Chapter 7 - THE WEDDING BECOMES A CRIME SCENE
The wedding guests stopped being guests.
They became witnesses.
Phones came out.
Security moved.
Reporters who had been invited for society coverage suddenly realized they had a national business story.
Richard Cole stepped forward.
“This is private property.”
Agent Shaw showed his credentials.
“We have a warrant.”
Charles Langford cursed under his breath.
Victoria turned on her father.
“What did you do?”
Charles hissed, “Not here.”
Agent Shaw looked at Ethan.
“Mr. Cole, we have reason to believe company assets were moved through shell entities connected to both your father and Langford Capital.”
Ethan stared at Marcus.
The CFO looked ready to collapse.
“Did you know?”
Marcus whispered, “Some.”
“How much?”
“Enough.”
Richard snapped, “Marcus.”
Marcus flinched.
Ethan said, “Talk.”
The CFO looked at him.
“I found irregular transfers eight months ago.”
“And?”
“I reported them to your father.”
“Not me?”
“He said you were negotiating the Langford marriage.”
Ethan actually laughed.
It was ugly.
“My marriage was being used as collateral.”
Victoria shouted, “Stop saying it like that!”
Agent Shaw turned.
“Ms. Langford, we may need to speak with you as well.”
Her face drained.
“Why?”
The agent opened the folder.
“Because an account authorized by you received twelve million dollars from a Cole subsidiary.”
“I don’t know anything about that.”
Charles grabbed her arm.
“Quiet.”
That told everyone enough.
Rosa stepped back.
This had become bigger than her.
Ethan saw her leaving again.
He moved through the crowd.
“Rosa.”
She stopped near the side door.
“What?”
“Please don’t disappear.”
“I have a child to protect.”
“She’s mine too.”
Rosa’s expression hardened.
“Biology doesn’t make you a parent in one afternoon.”
He took that blow.
“You’re right.”
She had expected an argument.
He didn’t give her one.
“I’ll earn whatever I get.”
Rosa stared at him.
Behind them, agents began escorting Richard toward a private study.
Ethan didn’t even look.
For once, he stayed focused on Rosa.
“I’m not asking you to trust me today.”
“Good.”
“I’m asking for a phone number.”
She almost smiled.
Almost.
“You really don’t have one?”
“My father changed everything after you left.”
“I didn’t leave.”
“I know that now.”
A pause.
Lily peeked around Rosa’s skirt.
Ethan looked at her.
“Can I call sometime?”
Lily looked at her mother.
Rosa exhaled.
“Maybe.”
That single word gave Ethan more hope than the entire morning had.
Then Agent Shaw called from across the ballroom.
“Mr. Cole.”
Ethan turned.
The agent held up a second envelope.
“This was recovered from your father’s office.”
Ethan walked back.
Shaw handed it to him.
His name was on the front.
Rosa’s handwriting.
Another letter.
Unopened.
But this one was different.
May you like
Across the bottom, Rosa had written—
Ethan, the baby is in the hospital. Please come.
