Emery felt her stomach drop. This was it. The interview would either help rebuild her reputation or cement her as the woman from the scandal.
"Breathe," Ashley said, standing and offering her hand. "You've got this."
"Remember," Brea added, "authenticity over perfection—truth over polish. And if in doubt, just be yourself. That's more than enough."
Hasley appeared with the new outfit. "Quick change in the powder room, then showtime."
Shaking, Emery took the clothing and headed for the hallway bathroom. In the mirror, she saw a woman who looked terrified and determined in equal measure. A woman who'd been knocked down but hadn't stayed down. A woman who was tired of hiding and ready to fight back.
She changed quickly, smoothed her hair, and took one last steadying breath.
Then she walked back to the family room to face whatever came next.
Eleven
The den felt smaller than usual with four grown men crammed around the flatscreen monitor Walter had set up on his desk. Devon stood closest to the screen, arms crossed, every muscle tense as he watched Emery sit composed and professional across from Sarah Martinez in the family room, one wall away.
The recording had started twenty minutes ago, and so far, Emery was handling herself beautifully. Poised but not stiff, honest but not oversharing, exactly the balance his mother and Riley had coached her toward.
"She's good at this," Bryson murmured from Devon's left. "Natural."
"Better than I'd be," Gabe added quietly from the leather chair behind them. "I'd have stumbled over the first question."
Walter said nothing, but Devon caught his father nodding in approval as Emery explained her authentication methodology, with a passion that lit up her entire face.
On screen, Sarah leaned forward with interest."So, your work at Stone Bridge involves not just authenticating current vintages, but building documentation for potential collector pieces?"
"Exactly. We're creating comprehensive provenance records for wines that could become investment-quality in the future. It's about establishing credibility and traceability from the moment a bottle is produced."Emery's hands moved as she spoke, her enthusiasm evident. "That level of documentation is rare in the industry, but it's what serious collectors demand."
"And your personal relationship with Devon Boone—how do you maintain professional boundaries while working so closely with someone you're dating?"
Devon tensed, but Emery didn't flinch.
"The same way any professional couple does. We have clear delineations between work and personal time. If I'm authenticating a wine, my assessment is based solely on research and evidence, not on whose family produced it."She smiled slightly."Devon knows better than to try to influence my professional judgment. I'm particularly good at saying no."
That earned a chuckle from Bryson. "She's got your number, brother."
"Shut up," Devon muttered, but he was smiling.
Sarah nodded, making notes."Let's talk about your father's situation. Michael Tate is currently under federal investigation for insurance fraud. How do you respond to critics who say questionable ethics run in your family?"
Devon's hands clenched into fists. This was the question they'd all been dreading.
But Emery's expression remained calm, steady."My father's situation is a separate legal matter that's still under investigation. I can't legally comment on ongoing federal proceedings, but I can say that I have complete confidence in his integrity and in the judicial process. What I can comment on is my own work—I've never compromised my professional standards, and I never will."
"Damn," Walter breathed. "She's good."
"Riley trained her well," Bryson said with evident pride.
Sarah pressed forward."But given the appearance of impropriety in your father's case, and the scandal at Pemberton's Auction House, don't you think it's fair for people to question your judgment?"
"I think it's fair for people to question anyone's work based on evidence and results."Emery's voice was firm but not defensive."What's not fair is conflating my father's investigation with my career, or assuming guilt by association. I didn't do what Harold Pemberton accused me of doing. I've never forged documentation or authenticated wines I knew were fraudulent."
Devon felt pride surge through his chest. This was the first time she'd publicly denied the accusations. The first time she'd stood up and said clearly, definitively, that she was innocent.
"That's a strong statement,"Sarah observed.
"It's the truth. I wish I understood why Harold did what he did—why he destroyed my career and reputation. But I know I didn't do what he accused me of, and I'm doing my best to move forward while hoping someday the full story comes to light."
