Chapter 4 - HE CAME TO THE GALA TO BLACKMAIL HER
The gala took place six days later.
It was held at a luxury hotel in Washington, D.C., beneath crystal chandeliers and a ceiling painted with gold-leaf patterns.
Nearly four hundred guests attended.
Bank executives.
Defense contractors.
Investment managers.
Politicians.
People who smiled for photographs while calculating what everyone else in the room could do for them.
I arrived in a dark blue evening gown.
My grandfather walked beside me.
Calvin and two members of the security team remained close, dressed in ordinary suits.
The pregnancy wasn't yet obvious beneath the gown.
But I kept one hand near my stomach as we entered.
Victoria met us near the ballroom entrance.
She wore a silver dress and looked completely composed.
"He's here," she whispered.
I nodded.
"Where?"
"Near the stage."
I followed her gaze.
Preston stood beside Sabrina Crane.
He wore a black tuxedo.
His hair was perfectly styled.
One hand rested possessively against Sabrina's lower back.
She wore a red gown with a diamond necklace I recognized immediately.
I'd seen it in a jewelry store window three months earlier.
Preston had told me it was too expensive to consider.
Now it glittered against Sabrina's throat.
For one brief, humiliating second, I felt jealousy.
Not because I wanted him back.
Because I remembered how much I'd trusted him.
Then Preston turned.
Our eyes met.
His expression changed.
First surprise.
Then irritation.
Then a smile.
He leaned toward Sabrina and said something.
She looked at me.
Her smile widened.
They started walking toward us.
"Well," Preston said, stopping a few feet away. "Look who finally decided to come out of hiding."
I said nothing.
His eyes moved over my gown.
"Interesting choice of venue, Reese."
Sabrina gave a small laugh.
"Preston, darling, maybe she's here looking for a job."
I looked at her.
She was thirty-one, beautiful, and clearly enjoying herself.
I'd met her dozens of times.
She'd eaten dinner at my table.
She'd hugged me at Christmas.
She'd sent me a congratulatory message when I announced the pregnancy.
I wondered whether she'd known what Preston intended to do.
That question mattered far more than the necklace.
Preston leaned closer.
"I heard your cards stopped working."
I smiled faintly.
"Did you?"
"Don't make this difficult. You can still come home if you're willing to be reasonable."
I stared at him.
"Reasonable?"
"Stop the drama. Sign the separation agreement my attorney sent you. I'll make sure you're taken care of."
Sabrina folded her arms.
"That's generous, considering everything."
I looked at her.
"Considering what?"
She hesitated.
Preston answered.
"Your instability."
My stomach tightened.
He lowered his voice.
"Reese, you had a medical episode. You attacked a doctor. Then you disappeared with armed men."
I studied him.
He continued.
"Do you really want that story made public?"
I almost laughed.
He was still doing it.
Still rewriting what happened.
Still assuming that if he spoke with enough confidence, reality would rearrange itself around him.
"Is that the story you're telling people?"
"It's the truth."
I looked directly into his eyes.
"Then you won't mind repeating it under oath."
His smile faltered.
Sabrina touched his arm.
"Preston, let's go."
But he wasn't finished.
He looked toward my grandfather.
"Mr. Sutherland, I understand you're helping Reese through a difficult period."
My grandfather's expression remained still.
Preston continued.
"I hope you realize she's been receiving very poor advice."
Augustus looked at him.
"Is that so?"
"Unfortunately."
My grandfather nodded slowly.
"Then perhaps you should speak with her attorney."
Preston gave a short laugh.
"With respect, sir, this is a private marital matter."
My grandfather stepped closer.
"No, Mr. Lyle."
His voice was quiet.
"Your marriage became a criminal matter the moment you arranged to have my granddaughter restrained against her will."
Preston's face changed.
Sabrina went rigid.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Preston recovered.
"That's an outrageous accusation."
My grandfather looked at him.
"Then I suggest you cooperate fully with the investigation."
Preston stared.
"What investigation?"
I watched him carefully.
He genuinely hadn't known.
The detective had not yet contacted him.
And Dr. Ellison's attorney had apparently kept his cooperation confidential.
Preston looked back at me.
"What have you done?"
I answered softly.
"I told the truth."
His jaw tightened.
Then he smiled again.
"Well, I hope you enjoy your evening. Because by tomorrow, Altair Capital is going to have much bigger problems than your little family drama."
He turned and walked away.
Sabrina followed.
Victoria watched them disappear into the crowd.
"He's going to do it," she whispered.
I nodded.
"Yes."
The program began at eight-thirty.
Dinner was served.
Speeches followed.
Preston spent most of the evening moving from table to table, whispering to investors and checking his phone.
I sat beside my grandfather.
I barely touched my food.
At nine-fifteen, Victoria stepped onto the stage.
She was scheduled to present Altair's annual investment outlook.
Preston waited until she'd finished the opening remarks.
Then he stood.
"Ms. Strand."
His voice carried across the ballroom.
Victoria paused.
"Mr. Lyle?"
He smiled.
"I apologize for interrupting, but I believe the people in this room deserve to know something about the organization presenting tonight."
A murmur moved through the audience.
Victoria remained composed.
"Perhaps we can discuss your concerns afterward."
"No."
Preston stepped into the aisle.
"I think we should discuss them now."
He held up a folder.
"I have documentation suggesting Altair Capital has been using offshore entities to conceal improper financial transfers."
Several guests turned toward one another.
A few reached for their phones.
Preston continued.
"And unless Ms. Strand can provide a satisfactory explanation, I intend to submit these materials to the appropriate authorities."
Victoria looked at him.
"Have you verified the documents?"
"Absolutely."
"With whom?"
Preston hesitated.
"Reliable sources."
Victoria nodded.
"Then perhaps you should identify those sources."
He laughed.
"Nice try."
He turned toward the audience.
"This is exactly the kind of evasive response investors should be concerned about."
I watched his face.
He was enjoying himself.
The attention.
The silence.
The belief that he'd finally found a way to force Victoria into giving him what he wanted.
Then she asked a simple question.
"Mr. Lyle, did you request forty million dollars from Altair in exchange for withholding these allegations?"
The ballroom became very quiet.
Preston's smile froze.
"Excuse me?"
Victoria repeated the question.
"Did you demand emergency financing as a condition of keeping these documents confidential?"
His eyes narrowed.
"That's a gross mischaracterization."
"Then you deny making the demand?"
"I proposed a business arrangement."
"One tied to your threat to release these allegations?"
Preston looked around.
The confidence began draining from his face.
He hadn't expected Victoria to confront him publicly.
He'd expected panic.
Negotiation.
Submission.
Instead, she was asking questions.
He lifted his chin.
"Ms. Strand, I suggest you be very careful."
May you like
Victoria nodded.
"I intend to be."
