Chapter 5 - Victoria at My Door
I opened the door three inches.
“What are you doing here?”
Victoria glanced toward the street.
“I need five minutes.”
“No.”
“Rachel, please.”
Hearing that word from her almost made me laugh.
Please.
She hadn’t cared about please when she was sleeping with my husband.
“I think we’re done talking.”
“This isn’t about the affair.”
“It’s always interesting when the mistress decides the affair isn’t important anymore.”
Her face tightened.
“I deserved that.”
“You deserved worse.”
She looked down.
For once, Victoria Hale didn’t look polished.
No makeup.
Hair pulled into a messy knot.
Hands trembling.
“I think Julian is lying to me.”
I stared at her.
“You came to me for relationship advice?”
“No.”
“Then leave.”
She stopped the door with her palm.
“Did you find his recorder?”
There it was.
I said nothing.
Victoria whispered, “Oh God.”
“How do you know about it?”
“He tore the penthouse apart last night.”
“Sounds romantic.”
“Rachel, listen to me. If you found it, don’t tell him what you heard.”
My anger shifted into something colder.
“Why?”
“Because some of those recordings involve things I didn’t understand at the time.”
“You sounded pretty understanding.”
She flinched.
“You listened.”
Enough answer.
Victoria stepped inside when I stopped pushing the door closed.
“I knew he moved income during the divorce.”
I felt heat rise into my face.
“You knew he was cheating Noah out of support?”
“He told me it was temporary tax planning.”
“You’re an attorney.”
“I know.”
“That isn’t an excuse.”
“I know.”
Her voice cracked.
That surprised me.
“He told me Mercer authorized the transfers.”
“Did they?”
“I don’t think so.”
“What changed?”
“I found a second account.”
She reached into her purse.
I stepped back.
She pulled out a folded statement.
“Two weeks ago.”
I took it.
CAYMAN NATIONAL PRIVATE BANK.
Balance:
$2,460,811.
Account holder:
JVC Strategic Holdings.
“Julian controls it?”
“Yes.”
“Where did this money come from?”
“I don’t know.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“No.”
She looked me straight in the eye.
“I expect you to believe I’m scared.”
Before I could respond, tires screeched outside.
Victoria’s face drained.
She hurried toward the window.
A black Mercedes had stopped at the curb.
Julian stepped out.
His eyes went straight to my house.
Victoria whispered one word.
“Damn.”
Then my phone buzzed.
A message from Julian.
I KNOW SHE’S IN THERE.
A second message came immediately.
DO NOT BELIEVE A WORD SHE SAYS.
Victoria looked at me.
“What did he send?”
I showed her.
She stared at the screen.
Then said:
“He knows because he tracks my car.”
Julian started walking toward my door.
Victoria grabbed my arm.
“Rachel, there’s something else.”
“What?”
May you like
She looked terrified.
“The money isn’t the worst thing on that recorder.”
