Chapter 8 - The Price of Arrogance
Diane froze. Her jaw dropped, her pale lips trembling as the full scope of their financial ruin finally began to sink into her stubborn mind.
""My... my retirement?"" she gasped, her hands clutching at her chest. ""You can't touch that! I worked for that company for two years!""
""You worked for my father's company while running an extortion racket from the HR department,"" I said plainly. ""The forensic audit proved that you took kickbacks from three different recruiting agencies to place unqualified candidates in junior logistics roles. Every single penny you received under false pretenses will be recovered through civil asset forfeiture. You won't have a retirement fund, Diane. You'll be lucky if you have enough money left to rent a studio apartment in Gary after the government finishes levying your taxes.""
""Jenna, please,"" she suddenly whimpered, her aggressive bravado evaporating like morning mist, replaced by a pathetic, desperate groveling. ""We were family! You loved Tim! You can't let him go to federal prison! He’s thirty-six! A felony conviction will destroy his career! Talk to your father! Tell him we'll give the money back! Every cent of it!""
""With what money, Diane?"" I asked, looking at her with genuine pity. ""You spent it. You spent it on luxury vacations to Cabo. You spent it on that leather handbag you're clutching right now. You spent it on leased sports cars for Bryce and country club memberships so you could brag to strangers that your son married into Chicago royalty.""
I took a slow step forward, looking directly into her red, terrified eyes.
""Two hours ago, on the steps of the Cook County courthouse, you told me to go cry to Daddy. You told me that maybe he could buy me another husband who wouldn't get tired of being controlled by a princess.""
Diane looked down at the concrete, unable to meet my gaze.
""Well, Diane,"" I whispered, the words hanging sharp and clear in the cold Chicago air. ""I didn't cry to Daddy. I asked him for an audit. And it turns out, the only people who were ever controlled here were the ones who sold their souls for access they never earned.""
May you like
I turned my back on her, walked up the limestone steps, and unlocked the heavy mahogany front door of my home.
Behind me, Diane collapsed onto the sidewalk, weeping into her hands as the movers loaded the final box of Tim's expensive clothes into the back of the truck.
