Chapter 8 - Vanessa’s Final Performance
Vanessa arrived at Margaret’s home two days later.
She wore a cream coat and oversized sunglasses despite the cloudy weather.
Margaret opened the door but did not invite her inside.
“We need to talk,” Vanessa said.
“You may speak from there.”
Vanessa removed her sunglasses.
Her eyes were red, though Margaret could not tell whether she had been crying or simply had not slept.
“Daniel ruined my life.”
Margaret felt no sympathy.
“You helped him create false invoices.”
“I planned events. I deserved to be paid.”
“You were paid ninety-six thousand dollars for a division that lost nearly two million.”
“That is not my fault.”
“You encouraged him to hide the losses.”
Vanessa crossed her arms.
“I encouraged him to act like a leader.”
“A leader does not steal from his own company.”
The word steal made Vanessa’s face change.
“You should be careful with accusations.”
“The auditors have records.”
“Then make them disappear.”
Margaret almost laughed.
“You came here to ask me to hide evidence?”
“I came here because you are punishing innocent people. Your grandchildren may lose their home.”
“You are living in a house worth more than two million dollars. Sell it.”
Vanessa stared at her.
“That house belongs to the children.”
“The mortgage belongs to you and Daniel.”
“You have more than enough money.”
Margaret stepped onto the porch and closed the door behind her.
“This has never been about whether I can afford to pay. It is about whether you have the right to demand that I do.”
Vanessa’s voice sharpened.
“After everything I have done for this family?”
Margaret looked at her steadily.
“At Bellamy’s, you did not even give me a chair.”
“That was Daniel’s mistake.”
“You gave me a bone.”
“It was supposed to be funny.”
“Explain the joke.”
Vanessa opened her mouth, then closed it.
“Explain why an older woman being offered someone else’s half-eaten food is funny.”
“You’re being dramatic.”
“No. I am asking you to say aloud what you believed my place in the family was.”
Vanessa’s expression became cold.
“You want the truth? You made Daniel weak. Every time he failed, you fixed it. Every time he wanted something, you paid. Then you expected us to worship you for it.”
Margaret absorbed the words.
There was cruelty in them, but also truth.
She had made Daniel weak.
Not by loving him.
By removing every reason for him to grow.
“You are right about one thing,” Margaret said. “I rescued him too often.”
Vanessa seemed surprised.
“Then help him now.”
“No. I will stop making the same mistake.”
Vanessa put her sunglasses back on.
“You will die alone.”
Margaret smiled sadly.
“Being surrounded by people who only value your money is another way of being alone.”
May you like
She opened the door.
Before stepping inside, she added, “The next time you dine at Bellamy’s, make certain you can pay your own bill.”
