Now he wanted privacy.
“No,” I said.
Everyone turned toward me.
I reached into my apron and removed my phone.
Celeste’s eyes narrowed.
I had spent months saving evidence because I knew one day she would overreach.
I had not expected the day to involve Adrian Vale or a twenty-year-old disappearance.
But proof was still proof.
“I think Mr.
Vale should know why his staff is afraid of his goddaughter.”
Celeste gave a dismissive laugh.
“Careful.”
I unlocked my phone.
“No.
I’ve been careful for months.”
The manager went pale.
I showed Adrian records from the inventory system: bottles of rare wine entered under charity accounts that had never hosted events at Bellamy House.
I showed him changed totals, deleted staff notes I had backed up, and messages ordering employees to cover shortages.
Then I showed him tip records.
Celeste stopped smiling.
“That proves nothing.”
“It proves banquet gratuities were reduced after events,” I said.
“The missing amounts match expenses you ordered employees to hide.”
“You have no authority to investigate me.”
“I manage the inventory system you never bothered learning.”
One banquet server near the wall suddenly spoke.
“She took mine too.”
Celeste turned.
The server looked terrified but continued.
“Three hundred dollars from one wedding.
Management told me there was nothing they could do.”
Another employee stepped forward.
“She made me pay for six broken glasses after one of her friends knocked over a tray.”
Then another.
“She told me I’d never work in Manhattan again if I complained.”
The room that had been silent during my humiliation became impossible for Celeste to control.
She raised her voice.
“They are lying because they hate me.”
Adrian’s lawyer was already photographing the records from my phone.
Celeste saw that and lunged toward me.
“Give me that.”
Adrian stepped between us.
“Don’t touch her.”
There was nothing theatrical in his voice.
That made it worse for Celeste.
She stopped.
Then she changed tactics.
Her expression softened with astonishing speed.
“Adrian, you know me.
I’ve been like family to you since I was a child.”
He looked exhausted.
“That is precisely why this is difficult.”
She reached for his arm.
He stepped away.
For the first time, Celeste seemed to understand that the evening might cost her more than embarrassment.
She pointed at me.
