Chapter 4 - THE WEDDING THAT NEVER HAPPENED
The cancellation became public within forty-eight hours.
Business magazines speculated.
Society columns invented explanations.
Victoria's friends called Alexander heartless.
Her father threatened legal action over the wedding expenses.
Alexander ignored the gossip.
He focused on the evidence.
Victoria's family had invested heavily in Whitmore Development.
Her father, Charles Sterling, sat on the board of one subsidiary.
And Alexander had recently discovered irregularities in several contracts Charles had helped negotiate.
Daniel entered his office carrying a folder.
“Sir, there's something you need to see.”
Alexander looked up.
“What?”
“Payments from Sterling Holdings to a consulting company.”
Alexander frowned.
“How much?”
“Four million dollars over eighteen months.”
“For what?”
Daniel hesitated.
“That's the problem.”
Alexander opened the folder.
The invoices were vague.
The addresses didn't match.
Several signatures appeared inconsistent.
He stared.
“Who approved these?”
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
“Charles Sterling.”
Alexander's expression darkened.
Then he noticed another name.
HAYES CONSULTING SERVICES.
He stopped.
“Hayes?”
Daniel nodded.
“The company was registered under that name.”
Alexander stared.
“Is there any connection to Emily?”
“We don't know yet.”
Alexander looked toward the window.
A terrible possibility began forming.
May you like
Victoria hadn't simply disliked Emily.
She might have been afraid of her.
