Chapter 8 - The Price of Staying
Lily came home angry.
Not crying.
Worse.
“Someone asked if you’re a prostitute.”
I nearly dropped my coffee.
“What?”
“At school.”
Renee went completely still across the kitchen.
Lily continued:
“I punched him.”
“Lily.”
“In the arm.”
“Still.”
“He deserved it.”
“Still.”
She crossed her arms.
Sarah would have laughed.
I did not.
“Any trouble?”
“Principal made us both apologize.”
“Good.”
“He started it.”
“I know.”
Renee whispered:
“I’m sorry.”
Lily looked at her.
“You didn’t write the article.”
“No.”
“But this is because of me.”
“That part is probably true.”
Renee appreciated directness.
I did too.
That night, I told Renee I was leaving the contract.
No anger.
No negotiation.
“My kid comes first.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll stay until you arrange someone else.”
“No.”
I looked at her.
“You don’t need to.”
“You said you can leave anytime.”
“I know.”
“Then leave.”
Simple.
That made it harder.
Renee looked down.
“I meant it when we signed.”
“What about the board?”
“Nathan will handle it.”
“Victoria?”
“Michael.”
“The microphones?”
“Police and investigators.”
She sounded like a woman giving me permission to save myself.
I hated it.
Then Lily knocked on the open office door.
“Dad.”
“What?”
“Can I talk to you?”
We went to the hall.
She whispered:
“You’re quitting?”
“Yes.”
“Because of me?”
“Because protecting you is my job.”
“What if I don’t need you to quit?”
“You’re ten.”
“I know.”
“You don’t decide security risk.”
“I know.”
Then:
“But Mom hated when people made choices for her because she was sick.”
I stared.
That child used my dead wife unfairly well.
“She’s not your mom.”
“I know.”
“Renee is an adult.”
“I know.”
“Stop saying that.”
“I know.”
I almost laughed.
Then she said:
“Did Renee tell you to stay?”
“No.”
“Did she say she’d be okay if you leave?”
“Yes.”
“So she isn’t trapping you.”
“No.”
“Then you decide.”
That was the point.
Contract or no contract.
My choice.
I returned to the office.
Renee looked at me.
“I’ll stay.”
She frowned.
“Daniel.”
“Under conditions.”
“Of course.”
“Lily’s school changes temporarily.”
“I’ll cover security.”
“No.”
She stopped.
I pointed.
“Contract already covers reasonable security due to your public situation. Not special billionaire favors.”
She smiled.
“Fine.”
“Her name stays out of press. Your PR team makes no statements involving us without my approval.”
“Done.”
“And we tell the truth about the contract.”
Nathan looked alarmed.
“What truth?”
“That I’m paid to be a public partner and independent witness. No romance claim.”
Renee nodded.
“Good.”
The next morning, Sterling Global issued a statement.
No fairy tale.
No secret love story.
Renee Sterling has retained Daniel Cole under a six month personal services agreement to assist with private security coordination, independent witnessing, and public companionship during medical treatment. Mr. Cole holds no corporate authority, equity rights, or voting power.
Some press mocked it.
Fine.
Truth is harder to blackmail.
Then the leak source.
Sterling PR had not released the contract.
Only eight people had copies.
Renee.
Me.
Nathan.
Michael.
My attorney Rebecca.
Victoria.
Owen Pike.
Marcus.
Rebecca’s systems were clean.
Nathan’s too.
Michael’s.
Victoria denied.
Owen denied.
Marcus bragged.
He had received it from Victoria’s assistant.
Name:
Elise Warren.
Thirty one.
Worked for Victoria seven years.
Investigators interviewed her.
She panicked immediately.
“I didn’t leak it to hurt the child.”
“Then why?”
“Mrs. Sterling told me Daniel needed to become a liability.”
Victoria.
Again.
Then Elise said:
“She said if he left, Renee would be alone enough to reason with.”
Alone enough.
That phrase made me understand the whole strategy.
Not kill Renee.
Not initially.
Isolate her.
Then pressure her.
May you like
Then let illness do the rest.
Continue to the next part: Victoria’s assistant admits the campaign was designed to drive away every person Renee trusted.
