Chapter 11 - THE BETRAYAL THAT STARTED SIX YEARS AGO
Derek agreed to speak with investigators.
His attorneys advised him to cooperate.
And during the interview, he revealed something unexpected.
Victor Sloane had approached him six years earlier.
Back when Derek's company was struggling.
Back when I was still helping him with financial projections.
Victor offered financing.
Introductions.
Access to shipping contracts.
And a path into the Black Harbor network.
But there was a condition.
Derek had to stop involving me in his business.
I stared at the interview summary.
Six years.
Victor had known who I was.
He knew I'd worked on maritime insurance investigations.
And he knew I might recognize fraudulent documentation.
I looked at Dominic.
“Derek didn't just leave because he was embarrassed by me.”
Dominic's expression hardened.
“He was told you were a liability.”
I swallowed.
“And he believed it.”
Dominic took my hand.
For a moment, I felt the old pain.
Then something else.
Relief.
Because the truth was finally becoming clear.
Derek hadn't left because I wasn't good enough.
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He'd left because he valued ambition more than integrity.
And Kendra had helped him believe that choice was glamorous.
