Chapter 6 - Desperate Pleas Behind Bars
While I was taking control of the business empire, Adrian and his mother were learning what life felt like at the absolute bottom of the food chain.
Because their assets were frozen and their reputation was completely destroyed, neither Adrian nor Celeste could afford private defense attorneys. They were placed in separate holding facilities in the county detention center while awaiting trial.
One afternoon, Marcus Sterling called me on my private line.
“Claire,” Marcus said. “Celeste Lockridge’s public defender has made seven calls to my office today. She is begging for a five-minute meeting with you. She claims she has critical information regarding Adrian’s financial schemes that she’ll trade for dropped charges.”
I looked at the sleeping baby in my lap. “Set up a visit. But I’m going to see her in person.”
Twenty minutes later, I arrived at the Black Hawk County Women’s Detention Facility.
I sat behind the thick glass partition in the visiting room, wearing a camel-hair trench coat and gold earrings. A minute later, the heavy iron door opened, and a guard escorted Celeste inside.
I barely recognized her.
The woman who used to spend thousands of dollars a week on hair salons and designer clothes was now wearing an ill-fitting orange jumpsuit. Her silver hair was messy and unwashed, her face was covered in deep wrinkles, and her eyes were bloodshot and hollow.
She sat down heavily across from me, picking up the plastic telephone receiver with hands that wouldn't stop shaking.
I picked up my receiver and waited.
“Claire... oh God, Claire...” Celeste sobbed against the glass, her voice muffed and crackling through the receiver. “Look at me... please, look at what they’re doing to me! They put me in a cell with violent women! I haven't slept in two weeks! The food... it’s unbearable!”
“You asked to see me, Celeste,” I said coldly. “You have three minutes.”
“Claire, please!” Celeste pressed her hand against the glass, tears streaming down her hollow cheeks. “I’m an old woman! I won't survive prison! I was wrong! I was terrible to you, I know that now! But I was just trying to protect my son! Adrian forced me to go along with the surrogacy lie! He told me if I didn't help him, he would cut me off!”
“You didn't look forced when you told me to understand my place in the hospital room,” I reminded her, my eyes unblinking. “You looked like you were enjoying every second of it.”
“I was stupid! I was a fool!” Celeste wept openly, dropping her head against the metallic counter. “Please, Claire... talk to your father. Have him drop the state charges! I’ll sign whatever you want! I’ll never come near you or Lily again! I’ll leave the state!”
I leaned in closer to the microphone, my voice dropping into a chilling whisper.
“Do you remember what you told me when I was lying in that hospital bed, bleeding and shaking?” I asked.
Celeste froze, staring at me through her tears.
“You said: 'No husband, no baby, and no money. Maybe now you’ll finally understand your place.'”
I smiled, a cold, distant smile that made Celeste shudder.
May you like
“Now look at you, Celeste. No home, no son, no luxury, and no money. It seems you’re the one who finally understands your place.”
I hung up the receiver, stood up from the chair, and walked out of the room without looking back, leaving her screaming and banging her fists against the glass until the guards dragged her away.
