Chapter 7 - Water and Silence
Celeste left the ballroom because the banker’s car had been delayed at the gate.
Victor was furious.
“He controls one of our largest loans,” he said. “We cannot leave him waiting beside the road.”
Celeste crossed the driveway in high heels, followed by her mother and several guests.
At the main entrance, Edmund sat beside the gate.
The banker’s car was outside because his driver had arrived without a pass and refused to open the trunk for inspection.
Celeste did not ask what had happened.
She immediately blamed Edmund.
“You are embarrassing my family.”
“I am following the security procedure, ma’am.”
“Open the gate.”
“As soon as the vehicle is cleared.”
“You let other cars enter.”
“Those cars completed inspection.”
Celeste glanced toward the banker, who was watching from the back seat. Her face burned with humiliation.
She stepped closer to Edmund.
“Do you understand who is waiting?”
“A guest.”
“He is more important than you could understand.”
Edmund’s expression did not change.
“That does not exempt his vehicle from inspection.”
Beatrice whispered to her daughter.
“Handle this.”
Several staff members had gathered near the entrance. Suited guests watched from the driveway. Through the west windows, Adrian stood partly hidden behind a curtain.
Celeste saw the audience.
She believed they were waiting for her to demonstrate authority.
A young server approached carrying bottles of water for the arriving guests.
Celeste took one.
“Perhaps you have been sitting in the sun too long,” she said to Edmund.
“I am comfortable.”
“You look filthy.”
Mrs. Alvarez stepped forward.
“Miss Laurent, that is enough.”
Celeste ignored her.
She twisted the cap from the bottle.
Adrian moved toward the door, but Edmund saw him through the glass and gave the smallest shake of his head.
Wait.
Celeste lifted the bottle.
For one final moment, she had the opportunity to stop.
Instead, she poured.
Water struck Edmund’s head and splashed across his uniform. Gasps rose from the driveway. The server stepped backward in horror.
Celeste emptied the bottle slowly.
“Let me wash the filth off you.”
Edmund remained still.
“That was unnecessary, ma’am.”
His calmness made her feel challenged.
She threw the bottle aside.
“Tell Mr. Vale I want this gatekeeper fired before dinner.”
Edmund stood and removed his cap.
“I am Mr. Vale.”
Silence spread through the crowd.
Celeste stared at him.
“No.”
Mrs. Alvarez lowered her head respectfully.
“Mr. Vale.”
The estate manager did the same.
Then the board members near the entrance stepped forward.
Celeste looked from face to face.
“You are lying.”
Edmund reached into his uniform pocket and removed the Vale family signet ring. It had belonged to the company’s founder and appeared in newspapers beside Edmund at every annual meeting.
Celeste recognized it.
Her mother made a faint sound behind her.
Adrian came through the entrance.
Celeste rushed toward him.
“Your grandfather deceived me.”
Edmund replied before Adrian could.
“I wore the uniform of my first honest job. You decided that made me worthless.”
“You were testing me.”
“Yes.”
“That is cruel.”
“No, Miss Laurent. Cruelty is pouring water over an elderly worker because you believe he cannot defend himself.”
Celeste looked at Adrian.
“He wanted me to fail.”
Adrian’s eyes were filled with disappointment.
“He asked you to follow a security rule.”
“He humiliated my father’s guest.”
“The driver refused inspection.”
“You are choosing him over me?”
Adrian looked at his grandfather’s soaked uniform.
“No. You made the choice.”
The scene unfolded exactly as Edmund had expected, though not as he had hoped.
He canceled the engagement dinner. He summoned the board. Adrian returned the ring.
But Celeste was not finished.
As the guests began entering the estate for the emergency meeting, she lifted her chin.
“You think this ends here?” she said. “My family has agreements with Vale Holdings. You cannot remove us without consequences.”
Edmund looked at Victor.
“Agreements?”
Victor’s face turned pale.
Celeste continued before her father could stop her.
“The hotel financing. The acquisition plan. Adrian promised us support.”
Adrian stared at her.
“I promised nothing.”
Celeste realized too late that she had revealed more than she intended.
Edmund turned to the attorney.
“Bring every Laurent proposal to the boardroom.”
The attorney nodded.
May you like
Celeste watched the estate doors close behind them.
For the first time that evening, she understood that losing the marriage might not be the worst thing awaiting her family.
