Chapter 8 - Celeste Chooses Herself
For two days, Celeste refused to answer calls from investigators.
She stayed in Richard’s penthouse, waiting for him to solve the crisis as he had promised.
But Richard was not thinking about saving her.
He was thinking about saving himself.
When Celeste opened one of his desk drawers looking for a passport, she found two sets of documents.
The first transferred money from the fraudulent consulting company into an offshore account controlled by Richard.
The second identified Celeste as the person responsible for approving the transfers.
Her name appeared on every page.
Richard had prepared an escape plan.
If the scheme was discovered, he intended to blame her.
Celeste sat alone in the dark office and finally understood what Evelyn had understood months earlier.
Richard did not love people.
He used them until they became inconvenient.
When Richard returned that evening, Celeste placed the documents on the table.
“You were going to blame me.”
Richard removed his jacket.
“We both need to stay calm.”
“My signature is on transfers I never approved.”
“You signed plenty of documents.”
“Because you told me they were routine.”
Richard poured himself a drink.
“Then tell investigators exactly that.”
“They won’t believe me.”
“That sounds like your problem.”
Celeste stared at him.
He did not even attempt to deny it.
“What about the car?” she asked.
Richard’s hand stopped.
“What about it?”
“You told maintenance not to repair it.”
“I told them to delay service.”
“You knew Evelyn was taking it.”
“I didn’t know she would crash.”
“You said she would miss the board vote.”
Richard placed the glass down.
“I was angry.”
“You wanted to frighten her.”
“I wanted time.”
Celeste’s phone was recording from inside her handbag.
She had started it before Richard entered.
“Did you know the brakes were unsafe?”
Richard’s expression changed.
“You need to stop asking questions.”
“Did you know?”
He walked closer.
“I knew there was a warning. Those warnings appear all the time.”
“The mechanic said the car should not be driven.”
Richard lowered his voice.
“Evelyn was always so careful. I assumed she would notice before anything happened.”
Celeste felt sick.
“You let her drive it.”
“I did not force her into the car.”
Richard reached toward the handbag.
Celeste stepped back.
“What are you doing?”
“Give me your phone.”
“No.”
Richard’s mask disappeared.
“You owe me everything.”
Celeste moved toward the door.
“I owe you nothing.”
She left the penthouse and went directly to Maya’s office.
For nearly four hours, Celeste described the affair, the fraudulent contracts and Richard’s efforts to control witnesses. She surrendered her phone, messages and financial files.
She did not become innocent by cooperating.
She had accepted expensive gifts, helped hide the affair and ignored obvious signs of fraud.
But her evidence helped investigators establish Richard’s intent.
The following morning, officers arrested him on charges connected to corporate fraud, witness intimidation, evidence tampering and reckless endangerment.
News cameras waited outside the courthouse.
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For years, Richard had walked toward cameras because he wanted to be seen.
That morning, he covered his face.
