Chapter 6
The question came quietly, but it carried more weight than an accusation.
Julian turned toward her. “Camilla, this isn’t the time.”
“When is it the time?” Her voice trembled. “You told me the company had a recognition program. You said executives sometimes received gifts after major campaigns.”
“I said there were discretionary awards.”
“You gave me your wife’s earrings.”
“I didn’t know they were hers.”
I felt something inside me settle—not because his explanation was convincing, but because it was so small.
He had not denied taking them from my house.
He had only denied knowing whose they were.
I looked at the invoice again. The billing address was Aurelia’s headquarters, but the delivery address was not Camilla’s apartment.
It was a private mailbox in Cambridge.
“Where were they delivered?” I asked.
Daniel tapped the address. “A mailbox registered to Bell Advisory Group.”
Julian went silent.
Camilla turned toward him. “You said they came from the company.”
“They did.”
“You said the company sent them to your assistant.”
“I said I arranged for them to be delivered.”
“Why to Lucas Bell’s mailbox?”
No one answered.
The silence was interrupted by a soft knock. Malcolm opened the door just enough to look inside.
“Sorry,” he said. “Nora, the employees are beginning to leave. Several department heads would like to speak with you tomorrow.”
“Of course.”
His gaze moved to the papers on the table. “Is there anything I need to know tonight?”
Priya answered before I could. “The board will receive a preliminary report in the morning.”
Malcolm nodded, then looked at Julian. “You’ll be placed on administrative leave pending review.”
Julian stood. “You can’t do that.”
“As of this afternoon,” Malcolm said, “the board resolution authorizes the chair to do exactly that.”
“I’m the chief strategy officer.”
“Not tonight.”
The words were not cruel. That made them more final.
Julian looked at me one last time. “You planned all of this.”
“I planned to protect the company.”
“You planned to destroy me.”
“No,” I said. “You made choices that may have consequences. Those are not the same thing.”
He seemed unable to respond.
Camilla remained seated, staring at the invoice. She looked less like a rival than someone waking from a dream she had mistaken for a future.
When Julian left, she did not follow him.
Malcolm closed the door.
For several seconds, no one spoke.
Then Camilla removed the earrings.