Chapter 17 - Olivia Without an Audience
Clara met Olivia in a courthouse conference room.
No chandeliers.
No diamonds.
No guests.
Olivia wore a plain navy detention uniform and still managed to sit as if she owned the chair.
"You look tired," she told Clara.
"You look different without an audience."
Olivia smiled thinly.
"You enjoyed humiliating me."
"I canceled my wedding. You handled the humiliation yourself."
For a moment, Olivia's face hardened.
Then she said, "Ethan was weak long before he met you."
"I'm not here to discuss Ethan."
"You're here because you're curious."
Clara said nothing.
Olivia leaned back.
"Daniel was extorting us. That's the truth nobody wants. He demanded money."
"He demanded repayment to suppliers."
"He demanded leverage. Men like him always call it principle."
"Did you tell Victor to damage his car?"
Olivia's eyes went flat.
"No."
"Did you know Victor had done it afterward?"
A pause.
Too long.
Clara nodded. "That's enough for me."
She stood.
Olivia's voice sharpened. "You think you're better because you walked away from power?"
Clara turned.
"No. I think power shows you what people are willing to excuse."
"Sterling Group will survive. Families like mine always survive."
"Maybe. But not unchanged."
Olivia gave a small laugh. "And what are you going to do with all that virtue?"
Clara thought about the vendors waiting months for payment. Employees wondering whether payroll would clear. Families like her father's that had once been forced into silence.
"Something boring," she said. "Pay people what they're owed."
She reached the door.
"Clara."
Olivia's voice had changed.
For the first time, it sounded almost human.
"Did Helen hate me?"
Clara looked back.
"No."
Olivia seemed surprised.
"She was scared of you. That's worse."
Clara left.
Outside, Martin handed her a packet.
"Settlement framework. If the board signs, the company survives."
Clara read the first page.
May you like
Then she saw the final condition.
Sterling Group wanted Devereux Capital to lead the rescue financing.
