Chapter 33 - A Letter from Prison
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The transition into autumn brought a crisp, bustling energy to Manhattan, but the past still occasionally managed to reach its cold fingers into Charlotte’s office.
It arrived on a Thursday morning in the form of a high-priced criminal defense attorney named Sterling. He had represented Adrian during the fraud trials and had requested a brief, urgent meeting.
Charlotte sat behind her desk, her hands folded calmly, while Sterling placed a thick, sealed envelope on the mahogany surface.
"Ms. Bennett, thank you for your time," Sterling began, his tone dripping with practiced, oily charm. "I am here on behalf of my client, Adrian Bennett. As you may know, he has a parole hearing approaching in six months."
"I am aware of the timeline," Charlotte said coldly. "What is the purpose of this meeting, Mr. Sterling? Bennett Global has completely severed all ties with Adrian. He has no equity, no voting rights, and no place in this building."
"This isn't a corporate matter," Sterling clarified, adjusting his expensive tie. "It is a personal request. Adrian has written a letter expressing his deep remorse. We are hoping that you might consider submitting a brief character reference or a letter of support to the parole board. A statement from you, acknowledging his rehabilitation, would go a long way in securing his early release."
Charlotte stared at the sealed envelope on her desk. She didn't reach for it.
"A character reference," Charlotte repeated, her voice dangerously quiet. "You want me to write a letter of support for the man who actively attempted to steal this company, defraud our employees, and illegally compromise the structural integrity of a historic hotel?"
"My client has spent years reflecting on his mistakes—"
"Your client is a sociopath who only regrets getting caught," Charlotte interrupted, her voice slicing through the air like a blade. "He didn't care about the hundreds of lives he put at risk with the Crownbridge project. He didn't care about the employees whose pensions he tried to raid."
She picked up the sealed envelope and slid it aggressively back across the desk toward the lawyer.
"I will not read this letter, Mr. Sterling," Charlotte stated with absolute finality. "And I will not write a single word of support for Adrian. If the parole board contacts me, I will explicitly advise them to force him to serve every single day of his maximum sentence."
Sterling’s polished smile finally fractured. He picked up the envelope, realizing he had horribly misjudged the woman sitting across from him.
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"I will inform my client," Sterling said stiffly.
"Do that," Charlotte replied. "And tell him that if he ever attempts to contact me or this company again, my legal team will file harassment charges before the ink is dry. Good day, counselor."
