Chapter 8
When Celine saw Elliot ignoring her, she crawled over to my feet and got on her knees, begging for my forgiveness.
“Calista, I was so fucking stupid, I didn’t know who you were, please forgive me, I swear I didn’t mean it!”
“I’ve got a brother who’s still in high school and a sick dad at home, I can’t go to prison!”
“If you’ll just forgive me, I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you, I swear!”
She was banging her head on the ground over and over, and pretty soon her forehead was all red and swollen.
Seeing her completely losing her shit, I couldn’t help but mock her.
“Where was this attitude before? I warned you so many damn times, but you wouldn’t listen!”
“If you hadn’t been such a total bitch, you wouldn’t be in this mess!”
“And forget about making it up to me – you should worry about how you’re gonna survive what’s coming!”
After that, I left Celine sitting there in shock and walked away.
Before getting in my car, I saw Elliot still on the ground, hunting for ceramic pieces.
Karma’s a bitch.
If Celine hadn’t slammed into me so hard, the porcelain wouldn’t have shattered so badly.
I didn’t think there was much chance of putting it back together.
But I underestimated Elliot.
He threw serious money at the problem, hiring every artifact restoration expert from around the world to save that ceremonial porcelain.
And he actually pulled it off on time.
That day, I was at NASA organizing Dad’s remaining files when Elliot carefully brought over a wooden box containing the Medal for me to check.
I opened it and was instantly blown away.
The craftsmanship was absolutely incredible – Elliot had actually done it.
Even under a magnifying glass, you couldn’t see a single crack.
You have to understand, making this is insanely demanding – they have to destroy thousands of pieces to get one perfect one.
That’s part of what makes it so precious.
So fixing it is a thousand times harder than regular pottery.
Maybe Dad was watching over it from heaven, not wanting his legacy destroyed.
Seeing the amazement in my eyes, Elliot looked relieved.
“So? I kept my end of the deal and finished on time. Now can you consider helping me out, so they’ll go easy on Hawke Industries?”
I didn’t answer him, just handed the ceremonial porcelain to the guards to store safely.
When Elliot saw I wasn’t talking, he got anxious.
He grabbed my arm.
“Calista, you’re not gonna screw me over, are you?”
Chapter 8
“I did exactly what you asked – I fixed the damn thing. When are you gonna write that letter? The porcelain thing made national news! Our stock has tanked by half, and if we don’t clear this up soon, we’re fucked!”
I shook him off.
“What’s your stock crash got to do with me?”
“And what exactly am I supposed to clear up? Your secretary did destroy that, didn’t she?”
“Besides, I only said fixing it would give you a shot. I never promised I’d forgive you!”
“Why don’t you ask my dad? If he forgives you, then I will too!”
Elliot completely lost it, pointing at my face and dropping all pretense of being civilized.
“Calista, don’t fuck with me! Uncle Richard is dead – how the hell am I supposed to ask him?”
I smiled.
“Exactly. So my dad will never forgive you. And neither will I!”
Elliot snapped and tried to slap me, but I was ready for it and dodged behind the guards.
Ten days later, the verdict came down. Elliot got thirty years and was permanently banned from any government contracts.
Hawke Industries went bankrupt, all assets seized.
As for Celine, I heard she ran back to her hometown, trying to escape justice.
Turns out her dad basically sold her off to some old creep in Texas to get money for her brother.
When I heard that news, I couldn’t help but smile.
Dad must be watching over us from heaven, making sure these assholes got what they deserved.
I hope he’ll keep protecting me as I work to advance our country’s space program!
