Chapter 11 - VANESSA'S LAST LIEThree days later, Vanessa asked to speak with Daniel.
He refused.
Then Rachel told him what Vanessa was offering.
Information about Charles.
Daniel went.
Vanessa sat behind reinforced glass.
No diamonds.
No white designer suit.
No arrogance.
Only exhaustion.
Daniel picked up the phone.
Vanessa did the same.
“You look terrible.”
Daniel didn't respond.
Vanessa smiled faintly.
“How is Elena?”
“You don't get to say her name.”
Her smile vanished.
“Marcus killed your father.”
Daniel stared at her.
“Prove it.”
“I saw him switch Charles's medication.”
Daniel's grip tightened around the phone.
“When?”
“The afternoon Charles died.”
“And you said nothing?”
“I didn't know what Marcus intended.”
Daniel studied her.
“That’s another lie.”
Vanessa looked away.
“You knew.”
“No.”
“You always look left when you're lying.”
Her eyes snapped back toward him.
Daniel almost laughed.
“I spent enough time believing you.”
Vanessa leaned toward the glass.
“I didn't kill him.”
“But you helped cover it up.”
Silence.
Daniel had his answer.
“Why?”
“Because your father was going to stop the merger.”
“And expose the stolen money.”
Vanessa said nothing.
Daniel stood.
“Wait.”
He stopped.
Vanessa's voice softened.
“Did you ever love me?”
Daniel looked at her for a long moment.
May you like
“I loved someone who never existed.”
Then he hung up.
