Chapter 6 - THE MISTRESS WITH A SECOND SECRET
Sierra Vaughn had always presented herself as sophisticated.
She wore tailored suits.
Spoke confidently about corporate strategy.
And claimed to have connections with influential investors.
Cole had been impressed from the beginning.
What he didn't know was that Sierra had been quietly cultivating relationships with several other executives.
When the audit committee began reviewing her consulting invoices, Sierra became nervous.
She called Cole.
"Why are they asking for my contracts?"
"Because Lauren is causing trouble."
Sierra went still.
"Lauren?"
"She has some connection to a shareholder trust."
Sierra's voice sharpened.
"What kind of connection?"
Cole hesitated.
"I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"She never handled our investments."
Sierra was silent.
Then said:
"Cole, you need to find out exactly what she controls."
Cole contacted Daniel Harris.
Daniel refused to discuss Lauren's private trust arrangements without authorization.
Cole grew angry.
"I'm her husband."
Daniel replied calmly:
"That doesn't give you access to confidential trust information."
Meanwhile, the audit revealed something unexpected.
Sierra's consulting firm had received payments from Ashford Capital and from a competing investment group.
Some invoices described overlapping work.
Others lacked adequate documentation.
Investigators also discovered communications suggesting Sierra had shared confidential information with outside parties.
I learned about the findings during a meeting with Rebecca and Daniel.
"Is Cole involved?" I asked.
Daniel shook his head.
"We don't know yet."
I looked down.
"Then we wait for the evidence."
Rebecca studied me.
"You're being remarkably calm."
I gave a tired smile.
"I've spent years being told I'm irrational."
I looked at the documents.
"I'm not giving anyone a reason to say it now."
That evening, Sierra arrived at Cole's apartment.
He opened the door.
She looked furious.
"Your wife is trying to destroy me."
Cole frowned.
"Lauren wouldn't know how."
Sierra stared at him.
Then laughed bitterly.
May you like
"You really don't know your wife at all."
For the first time, Cole began to suspect that the woman he'd dismissed as helpless might be the only person in the room who understood what was happening.
