Chapter 27 - A Truth She Could Not PurchaseThe Harbor Row community center was packed when Kalista arrived.
Nobody applauded.
Nobody smiled.
Elias stood near the back with his arms folded.
Margaret sat in the front row.
Kalista approached the microphone.
"I married Thatcher for business reasons."
The room became quiet.
"I didn't love him. I believed marrying him would help my firm gain influence over his father's business interests."
A woman interrupted.
"So you used your own marriage to get rich?"
Kalista met her eyes.
"I used it to pursue control. And I convinced myself that because the legal agreements were valid, my reasons didn't matter."
"Did they?"
"Yes."
She paused.
"They mattered because I wasn't being honest about what I wanted."
Nobody spoke.
Kalista continued.
"When I saw Sterling attack Lenora, I acted because she needed help. That doesn't erase the choices I made before that night."
Margaret stood.
"Then why should we trust you now?"
Kalista stepped away from the microphone.
"You shouldn't trust me because I have money or because I once stopped a violent man."
She glanced at Elias.
"You should judge me by what I do here. And you should have the ability to remove me from this effort if I stop listening."
Elias raised his eyebrows.
"Would you agree to independent oversight?"
"Yes."
"Open financial reporting?"
"Yes."
"And no development deal without the residents' informed approval?"
"Yes."
The room began murmuring.
One woman folded her arms.
"That's easy to say."
Kalista nodded.
"Then put it in writing."
After the meeting, Elias caught up with her outside.
"You could have blamed everything on Thatcher."
"That wouldn't have been true."
"You could have reminded everyone how much money you've already donated."
"That wouldn't answer their questions."
He looked at her for a long moment.
"You're different from what I expected."
Kalista smiled faintly.
"So are you."
"How?"
"I expected you to be more annoying."
He laughed.
May you like
It was the first time she'd heard him laugh.
And she found herself wanting to hear it again.
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