Chapter 13
The final exposure required boring work.
That was Rebecca’s phrase.
Elisa had come to respect boring work.
The independent royalty specialist completed Thomas Pierce’s historical account.
The company owed his estate approximately $143,000 before negotiated interest and adjustments.
D’Angelo House offered to correct the underpayment through a formal settlement independent of the Marlowe investigation.
Marciano insisted the two issues remain separate.
“We can owe them money and still hold them responsible for what they did.”
That distinction became the center of the final response.
Forensic specialists confirmed which Marlowe approvals came from Elisa’s saved credentials.
Travel records, office logs, and pediatric appointments established that Elisa could not have executed several of them personally.
Dorothea’s notes matched commission changes.
Beth Carver agreed to cooperate after counsel contacted her.
She confirmed Dorothea had directed the fee structure.
Beth claimed she believed all interested parties knew about the family connection.
Emails showed otherwise.
Harlan provided records showing he had objected to later increases while still concealing the original conflict.
That helped establish sequence.
It did not erase his role.
Meredith turned over her correspondence voluntarily.
The board’s outside counsel prepared findings for insurers, auditors, affected authors, agents, and any authorities requiring disclosure.
No public birthday-table accusation could have done what the documents did.
Elisa also prepared for the family consequences.
She filed for divorce.
Financial discovery began.
The Westchester house had been purchased jointly during the marriage.
It would be dealt with through the legal process.
No dramatic demand that Harlan walk away with nothing.
Luca’s parenting plan remained temporary while the adults stabilized.
Harlan was not accused of abusing his son.
Elisa would not manufacture that allegation because he had betrayed her.
That mattered to her.
Before the board meeting, Marciano came to the apartment.
Luca was sleeping.
Elisa stood beside the kitchen counter eating takeout noodles from the carton.
Marciano looked around.
“You really like it here?”
“Yes.”
“It’s tiny.”
“It has doors I chose.”
He understood.
Then he handed her a folder.
The final board packet.
“You ready?”
“No.”
He nodded.
“Good answer.”
Elisa smiled.
A year earlier, Marciano would have told her what to do.
Now he only asked:
“Want me sitting beside you?”
She thought about it.
“Yes.”
Not in front.
May you like
Not speaking for her.
Beside her.
