Chapter 1 - Harrison Arrived With the Briefcase
Celeste suddenly snatched the bowl of soup from the dining table and hurled it straight toward Emery’s face.
Emery saw the movement in time.
She threw up her forearm.
The bowl struck her arm, changed direction, and sailed past her.
CRASH!
Porcelain exploded against the dark wood-paneled wall.
Soup splattered across the polished surface in thick streaks, then began sliding toward the marble floor.
Emery stared at Celeste.
For a fraction of a second, even Celeste seemed shocked that she had missed.
Then humiliation turned immediately into rage.
Her open palm struck Emery across the face.
SLAP!
Emery’s head snapped sideways.
Pain burned through her cheek.
Within seconds, the skin turned bright red.
Celeste stepped closer.
“YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO HUMILIATE THIS FAMILY EVER AGAIN.”
Emery pressed one hand against her throbbing cheek.
Then she looked across the long dining table.
At Nolan.
Her husband had risen from his chair.
He crossed around the table toward her, his face tight, his open-collar white shirt suddenly making him look far less composed than he had when dinner began.
Emery stared directly at him.
“TELL HER THE TRUTH, NOLAN.”
Nolan stopped.
Celeste turned immediately toward her son.
Then back to Emery.
“You have no right to accuse my son of anything.”
Emery did not move.
Neither did Nolan.
Behind Celeste, the large double doors slowly opened.
Everyone turned.
Harrison stood in the doorway.
Black suit.
Shaved head.
Square jaw.
A brown leather briefcase hanging from one powerful hand.
He did not take another step into the room.
“SHE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT SHE’S ACCUSING HIM OF.”
Silence.
Nolan’s confidence vanished.
Celeste slowly turned toward her husband.
The color left her face.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
Harrison remained in the doorway.
His dark brown eyes fixed on Celeste.
He said nothing.
Nobody moved.
Emery remained beside the table with one hand against her reddened cheek.
Nolan stayed frozen several feet behind her.
Celeste stood between them and Harrison.
The briefcase remained at Harrison’s side.
Then the camera shifted toward the shattered bowl.
Soup clung to the wall.
Around part of the splash, tiny bubbles had begun forming.
Not violently.
Just enough to look wrong.
As though something in the bowl did not belong there.
Harrison saw it.
So did Emery.
Celeste followed their gaze.
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And Nolan went completely still.
IMMEDIATE CUT.
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