Chapter 5 - THE DEAD MAN’S ACCOUNT
Damian stared at the page.
“That’s impossible.”
Vanessa crossed her arms.
“It’s not what it looks like.”
Elena almost laughed.
“What does three-point-eight million dollars to a dead man look like?”
Vanessa shot her a look.
“Stay out of this.”
Damian spoke without raising his voice.
“She’s already in it.”
Vanessa turned back to him.
“My father had a family trust.”
“You told me his estate was closed.”
“It was.”
“Then what is this?”
“Personal money.”
“Mine?”
Vanessa said nothing.
That answer was enough.
Damian pulled out his phone.
He called his chief financial officer.
“Martin. Freeze every discretionary account connected to household management, events, and wedding expenses.”
Vanessa’s eyes widened.
“Damian.”
He continued.
“Flag transfers to any account connected to Gregory Hail.”
A pause.
“Yes. Immediately.”
He hung up.
Vanessa stepped closer.
“You’re overreacting.”
“You stole from me.”
“I did not steal anything.”
“Then you won’t mind an audit.”
Her breathing changed.
Subtle.
Elena noticed.
Damian did too.
Vanessa grabbed her purse from a chair.
“I’m leaving.”
“No.”
She laughed.
“You can’t keep me here.”
“No. But that ledger stays.”
“It’s mine.”
Damian closed it.
“It contains records related to my company and my employees.”
Vanessa reached for it.
He stepped back.
Her mask finally cracked.
“You think she’s worth this?”
Elena stared at her.
Damian’s face hardened.
“This has nothing to do with Elena.”
“Of course it does.”
Vanessa pointed toward Mia.
“That child has been crawling all over you for months. Elena bats her eyes, plays helpless, and suddenly I’m the villain.”
Elena’s mouth dropped open.
“Are you serious?”
Vanessa laughed.
“Oh, please. You live thirty yards from his house.”
“Because I work here.”
“You make sure your daughter is always around him.”
“My daughter likes him.”
“Exactly.”
Mia lifted her head.
“I don’t like you.”
Silence.
Elena closed her eyes.
“Mia.”
“What?”
Vanessa stared at the child.
Damian almost smiled despite everything.
Then Vanessa snapped.
“This is what I’m talking about!”
She reached toward Mia.
Elena stepped back immediately.
“Don’t touch her.”
Damian moved between them.
Fast.
Vanessa froze.
He said quietly, “You will never put your hands on that child again.”
Vanessa stared at him.
Then at Elena.
“You already chose them.”
Damian shook his head.
“No.”
“What?”
“You did.”
Vanessa’s eyes narrowed.
He held up the ledger.
“You made this choice every time you lied.”
She gave him a bitter laugh.
“You think you know everything now?”
“No.”
“You don’t know anything.”
“Then explain.”
Vanessa’s face went still.
For several seconds, she looked almost calm.
Then she said,
“You want the truth?”
“Yes.”
“Fine.”
She pointed at the ledger.
“Your company is bleeding money.”
Damian stared at her.
“Cross Industrial?”
“Yes.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Is it?”
“My financial reports—”
“Are wrong.”
Damian’s face changed.
Vanessa smiled.
Finally she had something he didn’t know.
“You’re so busy being the smartest man in every room, Damian. You never notice who prepares the room before you walk in.”
Damian’s phone buzzed.
He looked down.
Message from Martin.
URGENT. CALL ME ALONE.
Damian stepped away and answered.
Elena watched his expression.
First confusion.
Then disbelief.
Then something close to fear.
He lowered the phone.
“What?” Elena asked.
Damian looked at Vanessa.
She was smiling.
Not politely anymore.
Triumphantly.
“My CFO just found eighty-seven million dollars missing.”
Vanessa’s smile widened.
May you like
And then she said the six words that changed everything.
“You should check who signed for it.”
