Chapter 4: The Papers Beneath the Champagne
Vanessa placed both hands on the table.
“A routine foundation amendment.
Nothing more.”
“Open the folder,” Luca said.
“You’ve had too much to drink.”
“I haven’t touched my champagne.
Open it.”
Vanessa remained still, so Emma reached for the cream-colored folder.
Vanessa snatched it first and held it against her chest.
“You’re a maid,” she hissed.
“Keep your hands away from family matters.”
Luca stepped beside Emma.
“She brought Bruno back to me.
Right now, she has more right to stand here than you do.”
Vanessa threw the folder onto the table.
Papers slid between the plates.
“Read them, then.”
Luca picked up the first page.
“This appoints you as sole acting director of the Sofia Bellini Animal Foundation.”
“Only if you become unwell.”
“This paragraph lets you declare me unfit with one doctor’s letter.”
“It protects your work.”
“It removes every trustee except Martin.”
Vanessa’s expression hardened.
“You told me you were tired of committees questioning every decision.”
“I never agreed to hand you Sofia’s foundation.”
The banquet doors opened.
Martin Cole entered with a leather briefcase and glanced at the shattered wine glass.
“I came as soon as Vanessa called,” he said.
“Luca, this has clearly become emotional.”
Luca held up the papers.
“Did you prepare these?”
“Yes, at your request.”
“I never requested them.”
Martin opened his briefcase and removed another copy.
“You signed the preliminary authorization six weeks ago.”
He placed a document beside Luca’s plate.
Luca’s signature curved across the bottom.
Several guests leaned closer.
“That is my signature,” Luca said.
Vanessa’s shoulders relaxed.
“Now do you understand?
You approved everything and forgot.”
“I don’t forget legal documents.”
“You forgot our dinner with the trustees last month,” she replied.
“You forgot the florist twice.
Grief has affected you more than you admit.”
Luca stared at the signature until Bruno nudged his leg.
His hand dropped onto the dog’s head.
Emma studied the page.
“Mr.
Luca, may I ask something?”
Martin frowned.
“This does not concern the staff.”
“Let her speak,” Luca said.
Emma pointed to the witness line.
“It says I witnessed his signature.”
Luca looked down.
Emma’s name appeared in neat black ink.
“Did you sign this?” he asked.
“No, sir.
I didn’t even work here six weeks ago.”
Martin’s face changed for only a second.
Vanessa recovered first.
“Then Daniel added her name tonight to make the document look false.”
“The paper has your firm’s watermark,” Luca said to Martin.
“Watermarks can be copied.”
Emma lifted the page toward the chandelier.
“There’s something else.
My surname is wrong.
It says Emma Reeves.”
“What is your surname?” Luca asked.
“Reed.”
Vanessa gave a sharp laugh.
“That proves nothing.”
“It proves whoever wrote my name took it from the temporary staffing list,” Emma replied.
“The agency made the same mistake on my first shift.”
Luca turned to Martin.
“You received that list.”
“So did half the household.”
Daniel spoke from the phone.
“Ask Martin about the second recording.”
Martin’s head snapped toward the speaker.
“There is no second recording,” he said.
“I never said where it was,” Daniel replied.
Martin closed his briefcase.
“This has gone far enough.
Luca, if you make accusations in front of these witnesses, my firm will protect its reputation.”
“Is that a threat?”
“It is professional advice.”
Vanessa moved beside Martin.
“Come with us to the study, Luca.
We can settle this privately.”
“No.
Everything will be said here.”
A chime sounded from Emma’s phone.
She looked at the new message and went pale.
“What is it?” Luca asked.
Emma turned the screen toward him.
The message contained a photograph of her coat hanging in the servants’ hall.
A diamond bracelet glittered inside its open pocket.
Underneath were six words:
May you like
CALL SECURITY.
THE MAID STOLE IT.
