A Trial Beside the Pool
Chapter 04 - A Trial Beside the Pool
Celeste positioned Elena beneath the largest chandelier, directly beside the blue water. It was a perfect stage. Behind them, the charity banner promised brighter tomorrows while a frightened woman stood accused without evidence beyond an object found in an unlocked cart.
“Apologize,” Celeste demanded. “Return what else you’ve taken, and perhaps we won’t call the police.”
“I have never stolen from this family,” Elena said. “Someone put that bracelet in my cart.”
A man near the bar laughed under his breath. Another guest whispered that “people like her” always had an excuse. No one asked what people like her meant.
Ethan Bellamy finally stepped forward. He was gentler than Celeste, but years of avoiding conflict had made him weak at the worst possible moment.
“Elena, just tell us what happened,” he said.
“I am telling you.”
Celeste turned toward the guests. “Do you see? Not even remorse.”
Adriano’s voice cut through the room. “Remorse is not proof.”
George forced a smile. “This is a family matter, Mr. Vale.”
“No. The moment you searched employees in front of donors, it became a governance matter.”
Margaret’s jaw tightened. Adriano’s annual contribution funded nearly a third of the foundation’s programs. She could not dismiss him, but she could try to contain him.
“Let us handle this with dignity,” she said.
Elena looked around at the raised phones and the delighted expressions. “Whose dignity?”
The question landed harder than she intended.
Celeste stepped close enough for only Elena to hear. “You should have forgotten the ledger.”
Elena stared at her. The fear inside her changed shape. It became certainty.
“You did this because of those invoices.”
Celeste’s face remained smooth, but her fingers curled. “Careful.”
“What school received ninety thousand dollars twice?” Elena asked loudly.
The guests stopped whispering.
George moved toward her. “She is confused and upset.”
“I know what I saw.”
Celeste reached for Elena’s arm. Elena pulled away. Celeste then raised her voice and cried, “Don’t touch me!” though Elena had not moved toward her.
Several phones captured only the final second. To anyone watching later, it might look like Elena had threatened the bride-to-be.
May you like
Celeste knew exactly how to manufacture a moment.
What she did not know was that a small girl in a white dress had watched her manufacture all of them.
