Chapter 5: The Deal Behind the Smile
Vanessa stopped fighting Graham.
“That recording is fake,” she said.
“Anyone can imitate a voice now.”
Eleanor stared at the screen.
“That is Mother.”
Adrian pressed play again.
Lydia’s voice continued.
“Conrad Vale moved charitable funds through three consulting companies.
Vanessa brought me the papers while I was ill and called them routine approvals.
They were not.”
Vanessa’s lips parted.
“Turn it off.”
Adrian did not move.
“I placed the complete records in Box 417.
The brass key is with Eleanor because she is the only person Vanessa still underestimates.”
The recording ended.
Vanessa reached for Adrian’s arm.
“Your mother misunderstood a restructuring.
My father saved the foundation millions.”
“Then why is the box empty?” he asked.
“Because Eleanor emptied it.”
Eleanor recoiled.
“I didn’t even know which bank held it.”
Vanessa faced me.
“Clara took the missing page.
Search her.”
“You searched Eleanor,” I said.
“Now you want to search me?”
“You need money.
Everyone heard you.”
Adrian stepped between us.
“Do not speak to her again.”
Vanessa’s attorney entered without knocking.
Two board members followed him.
“Mr.
Mercer,” the attorney said, “an emergency foundation meeting has been called.”
“At midnight?”
“Concerns have been raised about your judgment and your handling of a vulnerable family member.”
Vanessa folded her arms.
“I asked them to protect the foundation.”
Adrian stared at the board members.
“You called them before the gala.”
“We received documents showing you concealed your mother’s declining condition,” one man said.
“Until we investigate, your signing authority is suspended.”
Vanessa picked up her coat.
“The board will vote tomorrow.
My father has enough proxies to take temporary control.”
“You planned this,” Eleanor said.
“I planned to stop Adrian from destroying his mother’s legacy.”
“No,” I said.
“You planned to take it.”
Vanessa walked close enough for only me to hear clearly.
“I can make the hotel restore your job.
I can pay your mother’s care for life.”
“And what do you want?”
“The original flash drive and a statement saying Eleanor provoked me.”
I looked at Graham.
“Did your camera catch that?”
He tapped the pen clipped to his jacket.
“Every word.”
Vanessa’s face hardened.
“Then understand the other offer, Clara.
Refuse me, and your mother’s facility will receive documents showing her account is in default.”
“My payments are current.”
“Are you sure?”
My phone rang.
The facility director’s name appeared.
I answered with shaking fingers.
“Clara, two electronic payments were reversed tonight.
Unless the balance is corrected by Friday, we’ll have to discuss transferring your mother.”
Vanessa watched me as I lowered the phone.
“Still feeling brave?” she asked.
The room blurred.
I gripped the back of a chair, but my hand slipped.
“I can’t let them move her,” I whispered.
Eleanor rolled forward and caught my wrist.
“Look at me.”
“I brought this to your gala, and now she’s hurting my mother.”
“No,” Eleanor said.
“Vanessa chose this.
You did not.”
Graham put his phone on speaker.
“My bank’s fraud department is tracing the reversals.
Clara, give them permission to speak with the facility.”
Vanessa laughed.
“You think a security guard can stop this?”
“No,” Graham replied.
“But the federal investigator I worked with for twelve years might.”
Her smile disappeared.
Adrian crouched beside me.
“You protected my sister when every powerful person in that ballroom watched.
Let us protect your mother.”
I wiped my face.
“I won’t sign Vanessa’s statement.”
Vanessa picked up her bag.
“Then your mother can pack.”
She reached the door before Adrian spoke.
“If one more payment is touched, the wedding is over.”
Vanessa turned slowly.
“The wedding ended the moment you chose a server over me.”
“No,” Eleanor said.
“It ended when Mother chose me to expose you.”
Vanessa walked out, but her attorney remained.
“You should all come to the bank,” he said.
“There is something Mr.
Mercer needs to see.”
At Box 417, the bank manager pulled out an empty metal drawer.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“The box was accessed at nine this morning.”
“By whom?” Adrian asked.
The manager placed the authorization slip beneath the light.
“By you, Mr.
May you like
Mercer.
That is your signature.”
