Chapter 4 - VANESSA
Vanessa Hale wasn’t just Marcus’s mistress.
She was Cole-Whitmore’s Vice President of Strategic Development.
Which meant she had access.
Contracts.
Acquisitions.
Private negotiations.
Investor information.
And according to Harrison, Vanessa had been helping Marcus move money through shell consulting firms for almost two years.
“We don’t have enough yet,” Dana said.
“Then why not fire them?”
“Because if we move early, they’ll destroy evidence.”
Harrison folded his arms.
“We need Marcus comfortable.”
I understood immediately.
“You want him to think he’s winning.”
“Exactly.”
So I gave Marcus the easiest divorce he could imagine.
I didn’t fight over the house.
I didn’t demand public explanations.
I didn’t contact his board.
I didn’t confront Vanessa.
When Marcus asked me to sign a temporary separation agreement, Dana reviewed every line first.
Then I signed.
Marcus became bolder.
Within two months, he had moved Vanessa into our house.
My house too, technically.
I found out because she posted a photo from our back patio.
Caption:
New beginnings.
The comments nearly made me sick.
So happy for you two.
You deserve this, Marcus.
Finally with a woman who supports you.
I closed the app.
Then my phone rang.
Marcus.
“Hello?”
“I need you to remove some personal items from the house.”
“What items?”
“Your clothes. Books. Pictures.”
“My name is still on the deed.”
He sighed.
“Do we really have to make everything legal?”
I almost smiled.
“You started divorce proceedings, Marcus.”
“Vanessa’s uncomfortable.”
There it was.
Not him.
Her.
“I’m sorry she’s uncomfortable in my bedroom.”
“Our bedroom is no longer your bedroom.”
“Legally, it is.”
Silence.
Then he said, very quietly, “Don’t become difficult.”
I leaned back in my chair.
“Is that a threat?”
“It’s advice.”
“No, Marcus. Advice is something useful.”
He hung up.
I sat there looking at the phone.
Dana, who had heard the whole call, raised an eyebrow.
“He’s losing patience.”
“Good.”
Harrison entered the conference room holding a tablet.
“We just got something.”
He placed it in front of us.
On the screen was a series of wire transfers.
Seven payments.
All approved by Marcus.
All sent to a consulting company in Delaware.
Dana scrolled down.
“Who owns it?”
Harrison looked at me.
“Vanessa’s brother.”
I felt something cold move through my chest.
“How much?”
“Four-point-eight million so far.”
“Company money?”
“Yes.”
I stared at the numbers.
Then Harrison swiped to a second file.
“And there’s one more problem.”
He showed us a draft acquisition agreement.
Marcus was preparing to sell one of Cole-Whitmore’s most valuable divisions.
Without full board approval.
The buyer?
A private equity firm.
The advisor?
Vanessa.
The side payment?
Twenty million dollars.
Dana whispered, “Oh my God.”
I looked at Harrison.
“When does he plan to sign?”
Harrison checked the date.
“Three weeks.”
May you like
Then he looked at me.
“The night of the gala.”
