She did not need Celeste to believe her.
“The records will speak for themselves,” Eleanor said.
Celeste laughed bitterly.
“Of course. You always hide behind your money and your influence.”
“No,” Eleanor replied. “I hide behind neither. I brought the evidence to the people responsible for reviewing it.”
Celeste turned back to Daniel.
“Are you seriously going to let her destroy our future over a few accounting discrepancies?”
Daniel stared at her.
“Our future?”
“Yes. Our wedding. Our home. Everything we’ve planned.”
He looked down at the papers.
“Did you ask my mother to sign a transfer of voting rights?”
Celeste froze.
“Who told you that?”
“So you did.”
“It was an administrative measure. You know how complicated the trust is.”
“Why did you tell me it was a routine estate planning document?”
“Because you would have turned it into a three-hour discussion about clauses and technicalities.”
Daniel’s face tightened.
“You told me she was becoming forgetful.”
“I said she was struggling with the paperwork.”
“You told me she needed someone to make decisions for her.”
Celeste lifted her chin.
“And perhaps she does. Look at her. She lives alone, she refuses help, and she spends her days questioning people who are trying to move the family forward.”
Eleanor remained seated.
She had heard enough to understand that Celeste’s contempt was not an accidental lapse of manners. It was part of a larger belief that anyone who appeared vulnerable could be pushed aside.
Margaret closed the folder.
“The proposed transfer is suspended. The trustees will not authorize any change in control while the audit is underway. Your nomination as executive director is also suspended.”
Celeste stared at her.
“You cannot do that.”
