Chapter 5 - THE DESPERATE BEGGING
Three days later, the reality of their destruction fully hit the Hollis family.
Without my corporate income funding his lifestyle, Derek was completely broke. His private lenders in St. Louis were harassing him day and night. His mother’s credit cards were maxed out from paying the emergency tab at The Capital Grille and hiring a low-end defense attorney.
I was sitting in my firm's conference room reviewing quarterly accounts when my assistant informed me that Judith Hollis was standing in the lobby downstairs, causing a massive public scene, begging to see me.
"Should I call security, Mrs. Hollis?" my assistant asked.
I thought about it for a moment, then stood up, smoothing down my blazer. "No. Send her to Conference Room B. I'll handle this myself."
When I walked into Conference Room B, Judith looked like a ghost of her former arrogant self.
Her hair was unstyled, her designer clothes were wrinkled, and the pretentious, mocking posture she had maintained at my dining table four days ago was completely gone. She looked old, desperate, and terrified.
The moment she saw me, she practically fell across the glass conference table, clutching her hands together.
"Tessa! Please!" Judith cried, tears streaming down her makeup-stained cheeks. "You have to pull back the police report! Please, I am begging you on my knees!"
I sat down in the leather chair across from her, crossing my legs calmly. "Why would I do that, Judith?"
"They are going to arrest Derek!" she sobbed, clutching her chest. "The detectives came to my apartment this morning with a search warrant! They took his laptop! If he gets convicted of forgery, he will go to prison! His life will be completely ruined!"
"He ruined his own life the moment he forged my name on a deed to sell my daughter's inheritance," I said coldly.
"He was desperate, Tessa!" Judith pleaded, her voice cracking. "He made a mistake! We were under so much financial stress—"
"No, he made choices," I corrected sharply, my voice echoing in the glass room. "You sat at my dining table, eating seven hundred dollars worth of seafood bought with my money, while my daughter was forced to eat instant noodles in the kitchen. You looked me in the eye and told me we didn't deserve the same food as you. You helped him steal from me, Judith. You encouraged him."
Judith wept hysterically, burying her face in her hands. "I was wrong! I'm sorry! I will apologize to Lila! I will get on my knees and beg her forgiveness! Just please... don't send my son to prison! Please, drop the charges!"
"It's out of my hands, Judith," I said softly, standing up from my chair. "The District Attorney’s office is prosecuting the case now. Bank fraud is a state felony. You reap what you sow."
"You monster!" Judith suddenly shrieked, her despair morphing back into ugly, bitter rage as she stood up, her face twisted. "You ruthless, heartless monster! You destroyed my family!"
I paused near the door, looking back at her with a cool, unbothered smile.
May you like
"Four days ago, your grandson called me a monster because I wouldn't let your family walk all over me," I said evenly. "Today, I'm just a mother protecting her child. Have a nice day, Judith."
I walked out of the room, leaving her screaming at the security guards who promptly escorted her off the property.
