Chapter 4 - The Counter-AttackWord of David’s suspension spread through the municipal agency like wildfire. By Wednesday afternoon, local news outlets picked up the story of a high-ranking city development official suspended amid allegations of procurement kickbacks and ethical misconduct. Although David’s name wasn't yet plastered across the front pages of the Chicago Tribune, the internal grapevine was ruthless.
Marlene Brooks, David’s mother, arrived unannounced at Natalie’s downtown pharmaceutical office on Thursday morning.
Natalie’s executive assistant buzzed through the intercom with visible hesitation. "Ms. Brooks, your mother-in-law is in the lobby. She’s... she’s very upset and demanding to see you."
"Send her up," Natalie said calmly, signing off on a clinical trial protocol. "I was wondering when she would make an appearance."
Five minutes later, Marlene pushed open the glass doors of Natalie’s corner office. The older woman looked disheveled, her expensive wool coat half-buttoned, her face twisted with a mixture of maternal fury and desperate anxiety.
"Natalie! What on earth is going on?" Marlene demanded, marching directly up to the desk and slamming her handbag down on the polished wood. "David called me in hysterics saying you’ve thrown him out on the street, frozen his accounts, and somehow gotten him suspended from his job! Have you lost your mind?"
Natalie remained seated. She didn't offer Marlene a seat, nor did she smile. She simply folded her hands on the desk and looked at her mother-in-law with cool detachment.
"Good morning, Marlene. Would you like some water? Or perhaps a sedative?" Natalie asked smoothly.
"Don't play games with me, Natalie!" Marlene snapped, leaning over the desk. "David is your husband! Marriage has ups and downs! Every man makes mistakes, every man gets tempted by foolish things at times, but that doesn't mean you destroy his entire life! You’ve locked him out of his home, you’ve cut off his funds, and now he’s facing a formal investigation at work. Do you have any idea what this is doing to our family's reputation?"
Natalie let out a quiet, cold breath. For five years, she had tolerated Marlene’s passive-aggressive remarks at holiday dinners—remarks about how David was the "breadwinner" of the family (despite making a fraction of her salary), how Natalie spent too much time at the office, and how a "real wife" should prioritize her husband's comfort above all else.
"Your son didn't just make a mistake, Marlene," Natalie said, her voice dropping into a register that made the older woman pause. "He committed financial fraud, abused his public office to award subcontracts to his mistress's family, and brought a twenty-six-year-old girl into the bed I paid for while I was working late to fund our lifestyle."
Marlene blinked, momentarily stunned, but quickly recovered her defensive posture. "Pfft! That girl probably seduced him! You know how young women today throw themselves at successful men! David is weak to flattery, you know that, but his heart has always been with you. If you were home more often instead of chasing corporate promotions, none of this would have happened!"
Natalie stood up slowly. The height difference and her immaculate posture gave her an imposing presence that silenced Marlene instantly.
"If you ever finish blaming me for your son's lack of a moral compass, remember this," Natalie said, her voice cutting like glass. "David is facing a federal and state audit, an immediate divorce with zero spousal support based on his dissipation of marital assets, and criminal referral for corruption. I didn't destroy his life, Marlene. He did that himself the moment he signed his name to those fraudulent procurement documents. Now, security will escort you out of the building. If you return, I will file a restraining order."
Marlene’s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. She stared at Natalie, realizing for the first time that the polite, accommodating daughter-in-law she had taken for granted was gone, replaced by a formidable adversary who held all the cards.
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"You'll regret this, Natalie," Marlene hissed, grabbing her handbag and turning toward the door. "Nobody treats my son this way and gets away with it!"
"Watch me," Natalie whispered softly as the door clicked shut.
