Chapter 17 - THE TRAP
The next move came from Emily.
Not Daniel.
Not Nora.
Emily.
“If Margaret wanted a breakdown,” she said, “let’s give her what she thinks is one.”
Nora immediately shook her head. “No illegal recordings. No threats. No confrontation without a plan.”
“I don’t want a confrontation.”
Emily placed a fake draft settlement on the table.
It said Emily was willing to surrender any claim to the Merritt house and sign a confidentiality agreement in exchange for Margaret withdrawing the financial allegations against Sweet Ember.
Daniel read it.
“She’ll think you’re scared.”
“That’s the point.”
Nora considered it.
They arranged a mediation through attorneys at a neutral office. The document was clearly labeled DRAFT and had no legal effect. Emily’s only goal was to see what Margaret demanded when she believed Emily was ready to fold.
Margaret arrived twenty minutes late.
She did not look at Daniel.
She looked only at Emily.
“I knew you’d become reasonable.”
Emily kept her hands still under the table.
“I want this over.”
Margaret smiled.
“Then sign the assignment of Sweet Ember.”
Daniel’s head lifted.
“That wasn’t in the draft.”
Margaret ignored him.
Emily asked, “Why do you want my company so badly?”
“Because it was built with Merritt money.”
“I paid that loan back.”
“Money isn’t the point.”
“What is?”
For the first time, Margaret’s smile slipped.
“You became proof that he could build a life without me.”
No one moved.
Even Margaret seemed surprised by her own honesty.
Emily leaned forward.
“So you tried to destroy me.”
“I tried to expose you.”
“You forged my signature.”
Margaret looked toward her attorney.
He stiffened.
Emily continued. “You paid Lena. You hired Victor. You obtained my medical record.”
Margaret’s attorney interrupted. “My client is not answering accusations.”
But Margaret was staring at Emily now.
“You think you’re special because Daniel chose you?” she said. “He chose Claire once too.”
Daniel stood.
Nora touched his arm. “Sit down.”
Margaret smiled at him.
“Ask your sister why your father stopped calling her.”
Claire, who had joined by video, went pale on the monitor.
Daniel turned toward the screen.
“Claire?”
She whispered, “Because Mom was answering Dad’s phone.”
Margaret laughed softly.
Then her attorney leaned toward her and said the four words she clearly did not want to hear.
May you like
“We need to leave.”
• • •
