Celeste argued that the amounts were too small to justify a full board review.
The accountant's preliminary findings suggested the transactions needed to be evaluated collectively rather than treated as isolated small expenses.
Several charges also involved the same underlying program.
A director asked whether Celeste had disclosed her ownership of Harrow Lifestyle Events when requesting association reimbursements.
She looked toward the attorney.
Then said she'd assumed everyone knew.
The director shook his head.
"I didn't."
Another agreed.
"Neither did I."
Celeste's expression hardened.
"You're acting like I stole money."
The attorney remained calm.
"We're examining financial authorization and potential conflicts of interest. No one is asking you to accept a legal conclusion without the process."
She looked toward him.
Then snapped, "This whole thing started because one homeowner wouldn't cooperate."
Nora leaned forward.
"No, Celeste. This started because you treated his refusal as something you could ignore."
The president opened her mouth.
Nora continued.
"He said the pool was private. His attorney said it was private. The property records confirmed it was private. Yet you continued advertising access."
For the first time, Celeste had no immediate response.
Then the attorney raised the plumbing connection.
He placed the relevant installation records on the table.
The documents showed work performed by Bluehaven near Luke's auxiliary system.
Celeste had supplied the contractor with the disputed access agreement.
And project communications described her authorization as the basis for proceeding.
One director looked toward her.
"Did Luke know this work was happening?"
Celeste hesitated.
"He knew the HOA was upgrading the fountain."
The director frowned.
"That's not what I asked."
She looked away.
The attorney explained the distinction between knowing that a neighboring fountain was being renovated and granting permission for physical changes to a privately owned pool.
Celeste shifted in her chair.
She tried to describe the connection as a temporary arrangement.
Then as a misunderstanding.
Then as something the contractor should have verified independently.
The directors listened.
But none of those explanations established that Luke had agreed.
Finally, the board vice president asked a simple question.
"Why didn't you just ask him?"
Celeste stared.
For several seconds, she seemed almost offended by the simplicity of it.
Then answered quietly.
"Because he would've said no."
Nobody spoke.
The words remained hanging in the air.
Celeste looked around the table.
She seemed to realize what she'd admitted.