Chapter 40 - Arthur’s Revenge
Arthur Pendelton did not run.
That surprised everyone.
The next morning he walked into a Providence television studio and gave an interview.
Claire watched from the hotel conference room.
Arthur looked older.
Thinner.
His once-perfect white hair had gone almost completely silver.
But his voice remained smooth.
“I made mistakes years ago,” he told the interviewer.
“Mistakes that resulted in a criminal conviction.”
“Yes.”
“You served prison time.”
“I did.”
“Why are you speaking now?”
“Because Claire Holloway is repeating the same pattern that destroyed many lives before.”
Claire laughed once.
Evan looked at her.
“Don’t throw anything.”
“No promises.”
Arthur continued.
He accused Claire of building a public image around victimhood while using money and legal power to crush opponents.
He mentioned Grant.
Celeste.
Richard Vale.
Marcus.
Charles Whitmore.
Every scandal.
Every lawsuit.
Every person who had ever fallen around Claire became evidence that she must somehow be responsible.
The interviewer asked about the center fire.
Arthur looked solemn.
“I condemn violence.”
“Did you represent Harbor Crest?”
“My firm provided administrative services.”
“Did you know fraudulent deeds were being filed?”
“No.”
The lie was elegant.
Careful.
Almost impossible to attack without evidence.
Then Arthur looked directly into the camera.
“Ask Claire Holloway one question.”
Claire became still.
“Why does disaster follow her everywhere?”
The clip went viral before the interview ended.
By noon, protesters stood outside the hotel.
Some supported Claire.
Others carried signs.
STOP HOLLOWAY CORRUPTION.
SECOND CHANCES FOR THE RICH.
Evan turned off the television.
“Enough.”
Claire did not argue.
She was tired.
Not physically.
Soul tired.
Ten years of truth.
Ten years of consequences.
Ten years of explaining that surviving someone else’s wrongdoing did not make her responsible for it.
For one dangerous minute, she wanted to quit.
Evan saw it.
“You’re thinking about leaving.”
“The hotel?”
“Everything.”
Claire looked at him.
“Maybe Malcolm was right.”
“No.”
“Forty million could fund the center elsewhere.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because you don’t believe that.”
“What if I’m exhausted?”
“Then be exhausted.”
“What if I’m done fighting?”
“Then don’t fight today.”
She stared.
Evan sat beside her.
“But don’t surrender because a convicted attorney found a television camera.”
Claire leaned back.
“You make it sound simple.”
“It isn’t.”
He took her hand.
“That’s why we have tomorrow.”
At three, they received news from the hospital.
David Kim was awake.
Smoke inhalation.
No permanent injuries expected.
Claire visited him.
David smiled weakly beneath an oxygen line.
“You look terrible.”
Claire laughed.
“You’re in a hospital bed.”
“And still prettier.”
His wife rolled her eyes.
Claire became serious.
“I’m sorry.”
“No.”
“This happened because—”
“No.”
David shook his head.
“This happened because somebody set a fire.”
Claire stopped.
He continued.
“Don’t do that thing rich people do where you make everything about yourself.”
His wife gasped.
“David!”
Claire started laughing.
Actually laughing.
David smiled.
“I volunteered because my sister lost her house after a divorce. Your center helped people before the doors officially opened.”
His expression hardened.
“Rebuild it.”
Claire looked at him.
“That an order?”
“Yes.”
Outside the hospital, reporters waited.
Claire almost used a private exit.
Then she changed her mind.
She walked straight toward the cameras.
“Ms. Holloway, will you respond to Arthur Pendelton?”
“Yes.”
Microphones rose.
“Mr. Pendelton asked why disaster follows me.”
She paused.
“Here is my answer.”
The crowd quieted.
“Disaster follows everyone eventually. Divorce. Fraud. Illness. Job loss. Betrayal. Fire.”
She looked directly into the cameras.
“The question is not why bad things happen around us.”
Her voice strengthened.
“The question is what we build afterward.”
A reporter shouted:
“Are you reopening the center?”
Claire smiled.
“Monday.”
Shock.
“The building is damaged.”
“We have twelve empty conference rooms at the hotel.”
Evan, standing behind the cameras, grinned.
Claire continued.
“Legal aid starts at eight. Financial counseling at nine. Childcare at seven-thirty.”
“What about the fire?”
“The fire department can investigate fire.”
“What will you do?”
May you like
Claire looked toward the Riverfront Hotel.
“I’ll open the doors.”
