Chapter 12 - Wade Dalton’s Perfect Lie
Wade Dalton had not planned to steal Reed Meridian in a single dramatic move.
He had planned to inherit it piece by piece.
That was what the forensic team discovered.
Fifteen years earlier, when Reed Meridian was smaller, Wade joined as a logistics strategist.
Brilliant.
Patient.
Useful.
He became Nolan’s closest adviser.
Then he began building dependence.
He solved problems before Nolan noticed them.
Removed inconvenient employees.
Managed difficult board relationships.
Created the impression that only Wade understood how much pressure Nolan faced.
Meanwhile he built alliances.
Vendor relationships.
Private debts.
Quiet favors.
Three board members owed him financially.
Two executives had affairs documented in his files.
One senior vice president had accepted gifts from contractors.
Wade knew all of it.
And Nolan knew almost none.
“He made himself indispensable,” Marcus said.
Nolan stood in a secure conference room examining folders.
“He made everyone compromised.”
“Exactly.”
Maya’s file was thicker than Claire’s.
That infuriated Nolan.
Photographs.
Work history.
Family information.
Banking estimates.
Even notes about her mother’s illness.
Wade had studied her.
Not because Maya mattered initially.
Because anyone close to Nolan mattered.
Then she discovered vendor irregularities.
Her threat level increased.
Then pregnancy.
Then succession.
Maya became unacceptable.
Marcus opened another file.
“Look at this.”
An internal memo drafted by Wade eighteen months ago.
If Nolan Reed dies without acknowledged issue, temporary voting authority…
Nolan stopped reading.
“He was waiting for me to die?”
“Maybe not actively.”
“That’s comforting.”
“But he was planning around it.”
Nolan looked at Marcus.
“Any evidence he intended physical harm?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Nolan meant it.
Corporate betrayal he could fight.
Anything else would place Maya and the girls in danger he could not tolerate.
Marcus continued.
“We do have evidence of fraud, unauthorized access, and obstruction.”
“Enough for charges?”
“The attorneys think so.”
Nolan sat.
Then Marcus said, “There’s one thing you’re not going to like.”
“What?”
“Claire’s file.”
Nolan looked up.
“What about it?”
“Wade encouraged that relationship too.”
“What?”
Marcus handed him emails.
Wade had repeatedly invited Claire to charity events where Nolan would be present.
Recommended her firm for Reed Meridian projects.
Suggested Nolan contact her after his breakup.
Nolan felt sick.
“Did Claire know?”
“No indication.”
“Why her?”
“Safe profile.”
“What does that mean?”
“No interest in company operations. Strong independent wealth. No immediate desire for children according to…”
Marcus stopped.
Nolan’s eyes hardened.
“According to what?”
“A background profile.”
Nolan swore.
Wade had not merely removed Maya.
He had attempted to replace her with someone less threatening.
Claire.
Successful enough not to need Nolan’s money.
Private enough not to question his company.
Independent enough not to demand much time.
A perfect partner.
For Wade.
Nolan called Claire.
She came to the office within an hour.
He showed her.
She read silently.
Her face became pale.
When she finished she placed the papers down.
“I feel disgusting.”
“You didn’t know.”
“I was introduced to you by Wade.”
“Yes.”
“I thought it was coincidence.”
“So did I.”
She looked at Nolan.
“Did you love me because he arranged it?”
“No.”
“I know. That was a stupid question.”
“It wasn’t.”
Claire walked toward the window.
“He treated us like pieces.”
“Yes.”
She laughed bitterly.
“And he was almost right.”
“What?”
“We were compatible.”
Nolan stood.
“We were real.”
Claire turned.
“I know.”
He needed her to believe that.
Whatever Wade’s manipulation, the years Nolan and Claire spent together were theirs.
Claire nodded.
“I know.”
Then she asked, “Does Maya know?”
“Not yet.”
“Tell her.”
“I will.”
Claire gathered the papers.
“What happens now?”
“Authorities decide charges.”
“And the company?”
“We rebuild.”
“And you?”
Nolan looked at her.
“I rebuild too.”
Claire smiled sadly.
“Good.”
That evening Nolan told Maya.
She listened.
Then surprised him.
“I feel sorry for Claire.”
“So do I.”
“She got used too.”
“Yes.”
“Have you told her?”
“She knows.”
Maya looked relieved.
Then laughed softly.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Maya.”
“It’s just…”
She shook her head.
“For years I imagined Claire as this perfect woman who got the life I was supposed to have.”
Nolan’s heart tightened.
“She didn’t.”
“I know.”
“Did you hate her?”
“No.”
Maya thought.
“Maybe a little.”
“That’s honest.”
“I hated her coat.”
Nolan laughed.
“What was wrong with her coat?”
“It looked expensive.”
“It was expensive.”
“That made it worse.”
They both laughed.
Then Holly ran in.
“Daddy book.”
Nolan had begun reading bedtime stories when Maya allowed him.
He stood.
“Which one?”
“Bunny.”
“Again?”
“Again!”
Maya smiled.
“She’s your daughter. Repetition as control.”
“I reject that characterization.”
Ten minutes later Nolan sat between two toddler beds reading the same rabbit story for the fourth time that week.
Hope interrupted every page.
Holly corrected him if he skipped a sentence.
Maya leaned against the doorway.
Watching.
Something hurt in her.
Not bad.
Not exactly.
It was the ache of seeing the life they could have had.
That was dangerous.
Because Nolan was becoming easy to love again.
Not the billionaire.
Not the CEO.
The man sitting on a rug making ridiculous rabbit voices because two little girls demanded it.
After bedtime, Maya confronted the fear.
“You’re making this difficult.”
Nolan looked confused.
“What?”
“You’re being good.”
He smiled faintly.
“I’ll try to stop.”
“That’s not funny.”
His expression softened.
“No.”
Maya sat.
“I spent two years learning how not to need you.”
“I know.”
“And now you’re here constantly.”
“I can come less.”
The immediate pain on his face made her regret saying it.
“I didn’t ask that.”
“Okay.”
“I’m just…”
She searched for words.
“Scared.”
Nolan waited.
“If I trust you and you leave…”
“I won’t.”
She closed her eyes.
“You promised no promises.”
He corrected himself.
“Then judge me by what I do.”
Maya looked at him.
“That’s better.”
His phone buzzed.
Message from Marcus.
Wade had been formally charged with financial crimes connected to the company investigation.
Nolan stared.
“What?”
“Wade’s been charged.”
Maya exhaled.
“Is it over?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because trials take time.”
Maya nodded.
Then Nolan added:
“But he can’t control our lives anymore.”
Our.
Maya noticed the word.
So did he.
May you like
Neither corrected it.
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