Chapter 4 - THE SECRETARY WHO HAD ANOTHER NAME
Tessa Brooks wasn't her real name.
She had been born Theresa Bennett.
She married Daniel Mercer at twenty-four.
At twenty-seven, she discovered his crimes.
At twenty-eight, she fled with their daughter.
Now she was thirty-one.
And the life she'd built was collapsing.
Gideon listened without interrupting.
When she finished, he asked one question.
“Why did you come to work for me?”
Tessa hesitated.
Then whispered, “Because I needed access.”
Gideon stared.
“Access to what?”
“Mercer's financial records.”
Silence.
Tessa continued.
“I knew he worked with Shore Enterprises. I thought if I got close enough, I could find proof.”
Gideon's expression darkened.
“So you came here to investigate me.”
She nodded.
“Yes.”
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he laughed once.
Coldly.
“Three years.”
Tessa lowered her eyes.
“I'm sorry.”
Gideon looked at her.
“You've been sitting outside my office for three years, collecting evidence against my attorney.”
She nodded.
“Yes.”
“And you never told me.”
“No.”
Gideon leaned back.
He should have been furious.
Part of him was.
But another part understood something.
Tessa had been terrified.
And she'd still walked into the center of a criminal empire to protect her child.
He looked at her.
“Where are the records?”
She swallowed.
“Somewhere safe.”
“Good.”
Tessa blinked.
“Good?”
May you like
Gideon nodded.
“Because if Mercer is doing what you say, we're going to need them.”
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