"That's my working theory. But we need proof before we can move on that." His voice is sharp, focused. He shifts into strategy mode. "For now, we get ahead of the story. Statement from you acknowledging the footage exists, condemning the leak as another violation, emphasizing that this is evidence in a federal criminal case that never should have been made public. And we make it clear that leaking this footage is exactly the kind of violation Armand was arrested for. Whoever did this is following his playbook."
"Will that be enough?"
"I don't know. But it's better than letting the footage drop without response." He pauses. "Simone, this is going to getworse before it gets better. The footage will be everywhere by tonight. Board members are going to get nervous. Patricia's going to use this to argue you should step down. Are you ready for that fight?"
Luc's watching me, jaw set, eyes hard.
"Yes," I tell Henry. "I'm ready."
"Good. I'll draft the statement. Get it to you within the hour. We'll release it the moment the footage goes live." Another pause. "And Simone? I'm digging into the leak. If Patricia's behind this, even indirectly, I'll find the connection. Leaking evidence from a federal case is dangerous territory. She made a mistake if she touched this."
"Find it," I say. "Because I want her finished."
The call ends. I set my phone down, lean against Luc.
"Footage goes live within the hour," I tell him. "Henry's drafting a statement. He's investigating the leak."
"Rapier Strategic will handle that." His voice is cold. Final. "We have better resources for tracing leaks than Henry does. Digital forensics, surveillance analysis, law enforcement contacts. I'll have Remy start immediately."
"If I don't survive this, Armand wins even from a federal cell. And I'm not letting that happen."
"You'll survive." It's not a promise. It's a fact.
A news alert flashes across my screen.
BREAKING: Surveillance footage surfaces in Deveraux federal case. Exclusive video obtained by Times-Picayune shows LaCroix Petroleum CEO at private club referenced in FBI investigation. Full story and video publishing shortly.
The words blur. Then they sharpen.
Patricia's made her move.
16
LUC
The footage goes live.
The Times-Picayune website reloads with the new story. A video player embedded above the fold. A headline screaming across the top.EXCLUSIVE: Surveillance Footage Shows LaCroix CEO at Private BDSM Club.
Simone's sitting at the kitchen table with her laptop. She sees my expression and closes her eyes.
"It's up," I say.
She doesn't ask to see it. She doesn't need to. She knows what's in that footage better than anyone. The question is how much the Times-Picayune decided to show.
I click play.
The video quality is better than I expected. The footage is clear, edited together into a brief compilation. It shows Simone entering Dominion, Simone in the private room. There's enough to confirm she was there, enough to show the lifestyle elements, but not explicit enough to be pornographic. The footage was carefully curated to cause maximum scandal without crossing into the territory the paper can't publish.
The editing is smart and professional. Someone with experience knew exactly what to include and what to cut.
I analyze the camera angles more carefully. "These are interior shots. The positioning, the quality..." I pause the video, zoom in on a frame. "This is from inside the club. Armand's surveillance system."
Simone's jaw tightens. She knew it came from Armand's operation, but seeing the evidence confirmed makes it real.
I shut the laptop. "They kept it relatively tame. There's nothing that shows explicit activity."
"Just enough to confirm everything Armand wanted people to know." Her voice is flat and exhausted. "How long before every other outlet picks it up?"
