Chapter 2: The Woman Who Came Back
Nobody moved.
Water dripped from my dress onto the wooden floor.
Plink.
Plink.
Plink.
Julian stared at me as if I were a ghost.
Celeste dropped her glass.
It shattered against the floor.
Richard simply sat there.
For the first time that night, my husband looked afraid.
I leaned against my branch and smiled.
“Disappointed?””
Julian opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
One of the directors on the laptop spoke first.
“Eleanor?””
I looked at the screen.
“Hello, Martin.””
His expression changed from confusion to shock.
“Oh my God.””
Another director leaned toward his camera.
“We thought you were dead.””
“I know,” I said.
Julian stood so quickly that his chair fell backward.
“Mom…”
I raised one hand.
“Don't.””
He stopped.
“You need medical attention,” Richard said.
I looked at him.
“Now you care?””
Richard's jaw tightened.
“It wasn't supposed to happen like that.””
I laughed once.
“Really?””
Julian stepped forward.
“Mom, listen to me.””
“You pushed me into a river.””
“We didn't—”
“You watched.””
He stopped.
I pointed toward the orange life ring visible through the window.
“You had a life ring three feet from your hand.””
Celeste began crying.
“Eleanor, please.””
I turned toward her.
“You knew.””
She covered her mouth.
“I didn't know he would actually do it.””
Julian spun toward her.
“Celeste!””
“What?”” she snapped.
“You told me she wouldn't come back!””
The room went silent.
I looked at Julian.
He looked at Celeste.
Richard closed his eyes.
There it was.
The truth.
Not an accident.
Not panic.
A plan.
I lowered myself carefully into a chair.
My ankle throbbed.
Martin's voice came through the laptop.
“Eleanor, should we call the authorities?””
Julian stepped between me and the computer.
“No.””
I looked up at him.
“Why not?””
He said nothing.
I smiled.
“Because then they might ask why you left your mother in the Amazon?””
Richard finally stood.
“Eleanor, we need to discuss this privately.””
“No.””
His face hardened.
“After forty-six years, you're going to humiliate me in front of the board?””
I stared at him.
“You humiliated yourself when you watched me drown.””
His expression cracked.
“You don't understand.””
“Then explain.””
He looked at Julian.
Julian looked at the floor.
I nodded slowly.
“I see.””
I reached for the laptop.
Martin spoke immediately.
“Eleanor, before you do anything, there's something you need to know.””
I paused.
“What?””
“The emergency board meeting was called because Julian presented documents stating you had transferred controlling ownership of Thorne Meridian to him.””
My stomach tightened.
I looked at Julian.
“What documents?””
He didn't answer.
I looked at Richard.
“What did you sign?””
Richard's face went pale.
“Nothing.””
“Then what did Julian present?””
Martin hesitated.
“A power-of-attorney document.””
I stared at my son.
“That signature isn't mine.””
Julian finally spoke.
“You were planning to sign it.””
“No.””
“You told me you would eventually.””
“I told you I would consider succession.””
“You knew I was going to take over.””
“When I was ready.””
He stepped closer.
“When were you going to be ready, Mom? Eighty? Ninety?””
I looked at him.
“You're thirty-nine years old.””
“And I spent my entire life waiting for you.””
“No,” I said.
“You spent your entire life expecting.””
His face reddened.
I remembered the conversation before the trip.
Julian had sat across from me at my penthouse, tapping his fingers against the table.
“You can't keep running Thorne Meridian forever.””
“I can run it as long as I'm capable.””
“You're seventy-two.””
“And you're thirty-nine.””
“I built half of what you have.””
“You inherited the other half.””
“That company is my future.””
“No,” I had said.
“It's mine.””
Richard had put down his coffee.
“You can't expect everyone to wait forever, Eleanor.””
Now I understood.
They hadn't taken me on vacation.
They had taken me somewhere no one would find me.
I looked at the directors.
“Martin, freeze every transfer involving Julian.””
Julian lunged toward the laptop.
“You can't do that!””
“I just did.””
“You're not thinking clearly.””
“I've never thought more clearly.””
Martin nodded.
“I'll contact the bank.””
Julian slammed his palm onto the table.
“You're ruining everything!””
“No,” I said quietly.
“You did that yourself.””
He stared at me.
Then his expression changed.
The fear disappeared.
Something colder replaced it.
“You think walking back in here means you win?””
I said nothing.
Julian leaned close.
“You don't know what else I've prepared.””
A chill moved through me.
“What does that mean?””
He smiled.
“Ask Richard.””
I turned toward my husband.
Richard wouldn't look at me.
“Richard?””
He remained silent.
“Tell me what he prepared.””
Nothing.
I stood.
My injured ankle almost buckled, but I caught the table.
“Richard.””
Finally, he looked at me.
His eyes were wet.
“There was a second plan.””
The room went silent.
I felt my pulse hammering.
“What second plan?””
Richard looked at Julian.
Julian shook his head.
“Don't.””
May you like
But Richard whispered the words anyway.
“They weren't going to let you leave the country alive.””
