Chapter 9 - The Ring Came Off
Richard requested a private meeting.
I agreed only with attorneys present.
He looked exhausted.
“I ended the engagement.”
I felt nothing.
“That's personal.”
“I thought you'd want to know.”
“I don't.”
He stared at me.
Then admitted something unexpected.
Vanessa had known about the questionable procurement requests.
She hadn't designed the scheme.
But she had encouraged Richard to “do whatever was necessary” to close the Blackwood partnership.
Richard provided messages.
Evelyn collected them.
Before leaving, Richard stopped at the door.
“Claire?”
“Yes?”
“I should have stopped her that night.”
“Yes.”
“I kept thinking about the deal.”
“I know.”
He nodded.
There was nothing else to say.
Outside, reporters waited.
Richard walked past them alone.
For the first time in years, Vanessa Cole's diamond engagement ring was no longer on her finger.
But she wasn't finished.
Two days later, she appeared outside Blackwood Grand.
And this time, she wasn't wearing diamonds.
May you like
She was carrying an envelope addressed to me.
---
