Chapter 9 - The Mistress Who Finally Begged|
Sloane Mercer had never imagined herself begging the Voss family for anything.
She had entered their anniversary party believing she was the woman Callum would eventually choose.
She'd worn scarlet.
Smiled at the cameras.
Slapped Rosalind in front of hundreds of guests.
And waited for Callum to defend her.
Instead, he had thrown her out.
His sons had turned against her.
And Victor Kane, the man who'd promised her a fortune, was threatening to leave her responsible for the financial scheme.
Now she sat in a lawyer's office, staring at a stack of documents.
Her attorney, Helen Marsh, looked grim.
"Sloane, you need to understand the situation."
Sloane swallowed.
"Am I going to prison?"
"That depends on the evidence and your conduct. I can't predict the outcome."
Tears filled Sloane's eyes.
"I didn't know everything."
Helen studied her.
"Then you need to tell me exactly what you did know."
Sloane looked down.
For months, she'd accepted money from Victor's associates.
She'd been told to distract Callum.
Keep him occupied.
Encourage him to sign documents without reviewing them.
Use his access when possible.
She had done it because Victor promised her a future with Callum.
A mansion.
Status.
Security.
She'd believed she could replace Rosalind.
Now she was discovering she'd been disposable all along.
Helen leaned forward.
"Sloane, if you've been threatened, we need to document that."
Sloane nodded.
"Victor said he'd ruin me."
"Do you have messages?"
"Yes."
"Then preserve them."
Sloane began crying.
For the first time, the tears weren't strategic.
She was genuinely afraid.
Across the city, Gideon Voss reviewed evidence with Beckett and Piers.
The investigation had uncovered more information about Mercer Capital.
Several transactions appeared to have been made through accounts Sloane controlled.
But the financial records also suggested someone else had directed portions of the activity.
Gideon leaned back.
"Victor used her."
Beckett nodded.
"Looks that way."
Piers folded his arms.
"Doesn't excuse what she did to Mom."
"No," Gideon said. "It doesn't."
He looked toward the window.
"But if we want the truth, we need her cooperation."
The following afternoon, Sloane's attorney contacted Margaret Shaw.
Sloane wanted to meet Rosalind.
Margaret presented the request.
Rosalind listened carefully.
Then asked:
"Why?"
"She says she has information about Victor's involvement."
Rosalind thought for a moment.
"Then she can provide it to investigators."
"She also wants to apologize."
Rosalind looked away.
The memory of the slap still burned.
Not physically.
That had faded.
But the humiliation remained.
The way Sloane smiled.
The way Callum hesitated.
The way the guests watched.
Rosalind took a slow breath.
"I'll hear her apology."
Margaret looked surprised.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
The meeting took place in Margaret's office.
Sloane arrived wearing a simple black dress.
No diamonds.
No designer handbag.
Her face looked pale.
She sat across from Rosalind.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Sloane whispered:
"I'm sorry."
Rosalind watched her.
Sloane began crying.
"I was cruel."
"Yes."
"I humiliated you."
"Yes."
"I had no right to touch you."
"No, you didn't."
Sloane covered her face.
"I thought Callum loved me."
Rosalind looked at her.
"Maybe he thought he did."
Sloane lowered her hands.
"I wanted your life."
Rosalind's expression softened slightly.
"Then you should have understood what that life cost."
Sloane stared.
Rosalind continued.
"You saw the house. The jewelry. The name."
She looked toward the window.
"You didn't see the nights I sat awake wondering whether Callum would come home alive."
Sloane's eyes filled.
"You didn't see me raising three sons while their father built a reputation that frightened everyone around us."
Rosalind looked back.
"And you certainly didn't see the sacrifices I made to keep our family together."
Sloane whispered:
"I know."
"No," Rosalind said gently. "You don't."
Silence.
Then Sloane slowly lowered herself from her chair.
Rosalind frowned.
"What are you doing?"
Sloane knelt on the carpet.
Tears streamed down her face.
"Please forgive me."
Rosalind stared.
The woman who had slapped her in front of hundreds of guests was now kneeling before her.
Begging.
Rosalind's three sons stood near the back of the room, having arrived to support their mother.
Piers looked stunned.
Beckett folded his arms.
Gideon remained silent.
Sloane looked toward them.
"I'm sorry to all of you."
Piers's expression hardened.
"You should be."
Gideon stepped forward.
"Get up."
Sloane flinched.
He continued calmly.
"Our mother doesn't need you on your knees."
Rosalind looked at her oldest son.
A small smile touched her lips.
Gideon turned back to Sloane.
"She needs you to tell the truth."
Sloane slowly stood.
Her hands trembled.
Then she said:
"Victor Kane wasn't the person who first contacted me."
The room went still.
Gideon frowned.
"Who was?"
Sloane looked directly at Rosalind.
Her voice broke.
"Someone told me Callum was unhappy. That I could become his next wife if I played things correctly."
Rosalind stared.
"Who?"
Sloane swallowed.
Then whispered:
"Your husband's sister."
Rosalind froze.
Callum's sister.
Vivienne Voss.
The woman who'd been her closest friend for more than twenty years.
The woman who helped plan the anniversary party.
The woman who had chosen Sloane's seat.
Rosalind felt the room spin.
May you like
Then Sloane added:
"Vivienne said you were standing in the way of something that rightfully belonged to her."
