Chapter 8 - Vanessa’s Offer
Vanessa came to Claire’s apartment three nights later.
Claire almost didn’t open the door.
Daniel’s security team was downstairs.
Rachel had told her not to speak to any member of the Cole family without counsel.
But Vanessa looked different.
No expensive dress.
No perfect makeup.
Just jeans, a dark sweater, and exhaustion.
Claire kept the chain on.
“What do you want?”
“To talk.”
“We tried that in the restaurant.”
Vanessa looked down.
“I deserved that.”
Claire said nothing.
Vanessa took a breath.
“My father is going to blame everything on me.”
Claire’s expression changed.
“What?”
“He already started.”
Vanessa held up her phone.
“There are emails.”
“What emails?”
“Fake ones.”
Vanessa’s voice shook.
“He’s making it look like I authorized the shell companies.”
Claire stared at her.
“Did you?”
“Some.”
Claire almost closed the door.
Vanessa quickly said, “But not all.”
Claire stopped.
“I knew we were moving money.”
“I thought it was to hide debt from lenders.”
“You thought fraud was fine as long as it was a different kind of fraud?”
Vanessa flinched.
“No.”
“I was stupid.”
“You were cruel.”
Vanessa looked at her.
“Yes.”
Claire hadn’t expected that answer.
Vanessa swallowed.
“I hated you.”
“Why?”
“Because my father trusted your father more than he trusted me.”
“That wasn’t my fault.”
“I know.”
“And the restaurant?”
Vanessa’s eyes dropped.
“My father told me you were trying to destroy us.”
“So you humiliated me.”
“Yes.”
Claire waited.
Vanessa looked back up.
“I’m sorry.”
Claire felt no satisfaction.
Some apologies arrived too late to erase anything.
“What do you want from me?”
Vanessa reached into her bag.
Claire immediately tensed.
Vanessa slowly removed a phone.
“My father keeps another ledger.”
Claire stared.
“Where?”
“His house.”
“Why are you telling me?”
“Because I heard him talking tonight.”
Vanessa’s face went pale.
“He knows your father made more recordings.”
Claire’s heartbeat accelerated.
“And?”
“He thinks you have them.”
Vanessa stepped closer.
“He said Thomas made one mistake.”
“What mistake?”
“He trusted Daniel Mercer.”
Claire froze.
May you like
Vanessa whispered the next words.
“And my father said Daniel is going to pay for it tonight.”
