Chapter 11 - Beatrice's Confession
I confronted Beatrice that night.
I placed Daniel's recording on her desk.
She listened without moving.
When it ended, she closed her eyes.
“You found it.”
“Yes.”
“Then you know.”
“I know you were collecting evidence.”
She looked at me.
“And you also know I was afraid.”
“I know.”
“Do you hate me?”
“I haven't decided.”
She deserved the honesty.
Beatrice nodded.
“I should have protected you.”
“Yes.”
“I should never have thrown that bowl.”
“No.”
Tears appeared in her eyes, but she didn't let them fall.
“I was told if I didn't make you leave, they'd hurt Ethan.”
That stopped me.
“They threatened Ethan?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“Julian.”
She explained everything.
Julian had discovered Daniel's records were missing.
He believed Beatrice had hidden them.
When Clara arrived, he suspected she was investigating the restaurant.
He ordered Beatrice to frighten her into leaving.
The soup attack had been intended to humiliate me publicly enough that I'd quit.
Beatrice had lost control.
She admitted that.
But she had not expected me to document everything.
I looked at her.
“You made one mistake.”
“What?”
“You assumed humiliation would make me disappear.”
She almost smiled.
“I know.”
I showed her the recording.
“We can stop this.”
She looked frightened again.
“What about Ethan?”
“We protect him.”
“And the other staff?”
“We protect them too.”
For the first time, Beatrice stood beside me instead of across from me.
But our victory was premature.
Marco called.
“Julian knows.”
“How?”
“He found out Margaret spoke to us.”
My heart sank.
“Where is she?”
“Safe.”
“And Ethan?”
A pause.
“Missing.”
The room went silent.
Beatrice covered her mouth.
Julian had made his move.
And this time, it wasn't about money.
May you like
It was about leverage.
---
