Chapter 13
Agatha requested mediation.
Not through the company.
Through Maren.
Maren almost refused.
Dana told her she owed Agatha nothing.
Ronan said the same.
That helped Maren decide to go.
“I want to hear what she says when she can’t hide behind you.”
Ronan did not attend the first half.
Maren insisted.
The meeting took place in a neutral law office.
Dana sat beside Maren.
Agatha’s attorney sat beside her.
Agatha wore pearls.
Maren noticed that her hands instinctively tightened when the older woman entered.
The skin had healed.
The memory had not.
Agatha began with:
“I never intended for you to go without food for that long.”
Maren stared at her.
“That is your opening?”
Agatha looked unsettled.
“I am trying to apologize.”
“No.”
Maren’s voice remained controlled.
“You’re trying to reduce it.”
Agatha said nothing.
“You didn’t intend two days?”
Silence.
“One day was acceptable?”
“No.”
“Six hours?”
“Maren—”
“You made food conditional on me validating something you knew was false.”
Agatha looked away.
Maren continued.
“You watched my three-year-old daughter try to help because she thought if we worked hard enough, you would feed us.”
Agatha’s eyes filled.
“I was under enormous pressure.”
“So was I.”
“The audit would have destroyed people.”
“It did.”
Agatha flinched.
Maren leaned forward.
“Why me?”
For the first time, the older woman stopped performing authority.
“Because people would believe it.”
Maren became still.
Agatha continued quietly.
“You were young. New to the family. Your expenses had increased because of the pregnancy.”
“And you thought Ronan would believe I stole?”
Agatha did not answer.
That was answer enough.
Maren looked toward the window.
Agatha whispered:
“I thought he would confront you first.”
Maren’s face changed.
There was the deepest betrayal.
Not merely that Agatha chose her.
That Agatha believed Ronan’s existing habits made the lie believable.
Maren asked:
“Did you think he would leave me?”
“I thought he would separate you from the finances.”
“And then?”
Agatha swallowed.
“Then the audit could become a domestic issue instead of a family-office issue.”
Maren nodded slowly.
At last, the motive stood naked.
Not hatred.
Not tradition.
Self-preservation.
Agatha had been willing to destroy a marriage and humiliate children to keep an old system from being examined.
Ronan entered for the final portion.
Agatha looked at him.
“I am sorry.”
Ronan did not answer.
Maren did.
“Sorry is not access.”
Agatha closed her eyes.
Maren continued.
“You do not come near Sienna.”
Agatha nodded.
“You do not come near the baby.”
Another nod.
“You do not send relatives to speak for you.”
“Yes.”
Then Maren looked at Ronan.
He understood.
“That applies from me too,” he said.
The final opportunity for Agatha to accept responsibility had been given.
May you like
She had done part of it.
Consequences remained anyway.
