CHAPTER 2: THE MAN IN THE GREENHOUSE
Daniel and Celeste moved carefully through the garden.
They avoided the main doors and entered the greenhouse through a service entrance Celeste believed was outside the security network.
She was wrong.
Every entrance had a pressure sensor beneath the floor.
Every window had a vibration detector.
Every corner had an infrared camera.
I watched them from my mother’s bedroom.
Daniel wore dark clothing and gloves. Celeste had changed out of the cream dress she had worn when the paramedics arrived. She now wore jeans, a black coat, and running shoes.
They looked less like a married woman and a corporate executive than two burglars entering a stranger’s home.
Celeste placed the green hatbox on a steel gardening table.
Daniel opened it.
Inside were property deeds, bank records, and forged medical documents.
“You said you removed everything,” he whispered.
“I did.”
“What about the recordings?”
“She couldn’t have recorded us.”
“Rosa knew too much.”
Celeste’s face hardened.
“I handled Rosa.”
“You hit her in front of Marcus.”
“He came home early.”
Daniel slammed the lid shut.
“That is exactly why I told you not to touch Evelyn until the transfer was complete.”
Celeste stepped closer to him.
“Don’t speak to me as if this is my fault. You were responsible for keeping Marcus in Australia.”
“And you were responsible for controlling one old woman.”
The contempt in his voice was unmistakable.
Celeste heard it too.
“You said we were building a future together.”
“We are.”
“Then why are you talking to me like an employee?”
Daniel glanced toward the greenhouse windows.
“Because this is not the time for your insecurity.”
Celeste slapped him.
The sound echoed through the glass structure.
For a moment, Daniel stared at her.
Then he grabbed her wrist.
“You are becoming a liability.”
I recorded everything.
Detective Bennett had warned me not to confront them, but she had also asked me to preserve evidence.
The greenhouse cameras were uploading the footage directly to three separate servers.
Daniel released Celeste.
“We burn the documents,” he said. “Then we return to the hospital and act concerned.”
“What about Marcus?”
“Tomorrow morning, the board receives the report.”
Celeste’s anger disappeared.
“What report?”
“The psychiatric evaluation.”
My stomach tightened.
Daniel pulled a folded document from his coat.
“According to this, Marcus suffered a breakdown in Australia. Paranoia, delusions, violent behavior. The board will place him on administrative leave.”
“You told me the report was only a backup plan.”
“It became necessary when he came home.”
Celeste read the document.
“Who signed it?”
“A doctor who owes me money.”
“And Evelyn?”
Daniel looked at the hatbox.
“She will be declared mentally incompetent. You already hold her medical power of attorney.”
“I don’t hold anything until the documents are filed.”
“They will be filed at eight tomorrow morning.”
Celeste smiled.
“And after Marcus is removed?”
“We control Hale Systems.”
She moved closer to him.
“And then?”
Daniel did not answer.
Celeste’s expression changed.
The truth was beginning to reach her.
Daniel did not intend to share power.
She had helped him destroy my mother and betray me, but once the company belonged to him, Celeste would become unnecessary.
“You’re planning to leave me,” she said.
Daniel laughed quietly.
“You’re married to Marcus.”
“Not after tomorrow.”
“We never discussed marriage.”
“We discussed a future.”
“A future can mean many things.”
Celeste stared at him as though she had never seen him clearly before.
For the first time that night, she looked afraid for herself.
Daniel removed a metal container from beneath the gardening table. He placed the documents inside and poured a clear liquid over them.
I activated the greenhouse fire suppression system.
Water exploded from the ceiling.
Daniel cursed and jumped backward.
Celeste screamed as freezing water soaked through her clothes.
The documents scattered across the floor.
The greenhouse lights turned on automatically.
Then my voice came through the speaker system.
“Step away from the evidence.”
Celeste froze.
Daniel looked toward the nearest camera.
“Marcus,” he said calmly. “This is not what it looks like.”
I almost laughed.
“You entered my property at midnight wearing gloves and carrying stolen documents.”
“I came because Celeste called me.”
Celeste turned toward him.
“You brought the fuel.”
“You stole the documents.”
“You forged them!”
Daniel’s expression became cold.
“Be careful.”
Celeste finally understood that he would sacrifice her without hesitation.
She pointed toward the camera.
“He planned everything, Marcus! He delayed the project. He hired the lawyer. He arranged the transfers.”
Daniel grabbed her arm.
She pulled away.
Then the greenhouse doors locked.
Red security lights began flashing.
Detective Bennett’s voice came through the speakers.
“Daniel Cross and Celeste Hale, remain where you are. Officers are entering the property.”
Daniel stared at the locked door.
He had been so focused on destroying the evidence that he had not noticed the police vehicles approaching without sirens.
Celeste sank into a chair.
Daniel remained standing.
Even surrounded, he looked confident.
When the officers entered, he raised his hands.
“I am an invited guest,” he said. “This is a misunderstanding.”
Detective Bennett stepped toward the wet documents.
“We’ll discuss that at the station.”
Daniel smiled at me as they led him past.
“You think you won,” he said.
“I think you were recorded.”
“The board meeting begins at eight.”
May you like
His smile widened.
“And whether I’m there or not, you’re still going to lose your company.”
