“Why are you here?”
Celeste sat with her hands clasped.
For a long moment, she stared at the tabletop.
Then she said, “My husband is going to destroy your son.”
I felt something harden inside me.
“Richard didn’t make Jared sign those documents.”
Celeste’s head snapped up.
“You know?”
“I know enough.”
She closed her eyes.
“Then I suppose there’s no point pretending.”
Miriam stood near the window, silent.
Celeste opened her handbag and removed a thick folder.
“My husband has been lying to lenders for almost two years.”
“What about?”
“The access road.
The environmental approvals.
The amount of private investment already committed.”
I didn’t reach for the folder.
“Why tell me?”
“Because the financing deadline is six weeks away.
If Richard cannot demonstrate control of the access route, the primary lender may refuse the next release of funds.”
“And?”
“People will lose money.”
“People have already been misled.”
