Chapter 21: No

Monique stood at the podium with the microphone in both hands, and she did not look at Cory.

"My name is Monique Mercer," she said. "I report to Mr. Ellison, and I have lived in a loft with him since April."

A ripple went through the ballroom.

"I knew he was married," she said. "I want that said first, because it's mine."

On the screen behind her, the clip finished and a new one began.

It was a text thread with a purple phone case at the corner of the picture.

"He told me the marriage was over. He told me she knew and didn't care. Then he sent me three voice messages."

She pressed her thumb on her phone, and Cory's voice came out of the ballroom speakers.

"Tomorrow morning, when Cassia's getting her tea, go in the break room and say good morning. Be sweet."

The room heard "Just to see what she does."

It heard "She's so easy to set off."

It heard him laugh.

At table five, somebody put down a fork.

"That wasn't me," Cory said hoarsely. "That's not my voice. Somebody's doctored it."

"There's one more," Monique said. "You'll know it. I was standing next to you."

She pressed again.

Bar noise filled the ballroom, and glasses, and Cory's voice saying, "Cassia? She's a project."

When the recording reached the laugh, the laugh was hers.

She did not look away from the screen while it played.

"That's me," she said, when it ended. "I thought laughing was safer than asking him what he meant. It wasn't."

"Monique..." Cory said.

"I'm giving all of it to the court on Monday, and the board tonight." She set the microphone back in its stand. "I'm sorry, Cassia. I mean it."

She came down the steps and walked past me, shaking, and sat next to Kat.

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