Chapter 6 - The Fall of the Mistress
Outside the conference room, Celeste Monroe was growing increasingly impatient. She checked her gold watch every thirty seconds, her manicured nails tapping irritably on the leather of her Birkin bag.
The double doors of the boardroom finally opened, and Adrian walked out.
He didn't look like the confident, powerful CEO she had fallen in love with. His shoulders were slumped, his tie was loose, and his face was gray. He looked like a man who had been hollowed out from the inside.
"Adrian!" Celeste stood up, rushing toward him. "What took so long? Did we get the settlement? When can we start the remodeling of the Lake Forest house?"
Adrian didn't look at her. He kept his eyes on the floor, his hands shoved deep into his pockets.
"It's over, Celeste," he whispered.
"What do you mean, it's over?" she snapped, her voice rising, drawing the attention of the reception staff. "What about the company? What about our penthouse?"
Before Adrian could answer, Evelyn walked out of the boardroom, accompanied by two police officers and a woman dressed in a sharp business suit.
"Celeste Monroe?" the woman asked, presenting a badge. "I am Detective Ramirez from the Cook County Financial Crimes Unit."
Celeste took a step back, her hand tightening around her Birkin. "What? What do you want with me? I haven't done anything!"
"You are being charged with complicity in grand theft, receiving stolen property, and tax fraud," Detective Ramirez said. "The penthouse in Gold Coast, as well as the luxury vehicles and various high-end goods in your possession—including the black Birkin bag you are holding—were purchased with embezzled corporate funds from Vale Development."
"This is a mistake!" Celeste screamed, her voice cracking as the officers stepped forward. "Adrian gave me these! They were gifts!"
"Gifts purchased with stolen money are still stolen property, Ms. Monroe," Ramirez said, reaching out to take the Birkin bag from her hand.
Celeste struggled, refusing to let go of the leather strap. "No! You can't take this! This is mine! Adrian bought it for me!"
"Let it go, Celeste," Adrian said, his voice flat and lifeless. "I signed the confession. They have everything."
Celeste stared at him, her eyes wide with a mixture of shock and disgust. "You... you coward! You told me you were untouchable! You told me your wife was nothing but an ugly, useless housewife!"
"She was the one who funded my life, Celeste," Adrian said, his voice dropping into a whisper. "I was the one who was nothing."
The police officers quickly grabbed Celeste’s arms, pulling them behind her back and clicking the handcuffs into place. Her designer coat was wrinkled, her perfect hair messy as she was led down the marble corridor toward the elevators, screaming curses at Adrian and Evelyn.
Evelyn watched her go, her face calm and serene. She looked down at the black Birkin bag, which Detective Ramirez had placed on the reception desk as evidence.
"Thomas," Evelyn said to her assistant.
"Yes, Ms. Vance?"
May you like
"Donate that bag and all of Celeste's luxury assets to the Chicago Women's Shelter," Evelyn said. "Let them be used to buy food and clothing for mothers who actually need a fresh start."
"Immediately, ma'am," Thomas replied.
