Chapter 7 - Her Father’s First Move
Claire said nothing for several seconds.
“Does Adrian know?”
“No.”
“Whose child is it?”
Vanessa looked away.
“Elliot's.”
The entire affair suddenly looked different.
Not better.
Different.
“You told Adrian the baby was his.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Elliot wanted nothing to do with Adrian anymore. He wanted us to leave.”
“But you wanted Adrian's money.”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
Claire felt no satisfaction.
Only exhaustion.
“Then tell him.”
“I can't.”
“You can.”
“He'll destroy me.”
Claire picked up the flash drive.
“You weren't worried about destruction when it was happening to me.”
Vanessa flinched.
Claire left.
That evening, Richard's forensic team authenticated enough of the files to confirm that Vanessa had not been bluffing.
Adrian had authorized transfers through shell companies.
Elliot had objected.
Vanessa had helped conceal communications.
And Claire's forged signature appeared repeatedly.
Richard wanted immediate legal action.
Claire agreed.
But she insisted on one condition.
“No revenge that isn't legal.”
Richard looked at her.
“You told me to destroy his life.”
“I was hurt.”
“You had every right to be.”
“I still don't want us becoming him.”
Her father leaned back.
For the first time that day, he smiled.
“Your mother would have said exactly that.”
Claire looked toward her mother's photograph.
“What happens now?”
“We stop protecting Vale Meridian. We provide evidence to the appropriate investigators. Your attorneys handle the divorce. And you heal.”
Claire nodded.
It sounded simple.
It wasn't.
Because Adrian called that night.
Claire almost ignored him.
Then she answered.
“What?”
His voice sounded different.
“Come home.”
“No.”
“Claire, please.”
She had never heard Adrian say please like that.
“The board suspended me.”
Claire closed her eyes.
“I didn't do that.”
“Your father did.”
“No. Your decisions did.”
“Don't give me philosophy. You know what he's capable of.”
“So do you.”
Silence.
Then Adrian whispered:
“I know about Vanessa.”
Claire opened her eyes.
“What about her?”
“She disappeared.”
Claire stood.
“When?”
“An hour ago.”
A chill ran through her.
“Adrian, what did you do?”
“Nothing.”
She didn't believe him.
Then he said something that made her blood run cold.
“She took the original accounting ledger.”
Claire gripped the phone.
“And if somebody finds her before we do, your father's investigation may never reach the truth.”
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