Chapter Eleven: The Reckoning
Three weeks passed.
Simone threw herself into the company.
Fourteen-hour days. Weekends at the office.
Robert started as COO and immediately proved his worth.
He streamlined operations. Fixed supply chain issues. Rebuilt client relationships.
“You need to slow down,” he told her one Friday afternoon.
“I’ll slow down when the company is stable.”
“The company is stable. You’re not.”
Simone looked up from her laptop.
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not. You’re running from something.”
She didn’t answer.
Because he was right.
She was running from the silence.
From the empty hotel room.
From the thoughts that crept in at three in the morning.
Dererick. The affair. The basement.
Ten years of her life. Gone.
“Have you talked to anyone?” Robert asked.
“A therapist? No.”
“Maybe you should.”
Simone changed the subject.
“What’s the status on the Johnson contract?”
Robert sighed.
Let it go.
For now.
On Saturday, Patterson called.
“Dererick’s arraignment is Monday. He’s pleading not guilty.”
“Not guilty? The evidence is overwhelming.”
“His lawyer is trying to delay. Negotiate a better deal. But the DA isn’t budging.”
“What happens Monday?”
“He’ll be formally charged. Then we’ll set a trial date. Unless he changes his plea.”
Simone stared out her hotel window.
“Will I have to testify?”
“Probably. If it goes to trial.”
“I don’t want to see him.”
“I know. But you might not have a choice.”
She hung up.
Sat in silence.
The thought of facing Dererick in court made her stomach turn.
But she’d survived the basement.
She could survive this.
On Sunday, she visited Harold’s grave.
First time since the funeral.
She brought flowers. Roses. His favorite.
The cemetery was quiet.
Autumn leaves crunching under her feet.
She knelt by the headstone.
“I’m trying,” she whispered.
“I’m really trying.”
She told him about the company.
About the workers who were smiling again.
About Robert. About the board.
About the new contract they’d just won.
“I miss you,” she said.
“Every day.”
She stayed for an hour.
When she left, she felt lighter.
Like Harold had been listening.
Monday morning.
Simone sat in her office.
The arraignment was happening right now.
She’d told Patterson she didn’t want to attend.
Couldn’t watch Dererick lie and manipulate.
Her phone rang at ten-thirty.
Patterson.
“He changed his plea.”
Simone held her breath.
“Guilty?”
“Guilty. All charges. The DA played the video of Harold. Dererick watched the whole thing. When it ended, he just sat there. Then he told his lawyer to change the plea.”
“What’s the sentence?”
“Four years. Eligible for parole in two. Plus restitution. He has to pay back every dollar he stole.”
Simone closed her eyes.
“That’s it? Four years?”
“For embezzlement? Yes. It’s actually on the higher end. The judge was not impressed with Dererick’s behavior.”
“What about Vanessa?”
“No charges. But she’s been blacklisted in the industry. She’ll never work as an executive assistant again.”
Simone should have felt satisfied.
Instead, she felt nothing.
“It’s over,” Patterson said.
“Yes. It’s over.”
She hung up.
Sat in silence.
Then she pulled out Harold’s letter.
Read it again.
Don’t let Dererick take up space in your mind.
She folded the letter.
Put it away.
And got back to work.
That evening, James called.
They’d been talking regularly since the gala.
Texting. Phone calls. Occasional coffee.
Nothing serious. But something.
“How are you?” he asked.
“Dererick pleaded guilty today.”
“I heard. Patterson called me.”
“Why would Patterson call you?”
“Because I asked him to keep me updated. I wanted to be here for you. If you needed me.”
Simone felt something crack in her chest.
“I don’t know what I need.”
“That’s okay. You don’t have to know. I’ll still be here.”
She didn’t know how to respond.
So she didn’t.
But she didn’t hang up either.
They stayed on the phone for an hour.
Talking about nothing.
And everything.
