Chapter 2 - The Confession
David froze, his face turning an ash-gray color.
For a moment, the only sound in the massive lobby was the hum of the ventilation system.
Amanda started to cry, real tears of panic streaming down her face, ruining her perfect makeup.
"It was his idea!" Amanda suddenly screamed, pointing a manicured finger at David.
"He found me last year! He told me he deserved half the company!"
David shot Amanda a look of pure hatred.
"Shut up, you idiot," he hissed through clenched teeth.
Caroline stood between them, feeling a mixture of profound betrayal and blinding rage.
She turned to the security director, who was standing by with three heavily armed guards.
"Take them both to Conference Room B," Caroline ordered.
"Take their phones, laptops, and smartwatches. If they try to leave, restrain them."
As the guards escorted a sobbing Amanda and a furious David away, Caroline finally turned back to her mother.
Margaret was leaning against her cleaning cart, looking exhausted and frail.
All the adrenaline left Caroline's body, replaced by overwhelming guilt.
She dropped to her knees right there in her expensive skirt, ignoring the dirty floor.
"Mom, I am so sorry," Caroline sobbed, burying her face in her mother's coarse, work-worn hands.
"I should have checked on you. I shouldn't have trusted Amanda."
Margaret gently stroked Caroline’s hair, humming that same sweet lullaby from earlier.
"It's not your fault, my strong girl," Margaret whispered.
"Amanda was always good at lying, just like your father."
Caroline looked up, wiping her tears.
"Come on," Caroline said, gently taking her mother's arm.
"We are going to my penthouse. You are never touching a mop again."
They rode the private elevator up to the sixtieth floor in silence.
Once inside the luxurious apartment, Caroline ordered her private chef to prepare a hot meal.
She drew a warm bath for her mother and called her personal concierge doctor.
While Margaret rested, Caroline sat at her massive oak desk overlooking the Manhattan skyline.
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She opened her laptop, her eyes narrowing with fierce determination.
It was time to dismantle David Vance’s entire life.
