Chapter 6 - The Offer Elena Would Not Take
Madison asked for the meeting through an attorney.
That was the only reason Elena considered it.
They met in Simon’s conference room with both lawyers present. A recorder sat in the center of the table, operating by agreement.
Madison wore cream silk and no jewelry except a watch Elena recognized.
Dominic had bought it during the week Lucy was born.
Elena looked at the recorder instead.
Madison placed a slim envelope on the table.
“I have information about Graham.”
“Then provide it to investigators,” Simon said.
“I want certain assurances.”
Elena waited.
Madison glanced at her attorney.
“I was misled about the financial structure.”
“Were you misled about the marriage?” Elena asked.
The question came out quietly.
Madison’s mouth tightened.
“I understood it was ending.”
“I was buying nursery curtains.”
Nobody spoke.
Madison looked down.
For one brief second, Elena saw a person beneath the preparation.
Then Madison slid the envelope forward.
Inside was a draft agreement.
It proposed a substantial payment to Elena in exchange for a broad confidentiality provision and a statement that Madison had not knowingly participated in misconduct.
Elena read the first paragraph.
Then she closed it.
“No.”
“You haven’t seen the number.”
“I saw the sentence.”
Madison leaned back.
“Graham will destroy everyone before he falls alone.”
“Then stop helping him.”
The meeting ended twelve minutes later.
In the elevator, Elena felt no satisfaction.
She wished she could recover the hours she had spent wondering what Madison possessed that she lacked.
The answer had nothing to do with beauty.
Madison had offered Dominic a place where nobody asked him to become accountable.
Elena had asked him to come home.
That evening, Ruth found her sitting beside Lucy’s crib.
“You’re quiet.”
“I met her.”
Ruth pulled up a chair.
“Was that useful?”
“I think so.”
“How?”
Elena watched Lucy’s tiny hand open against the sheet.
“I don’t want her life anymore. Not even the parts I thought were better than mine.”
Ruth nodded.
“That sounds useful.”
Across the city, Dominic was meeting with a therapist for the fourth time.
He disliked the room’s clock.
He disliked the silences.
He especially disliked the therapist’s refusal to be impressed by how plainly he could describe his failures.
“Understanding what you did is a beginning,” she said.
“I know.”
“What happens when Elena makes a decision you hate?”
He looked toward the window.
“I follow the agreement.”
“And emotionally?”
“I don’t know.”
It was an honest answer.
The therapist nodded.
“Then that is work we can do.”
Two weeks later, investigators requested additional records from the company.
Graham’s attorney responded with objections.
Madison’s attorney requested another meeting.
This time, Madison brought emails.
They showed Graham discussing the custody affidavit as a means of obtaining leverage over Elena’s shares.
They also showed Madison participating in the conversation.
She had stopped asking anyone to erase that part.
Elena learned about the cooperation from Simon.
“Does it clear her?”
“No. Cooperation does not erase conduct.”
“Good.”
She paused.
Then added, “I hope she tells the truth.”
That Friday, Dominic arrived at the visitation center carrying a paperback about infant development.
The cover had folded corners.
Elena noticed dried formula on his sleeve.
“How did you manage that before seeing her?”
“Practice bottle. I put the lid on wrong.”
Against her will, a small laugh escaped.
Dominic looked at her.
Hope moved across his face so quickly she almost regretted it.
She steadied her voice.
“That wasn’t forgiveness.”
“I know.”
Lucy began fussing between them.
Dominic offered his hands and waited.
May you like
Elena passed their daughter over.
For once, he did not mistake being allowed to hold something for owning it.
