But before my father died, he had told me one thing: “Amelia, when men pressure you to sign something without giving you time to read it, read what they want you to forget you know.”
So I had read it.
And I had watched it.
And I had documented everything.
Caleb squeezed my wrist again.
The pastor cleared his throat. “Dearly beloved”—
“Stop,” I said.I spoke very quietly.
Caleb chuckled softly, “Don’t start.”
I lifted a small silver flash drive from my wedding bouquet, which was filled with white orchids and silk ribbon.
With that, I walked around Caleb and plugged it into the pastor’s projector.
“Let’s watch the real reminder,” I whispered.
The screen behind the pastor lit up.
Part 2
Initially, Caleb seemed amused.
Then the first video began to play.
The camera focused from above on the bridal suite in high definition. Evelyn stood at the vanity with one hand on the documents and one hand holding my cellphone.
“You will sign these documents before you walk down the aisle,” she stated on the video. “My son will not marry a useless little heiress with her father’s legal opinions.”
Gossip and chatter broke out through the rest of the church.
Caleb’s smile faded away.
The video showed me in my wedding gown with my veil still untouched, looking very pale but very calm.
“I want to have my attorney read this document,” video me said.
Evelyn laughed. “Your lawyer works for the company where you work, and after tomorrow, we will work for you.”
Caleb stepped into view of the camera.
“Just sign the documents, Amelia,” he stated. “You have no idea what your father built. You inherited your power by accident.”
The real Caleb lunged toward the projector.
Before he could take three steps, I noticed two men in dark suits stand up from the back of the church.
They were not security people.
They were my security personnel.
Caleb immediately came to a stop and looked at me with his wild eyes.
“What the heck is this?” he shouted.
I looked at the pastor.“Let it continue to run,” says the Pastor.
Pastor swallowed hard, repositioned himself as to not obstruct view of the video.
Video continued.
Caleb’s hand, hitting the face.
Gasps and murmurs throughout the church.
The sound of a woman screaming.
The video continues.
On-camera, the veil falling from my head and catching on the edge of the vanity. The Orchids shuddered as I leaned forward, eyes fixed on the screen, not shocked, nor horrified.
Touching a busted lip, I said, “That should never have happened.”
Caleb, on-camera, retorts, “No, Sweetheart. Your mistake was to think you have a choice.”
As everyone else sat in their front row pews, Evelyn slowly rose. “Shut it off!”
Her command had been effective with Board Members, Assistants, Hotel Staff and with her Son, but not with me.
The screen changed.
Emails appeared. Bank Transfers. Forged Signatures. Private Messages from Caleb on behalf of a ValeTech Board Member.
Caleb’s email to a ValeTech Board member states, ‘Once I marry her, we can move the Patent Portfolio to the Trust. Mother says the Injunction window is TWENTY-FOUR (24) HOURS. By then she is NO ONE.’
The Church erupted in chaos.
Chairs scraping together, people pulling out their cell phones, whispers turning to accusations.
Marcus, Caleb’s Best Man, mutters, “Dude, You said this was handled.”
He was wrong.
The next file opened.
Recording filling the church.
Marcus, “The Edited Photos are set to go. We leak them if she doesn’t comply. Make her look crazy.”
Evelyn, “Good. Weak women are easier to get rid of.”
I finally stared back at them.
“You picked the wrong weak woman.”
Evelyn’s face twisted in fury. “You Fool! Do you really believe Wedding Slideshows change anything? We own Judges; we own Board Votes.”