Chapter 10 - THE SECRET CLAIRE KEPT
William stood between us like he had been waiting years for this moment.
“Tell him.”
Claire stared at him.
“No.”
“You’ve hidden it long enough.”
I looked at her.
“Claire?”
She closed her eyes.
“Adrian, before the crash, I found evidence that Richard used your identity.”
“My father. I know.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“Not just your identity.”
William smiled.
Claire continued.
“He opened shell companies under your name, moved money through them, and created contracts that made it look like you personally authorized everything.”
“I didn’t.”
“I know that now.”
“Now?”
“When I found it, I thought you were involved.”
My stomach dropped.
William had been telling the truth about that.
Claire stepped closer.
“I was terrified.”
“Why didn’t you confront me?”
“I was going to.”
“What stopped you?”
“Your father’s old attorney came to me.”
“Martin Shaw?”
She nodded.
“He told me if I went to the police, you would go to prison.”
“Because of forged records.”
“Yes.”
“And then?”
“I started gathering evidence quietly.”
William said, “And became a tremendous nuisance.”
Claire glared at him.
“You murdered people.”
William shrugged.
“Allegedly.”
I looked toward the armed men above.
Rachel’s team was somewhere outside.
They needed time.
I kept William talking.
“What do you want?”
“Simple.”
He took a folder from the table.
“You transfer controlling interest in Mercer Holdings into a trust administered by me.”
I laughed.
“You kidnapped my wife for shares?”
“I protected an empire.”
“You destroyed my family.”
“Families are temporary.”
His smile disappeared.
“Companies can survive generations.”
Claire said, “He needs your shares because the board is voting next week.”
I looked at her.
“Voting on what?”
“To remove him from the foundation and open an independent audit.”
I understood.
“If the audit happens—”
“Everything comes out,” she said.
William nodded.
“And I lose more than a board seat.”
“You go to prison.”
“Possibly.”
Vanessa stepped forward.
“You’re finished either way.”
William looked at her.
“I’m disappointed in you.”
“You controlled me for years.”
“I gave you opportunities.”
“You threatened my brother.”
“Your brother was careless.”
She froze.
“What did you say?”
William smiled.
Vanessa’s voice cracked.
“Did you kill Michael?”
William didn’t answer.
That was an answer.
Vanessa lunged toward him.
One of the men above raised his weapon.
“Vanessa!” I shouted.
She stopped.
William straightened his cuff.
“Emotional people are so predictable.”
Claire reached for my hand.
For the first time in four years, our fingers touched.
I nearly broke.
Then Claire whispered something so quietly only I heard it.
“Camera above the door.”
I didn’t move my eyes.
A tiny lens.
William had his own surveillance system.
Claire continued.
“He records everything.”
My mind started racing.
If Rachel couldn’t hear us, maybe we could use William’s own system.
I looked at the contract.
“What happens if I sign?”
“You take Claire home.”
“And Vanessa?”
He smiled.
“She stays.”
Vanessa whispered, “Adrian.”
I said nothing.
William slid a pen across the table.
“Choose.”
I picked it up.
Claire stared at me.
I turned toward William.
“You made one mistake.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“You think I care more about Mercer Holdings than my family.”
Then I tore the contract in half.
William’s face changed.
The first real crack.
He lifted one hand.
The armed men moved.
And Vanessa suddenly screamed:
May you like
“NOW!”
The side wall exploded inward.
