Chapter 6 - What the Recorder Heard
Clara could have confronted Richard that night.
Instead, she returned every document to its exact position and locked the office.
She needed Richard to confess.
On Sunday evening, she prepared dinner at their home. She wore the white dress Richard had bought for their anniversary and placed the authorization papers beside her plate.
A recording device rested inside her leather briefcase.
Richard arrived with Sabrina.
Clara pretended to be surprised.
“Sabrina is helping with tomorrow’s announcement,” Richard explained.
Clara invited her to stay.
For the first twenty minutes, they discussed harmless topics. Then Clara placed her hand on the authorization papers.
“Before I sign, I need to understand what happens after the board meeting.”
Richard and Sabrina exchanged a glance.
“You’ll begin your leave,” Richard said.
“And you’ll control my votes?”
“Temporarily.”
“How temporary?”
Richard leaned back.
“Until you are well enough to return.”
Sabrina lifted her wineglass.
“You should focus on being a mother, Clara. The company will be in capable hands.”
Clara looked at her.
“Yours?”
Sabrina smiled.
“Ours.”
The word remained in the room.
Richard’s face hardened.
“There is no reason to make this difficult.”
Clara lowered her eyes as if frightened.
“What happens if I refuse?”
Richard’s voice became cold.
“Then the doctors will submit their evaluations. The board will remove you anyway.”
“And my daughter?”
“You’ll see her under appropriate supervision until you recover.”
Clara fought to keep her expression still.
Sabrina touched Richard’s arm.
“Once we leave, none of this will matter.”
Clara looked up.
“Leave?”
Richard turned toward Sabrina, but it was too late.
Sabrina placed both hands over her stomach.
“We are starting our own family.”
Richard stood abruptly.
“That’s enough.”
Clara rose more slowly.
“You were going to take my company, call me unstable, take my daughter, and leave with her?”
Richard stepped closer.
“You inherited everything. You never earned it.”
Clara stared at him.
There it was.
Not love. Not regret.
Resentment.
Richard had spent years smiling beside her while believing her life belonged to him.
Clara picked up the briefcase.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“To sleep somewhere safe.”
“You cannot walk away from me.”
Clara opened the front door.
“I already have.”
May you like
Behind her, Sabrina began shouting at Richard for revealing too much.
The recorder captured every word.
