The emotional daughter died in that kitchen, leaving only the cold, calculating magistrate behind. The law was absolute. The law did not care about family loyalty. The law did not care about Hampton’s engagement parties or billionaire in-laws. I owe you nothing,’ I said, my voice cutting through the humid air like a scalpel.
I reached into the deep pocket of my black dress. I did not pull out a dish towel. I pulled out my cell phone, gripping it tightly in my hand. ‘What are you doing?’ Richard demanded, his eyes narrowing as he watched my thumb unlock the screen. ‘I am doing what any responsible citizen does when they discover a massive financial crime.
‘ I replied, staring directly into his furious eyes. I am calling the Federal Bureau of Investigation. You just confess to wire fraud and identity theft. I suggest you enjoy the caviar out there, Richard. It will be the last decent meal you eat before you are arraigned in federal court. The heavy oak door swung inward again, striking the edge of the stainless steel prep counter with a sharp bang.
Brittany marched into the suffocating heat of the catering kitchen. The thick silk of her custom designer gown dragged violently across the wet floor tiles, but she did not seem to care. Her face, usually carefully composed into a mask of affluent perfection, was twisted into a petulent, ugly scowl.
She had clearly been lingering in the hallway, listening to every word of my confrontation with our father. I expected her to express shock. I expected her to turn to Richard and demand to know why he had jeopardized my life for a party. But in our family, accountability was a foreign concept, and I was the eternal scapegoat.
‘Are you completely out of your mind?’ Brittany shrieked, aiming her fury entirely at me. ‘I can hear you threatening Dad from the hallway. Keep your voice down. Do you want Warren and Ivonne to hear you ranting like a lunatic? Do you want Terrence to walk out that door and cancel everything?’ I stared at my younger sister.
The massive diamond engagement ring Terrence had given her caught the harsh fluorescent light flashing brilliantly as she crossed her arms over her chest. She stood there dripping in stolen wealth, defending the very crime that had funded her entire charade. ‘Did you know about this?’ I asked, my voice deadly calm.
