"This isn't your fault." The words come out rougher than I intend. "Someone was targeting you long before Julien planted those cameras. They used his obsession. When he became a liability, they eliminated him. None of that is because of choices you made."
"He's still dead."
"Yes. And the person who killed him is still out there. Which is why you need to trust me to keep you safe while we find them."
She pulls back. Looks up at me. Her eyes are red but dry. She's been crying, but she's holding it together now. "Did you find anything at the crime scene?"
"Julien was executed. Professional hit. No signs of struggle." I guide her back to the chair, take the seat across from her. "Clean work. Someone who knew exactly what they were doing."
Her face goes pale. "The same person who funded the surveillance operation."
"That's what we're working to prove." I hold her gaze. "The cyber team's tracing the shell corporation payments. Should have confirmation soon."
"Armand." Not a question. She's known this was coming since we first suspected him.
"We need solid proof before we move. Financial records that tie him directly to the payments." I lean forward. "Once we have that, we can build a prosecutable case. Conspiracy, attempted murder, stalking. Everything."
She's quiet for a long moment. Then: "When we talked to Henry, when I told him about the surveillance—I knew it was Armand. I've known for days. But having proof is different. It makes it real."
"It is real. And he's going to fight back hard when we move against him."
"Let him." Her voice hardens. "I'm done being afraid of what he might do. Done letting him control my choices through fear."
There it is. The strength that's been there all along under the performance. The woman who built an empire, who fought for control, who's been surviving in a male-dominated industry through sheer force of will.
My phone buzzes. Text from Remy.
Got it. Shell corp traced to his Deveraux Oil subsidiary. Solid connection to Armand. But his lawyers are already moving—someone tipped him off. We need to move fast before he buries the evidence.
I show Simone the screen. She reads it, and something in her expression shifts. Not shock—we've known this was coming. But cold fury at seeing the proof, followed immediately by calculation.
"We have him," she says quietly. "Solid evidence. Financial records connecting him to Julien's surveillance operation."
"Yes. But he knows we're onto him. His lawyers are already mobilizing."
"Someone tipped him off." Her voice goes hard. "Someone on the board. Or someone at LaCroix Petroleum with access to what's happening."
"Possible. Or he's been monitoring the investigation, saw us getting close, and activated his legal team preemptively." I lean forward. "Either way, this just became a race. We need to secure the evidence and get Andy moving on arrest warrants before Armand can bury the connection."
"How long do we have?"
"Not long. But Armand's got resources and connections. He'll use every legal tool available to obstruct, delay, destroy evidence." I hold her gaze. "And he'll come after you harder than ever. If he can't bury the evidence, he'll try to destroy your credibility before the board sees it."
"And when the board sees this—when they understand what he did?—"
"They'll know exactly what kind of man your uncle is. That he was willing to fund stalking and surveillance to force you out." I move closer. "But you need to understand something. This investigation is going to get ugly. Armand will fight back. He'll deny everything, attack your credibility, try to turn the board against you. And the surveillance footage—if he has copies, he might leak them out of spite."
"Let him." Her voice is steady. Certain. "I'm done hiding. Done letting fear of scandal control my choices. If he leaks the footage, I'll stand in front of my board and dare them to fire me. But I'm not giving him what he wants. I'm not resigning. I'm not stepping down. And I'm sure as hell not letting him win."
"Good girl." I reach across the table, cover her hands with mine. "We've got proof now. Andy's coordinating with NOPD for arrest warrants. Once they move on Armand, the board will have to deal with the fact that he orchestrated this entire operation."
Her eyes meet mine. Something passes between us—recognition of how much deeper this has gone than professional protection. How much I want her safe not just because it's my job.
"Luc." Her voice is quieter now. "Remy said you cared about me—did he mean?—"
"Remy had no right to tell you anything..."
"And yet he did. Was he right?"
