~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ We sat there as Josy came back in with coffee and tea. She looked like she was about to explode with her emotions. Confusion, excitement, anger, and frustration all played over her face. She didn’t hide it from me, but she held it back. Josy noticed my control over the situation. “Fine Sabrina let’s sit down with some coffee and listen to this. Then we’ll talk about it, feel about it, and then what we’ll do about it. We knew she’d screwed me over, but surprise! When you hear what she’s done to you! Oh boy! Just listen.” “Just play it.” I couldn’t help it. I had to set up the situation for her. Sort of prepare her for what she should expect. Sabrina did not know what awaited her. Jake’s investigator had found an audio file Jacqueline was using to blackmail the arsonist with. [What about your daughter? Should I wait for her to leave before I start?] [No, I don’t care where she is.
~ SABRINA VINES ~ I came here wondering if I would kill Maria. Now she’s sitting here telling me she’s tried to push him away. That he’s using us to get what he wants. That he doesn’t want her any more than he wants me. It depends on the companies in the end. “Are you sure of this Maria?” “Oh, he talks a great story. He’s tried on several occasions to convince me. But I’ve heard him. It’s his family pressuring him to complete the legacy again and punish my family. Well, to punish my family Sabrina, they must punish me. I’m the last member. You were never adopted and now that my father’s dead.” Maria shrugged her shoulders. “Your mother is no longer a member of the family. She’s free of their wrath if she stays out of their sight.” “She won’t, you know. If she leaves jail, she’ll continue making waves for everyone. Mother wants Belgrave Tech no matter who owns it. She believes she deserves to own it for marrying Edger.”
~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ “Maria, what’s this? Are you insane? Sabrina is just one person who attempted to take everything. She supported her mother’s endeavors.” David had pulled me upstairs minutes after he finished his coffee, and he wanted to understand what he walked into. “Well, that’s rich David coming from you. Why did you sit beside me? You’re engaged to her. That was uncomfortable.” “I called her and sent her the information necessary to break everything off. It’s over that’s why she said nothing.” “I don’t care, David. It’s not something I want to deal with. She makes me feel uncomfortable and I don’t trust her. Right now, I’m trying to create a divide between Sabrina and Jacqueline. I want Jacqueline to lose Sabrina’s support. Since I discovered Jacqueline abandoned Sabrina, it’s fair. Jacqueline can rot in jail. Sabrina can struggle, but she might learn and grow. Her grandmother is dead. Jacqueline’s incarceration may
~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ “Maria, stop it. I’ve explained this. If I wanted my inheritance, I had to follow tradition to a point. I achieved that point today and as of tonight I’ve entered a new era by forcing the old guard of the family to retire. I’ve established a new set of rules and placed my people into the positions of additional guard. I’ve broken the contract between Sabrina and me. I’m free for the first time. Now you’re standing here saying this. I understand my tactics to keep you close to me weren’t the best, but I explained that to you. I had to do things for your safety and to keep you with me.” David struggled to express himself amidst overwhelming emotions. Frustration and desperation. David didn’t want her to leave before they settled this. He wanted her to agree that they deserved to drop their resistant behavior and be open to trying to for their relationship. He feared if they didn’t, Maria would end up alone somewhere and the thought broke
~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ “So, what’s this David? You’re being merciful on me and insisting I’ll be your wife so that everyone feels they have some kind of perfect revenge? Or your family wins some old family grudge? I have the honor of listening to various members of your family regale me of how sad my family was that they couldn’t keep their line going. Or that they fear I might jinx your line with my faulty genes.” I regretted what I said, but I witnessed his family doing it. I remembered his father’s words to me that day, and I dreaded hearing more of that. “Oh, love. It’s not like that at all. My father didn’t say that to the Belgrave heir. He accused a poor gold digger of scheming for more than she deserved. He worried that woman would cause more trouble than she was worth. My father told me had he realized who you were then he would’ve shot me for not forcing you to marry me then.” David had the decency to appear embarrassed. “What? What ar
~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ I studied David’s face, and I saw his anxiety. “I’ve read it. It’s fair, I guess. Josy looked at it before I acted. “But did you sign it?” I sighed and realized I had him in an awkward position. He was having a crisis of some sort. “Yes, I signed it. All right.” I watched as he sighed in relief as a smile returned to his face. “That’s great. Perfect. Thank you. Love, do you understand now? I want you beside me. With me, as my wife. The mother of my children. Does that make sense now?” “Why didn’t you mention it earlier?” “I did Maria. You wouldn’t believe me.” He’s right. I hadn’t believed him. But why wouldn’t I have a reason to believe him? Yes, I wanted to believe him. My experience with everyone told me I couldn’t trust anyone to protect myself. Didn’t he understand that? “David, I never thought twice about it. It’s habit for me to protect myself by no trusti
~ DAVID HARGROVE ~ I felt my heart rate ratchet up when I understood the significance Maria said to me. If she showed up, it could cause the Board of Executives to lose their positions. The Head of HR was also on the Board of Executives. He’d lose a lot of incoming and his influence to keep his HR position. Now, I finished reporting this information to an interested police investigator. “I never imagined this. But my new fiancee didn’t explain this part about this her company. With this knowledge, I can combine multiple things. Look, he’s been having an affair with Jacqueline while Edger Belgrave was ill and dying.” “Yes, she still denies it. But Frederick admits that occurred and he’s provided documented proof.” The investigator mentioned to me as he made notes. However, it existed here. Jacqueline couldn’t lie anymore. Her lies prove her guilt now. I could see it now. “Right, Jacqueline lied to him about what she had him do
~ DAVID HARGROVE ~ “Fine. Chris told me this. He desired to involve Maria in a situation. He intended to have Maria either sell him Belgrave Tech for cheap or marry him and give it to him. Then he’d set up to kill her. I was supposed to marry David, and he’d meet a sad end as well. Mother was to receive payment along with the Board of Executive members. But now, I think, Chris figured that would keep me happy. However, I suspect he planned to kill them if they became too demanding. I couldn’t bring Hargrove Tech to Chris because he wanted me to marry him only if I came with Belgrave Tech. Now, I was prepared to use the witnesses to gather more information. Chris joined me, and it appeared others might too. This would tidy up everything. Maria snorted before she said. “Sabrina, did you complete everything correctly? What do you think would happen to you once Chris achieved his goal with you?” Sabrina looked like she was about to argue, but s