Dessert is served, the butler announced.
Cedrick stood up. He signaled to a corner of the room. A man stepped out from the shadows-the house photographer Cedrick kept on retainer for "newsletter content."
Just a few candid shots, Cedrick said. "Joseph, Brenda, squeeze in."
He sat back down and pulled Elenore onto his lap.
Elenore went rigid. His thighs were hard, his grip on her waist bruising.
Relax, he whispered into her ear. "Smile, or Joseph leaves empty-handed."
Mrs. Parsons clapped her hands. "Oh, look at the lovebirds! Beautiful!" She thought this meant the check was secured.
Elenore forced the corners of her mouth up. It felt like her face was cracking. She leaned her head against Cedrick's shoulder, smelling the starch of his collar.
Flash.
The light blinded her for a second.
Perfect, the photographer said.
Cedrick released her abruptly, almost pushing her off his lap. He stood up and reached into his jacket pocket. He pulled out a document.
Here you go, Joseph.
Joseph's eyes lit up. He grabbed the paper. His smile faltered as he read it.
This... this is a loan agreement, Joseph stammered. "With collateral?"
Yes, Cedrick said coolly. "A loan against your remaining assets. The townhouse. The car. With fifteen percent interest."
Fifteen percent? Joseph squeaked. "But we're family..."
Business is business, Joseph. Sign it or leave.
Joseph looked at his mother. Brenda looked furious, glaring at Elenore as if this was her fault. But they were desperate.
Joseph signed.
Five minutes later, the Parsons were gone. Elenore stood in the driveway, watching their taillights disappear.
Good performance, Cedrick said from behind her.
I feel sick, Elenore said.
Go to bed. I have work.
Cedrick turned and walked toward his study.
Elenore didn't go to the bedroom. She waited until she heard the study door close. Then, she crept down the hallway.
She peered through the crack in the door. Cedrick was on the phone, pacing.
Yes, honey, I know, he was saying, his voice softer than she had ever heard it. "I'm handling the transfer now."
Julianna.
Elenore saw a stack of papers on the corner of his desk. NDA Renewals - Q3.
An idea formed in her mind. It was reckless. It was dangerous. But it was her only shot.
She ran to the library in the East Wing where she kept her hidden printer. She pulled up the file she had been working on. Petition for Dissolution of Marriage.
She formatted the header to look exactly like the standard Fields Corp NDA. The font, the spacing, the margins. She added a "Sign Here" sticky tab on the signature line.
She printed it. The paper was warm in her hands.
She walked back to the study. Cedrick was still pacing, his back to the door, laughing at something Julianna said.
Elenore slipped into the room. She moved like a ghost. She placed the divorce paper into the middle of the stack of NDAs.
She slipped back out into the shadows.
She watched.
Cedrick sat down at the desk, phone pressed to his ear. He looked annoyed at the paperwork. He grabbed a pen.
He started signing. Flip, sign. Flip, sign.
He was distracted. "Yes, Julianna, the Master Bedroom has the best light. You'll love it."
He reached the divorce paper.
Elenore held her breath. Her heart stopped.
Cedrick glanced at the page. Then he looked at the phone. "Stop worrying. I'm the CEO, I can move whoever I want into the estate."
He signed the paper.
He flipped it over into the "Completed" tray.
Elenore let out a silent gasp. She pressed her hand over her mouth to stifle a scream of triumph.
He had done it. He had signed his own divorce.
