“I did choose,” I say, and my voice drops lower. “And that’s what you couldn’t stand.”
Richard’s nostrils flare. “This is business, Julian.”
“Itis,” I agree. “And that’s why you’re here. Not because you care about my marriage. Not because you care about me. Because you care about your bottom line.”
I gesture toward Darren.
“You’re trying to acquire Caspian through me,” I say. “But you’re also trying to position your company as the safer partner. The more ‘stable’ partner. The one not distracted by a wife with inconvenient humanity.”
Richard’s smile turns cruel. “Don’t flatter yourself.”
Caleb steps forward, sets a second set of documents down, one in front of Darren, another in front of one of Darren’s executives.
Caleb’s voice is calm, almost polite. “I’m very good at what I do, Mr. Kline. And I’m better at it when someone gives me a reason.”
Darren finally opens the folder.
Page one.
His eyes scan.
Page two.
His expression shifts.
On page three, he stops pretending he’s calm.
“What the hell is this?” he snaps, looking up at Richard.
Richard doesn’t move. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
I laugh again. “Of course you don’t.”
Darren’s executive leans in, reading fast. The colour drains from his face.
Darren looks at me. “Is this true?”
“It’s traceable,” I say. “You can validate every transfer. Every shell. Every consultant fee that shouldn’t exist. Every siphon routed through a network to line Richard North’s pockets.”
Richard’s smile is gone now.
“Northwell,” I continue, “will not be associated with Richard North or his partners again. Not on this deal. Not on any deal. Not in any capacity.”
Richard sits forward. “You can’t just decide that.”
“I can,” I say, and my voice doesn’t rise. It doesn’t need to. “Because Northwell is not yours. You don’t get to use my company as your laundering machine. You don’t get to use my marriage as leverage. And you don’t get to touch my wife.”
Simone’s breath catches, audible.
Richard’s eyes sharpen. “This is about her?” he asks, like he’s finally naming the real infection. “This is why you’re showing your hand. Over a woman.”
I step closer to the table, palms resting lightly on the edge.
I lean in.
And I make sure my father hears me clearly.
“Yes.”
