Chapter 9 - Celeste’s Private Deal
Peter Lang told investigators that Celeste approached him eight months earlier.
She needed someone who could pose as counsel for Northstar during informal merger discussions.
Peter initially refused.
Then Celeste offered him $750,000 and protection through Ardent’s legal network.
She supplied Northstar letterhead, Claire’s encrypted approval code, and copies of internal governance documents.
Only a senior Halcyon executive could have accessed those files.
Peter assumed Adrian had provided them.
Celeste claimed Northstar’s real owner was elderly, uninvolved, and unlikely to notice the transaction until after closing.
Claire listened to the interview summary with growing anger.
Celeste had believed Northstar belonged to a distant investor.
Adrian had never told her Claire owned it.
That explained Celeste’s confidence at the engagement party.
She believed Claire was merely the inconvenient wife Adrian had failed to divorce properly.
When Celeste entered the board meeting, she came with two attorneys.
Adrian sat separately.
The distance between them had already begun.
Celeste spoke first.
She admitted the relationship but claimed it began after Adrian assured her he was legally divorced.
She denied knowing Claire controlled Northstar.
She described the merger as a legitimate strategic decision.
Miriam placed PROJECT CLEAN EXIT on the screen.
Celeste’s attorney requested a recess.
The board refused.
“Did you authorize this language?” the audit chair asked.
Celeste stared at Claire.
“You were obstructing necessary decisions without attending company meetings.”
“I was blocked from those meetings.”
“Because Adrian said you had withdrawn.”
“And you never verified that with me.”
“You had no visible title.”
Claire leaned forward.
“I did not need a visible title. I owned the voting shares you tried to forge.”
Celeste turned toward Adrian.
“You told me Northstar was controlled by a retired family trustee.”
Adrian said nothing.
“You told me Claire surrendered her interest during the divorce.”
“There was supposed to be a settlement.”
“There was no divorce.”
Adrian’s voice sharpened.
“She refused to accept the marriage was over.”
Claire looked at him.
“You never asked me for a divorce.”
“You should have understood.”
“Marriage is not terminated by hints, Adrian.”
Celeste’s confidence fractured.
She had risked her career for a man who lied even to her.
Then Miriam presented one final document.
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Celeste had negotiated a secret equity grant from Ardent worth twenty-two million dollars if the merger closed below $350 million.
👉 Celeste claimed she was protecting Halcyon, but her personal reward increased every time the company’s shareholders received less.
