already had.”
“I know.”
“You just wanted a bigger audience.”
Nathaniel closed his eyes briefly.
“Yes.”
The honesty surprised her.
“I’m sorry, Clara.”
She folded her arms.
“You let me leave thinking you might believe I was a thief.”
“I asked for one day.”
“You should have given me the truth.”
He nodded.
“You’re right.”
Neither spoke.
Finally Nathaniel said, “Come tomorrow night.”
“To your engagement party?”
“As my guest.”
She laughed once.
“You have terrible timing.”
“I’ve been told.”
“What happens tomorrow?”
Nathaniel looked directly at her.
“The truth gets a microphone.”
Clara’s eyes narrowed.
“I don’t want revenge.”
“Neither do I.”
“Then don’t humiliate her just because you can.”
“I won’t.”
“What will you do?”
“I’ll show exactly what happened. No commentary. No insults. No theatrical punishment.”
He paused.
“And then I will end my engagement.”
Clara looked away.
Nathaniel added, “Whether you come or not.”
Her mother spoke from the doorway.
“Go.”
Clara turned.
“Mom.”
“That man came to a diner neighborhood at nine o’clock wearing shoes worth more than my car. Let him finish his apology.”
Nathaniel almost smiled.
Clara sighed.
“If I come, I’m not wearing a uniform.”
“Absolutely not.”
“And I’m not standing in the back.”
“You won’t.”
“And you don’t get to make me some symbol of perfect poor-girl goodness.”
Nathaniel nodded.
“You’re a person.”
“Good.”
She held out her hand.
“One day.”
May you like
He shook it.
“One day.”
