Chapter 4 - VANESSA KNEW MORE THAN SHE ADMITTED
Vanessa asked for one meeting.
I agreed.
Her lawyer attended.
Grace did not.
This was not her interrogation to survive.
Vanessa wore white.
Maybe accidental.
Probably not.
“I knew about the Hart transaction.”
She said it immediately.
“How much?”
“My father told me the marriage would stabilize both families.”
“Meaning?”
“He said once we married, the board would take the sale seriously.”
“Because you could vote Noah’s shares if I was removed.”
Her face changed.
So she knew.
“You knew.”
“Yes.”
My hands remained still.
That required effort.
“Did you forge my signature?”
“No.”
“Did you know my mother did?”
“I didn't know it was forged.”
“Then why did you think I approved firing Grace?”
Silence.
There.
Vanessa looked down.
“I knew you hadn't.”
Honest.
At last.
“Why go along with it?”
Her eyes filled.
“Because Noah hates me.”
“He’s three.”
“He screams when I put him to bed.”
“He screamed when I put him to bed for a year.”
She stared.
I continued:
“He screamed because his mother died before he learned the word mother.”
Vanessa cried.
“I tried.”
“I believe you.”
Hope appeared.
Then:
“But you hit the person he feels safe with.”
Hope died.
“My father said Grace had to go before the wedding.”
“Why?”
“Because if Noah kept calling her Mommy, every photograph after the wedding would make me look ridiculous.”
I almost laughed.
There it was.
Not motherhood.
Optics.
Then:
“Did Margaret tell you about the trust plan?”
“Some.”
“How much?”
“That if you became… unavailable, she would protect Noah’s shares until things stabilized.”
“Unavailable?”
Vanessa looked away.
I became completely still.
“What was supposed to happen to me?”
“I don't know.”
“Vanessa.”
“Richard said there might be a federal investigation.”
My pulse slowed.
“For what?”
“Shipping irregularities.”
I stared.
Vale Coastal had no federal inquiry.
At least none I knew about.
“Who told you?”
“Richard.”
CFO.
Again.
Then Vanessa said:
“He told your mother the board might temporarily remove you.”
Everything connected.
Not physical assassination.
Corporate incapacity.
Scandal.
An engineered investigation.
Remove me long enough.
Margaret activates trust authority.
Vanessa becomes spouse.
Hart transaction passes.
Money flows.
By the time charges disappear?
Assets gone.
I stood.
Meeting over.
Vanessa whispered:
“I really did love you.”
I looked at her.
“I believe that too.”
“Does that matter?”
“Yes.”
Her face changed.
May you like
“Not enough.”
I left.
