Chapter 3: The Man at the Back of the Room
The man walked between the tables with both hands visible.
His bow tie hung loose, and sweat darkened his collar.
“My name is Oliver Reeves,” he said.
“I work for Margaret’s solicitor.”
Vanessa stepped between him and Ethan.
“He’s been drinking.
Don’t listen to him.”
“I haven’t touched a glass,” Oliver replied.
“You made sure of that because you needed me sober enough to certify the documents.”
Ethan picked up the tablet.
“What documents?”
“A transfer of your voting shares and a continuing power of attorney.
Both were meant to take effect once the marriage certificate was filed.”
“That’s impossible,” Ethan said.
“I never signed either one.”
“No,” Oliver answered.
“I copied your signature from the catering contract.”
Vanessa grabbed his sleeve.
“You begged me for money.
Is this how you repay me?”
“You didn’t give me money.
You paid my mother’s care-home bill and said you’d cancel it if I refused.”
Margaret moved toward the ballroom doors.
The banquet manager, Nora, quietly stood in front of them.
“No one is being detained,” Nora said.
“But the original recording is already stored off-site.”
“Get out of my way,” Margaret snapped.
“Not while you’re carrying hotel property.”
Margaret looked down.
The tablet’s charging cable was twisted around her hand.
Ethan turned back to Oliver.
“You said that wasn’t the worst thing.
What else did they ask you to do?”
Oliver looked at Emily.
“They wanted me to say she pressured your father while he was ill.”
Emily gripped the edge of a table.
“Pressure him to do what?” Ethan asked.
“To change his trust,” Oliver said.
“Vanessa wanted Emily accused of taking advantage of him.
Once Emily was discredited, no one would question why her half of the company went to you—and then to Vanessa.”
“That is a lie,” Vanessa said.
“Emily already took enough from this family.”
“What did I take?” Emily asked.
“Dad’s attention.
His sympathy.
Every excuse he ever made for you.”
Emily stared at her.
“I spent six months caring for him while Ethan was preparing this wedding.”
“You kept Ethan away,” Vanessa replied.
“No,” Emily said.
“You blocked my number on his phone.”
Ethan’s head turned sharply.
“What?”
Vanessa folded her arms.
“She called constantly.
You asked me to handle it.”
“I asked you to silence work calls during meetings.
Not my sister.”
Margaret pointed at Emily.
“Where is the envelope?
If this warning is real, show it.”
Emily touched the pocket of her stained uniform.
Her fingers stopped.
“It was here.”
“You see?” Vanessa said.
“There never was an envelope.”
Nora tapped the tablet.
“The second camera shows Mrs.
Cole entering the bridal suite with it.”
Vanessa’s smile disappeared.
Ethan held out his hand.
“Give me my father’s letter.”
“It’s mine now,” Vanessa said.
“You married me this morning.”
“A marriage doesn’t make my father’s words yours.”
“It makes your future mine.”
Oliver pulled a folded receipt from inside his jacket.
“She deposited the transfer documents at 9:12 this morning,” he said.
“Before the ceremony.”
Ethan read the filing number.
“Then we stop it.”
“You can try,” Margaret said.
“But by the time any court opens, Vanessa will control every vote you own.”
Ethan’s phone rang.
He put the bank’s attorney on speaker.
“Mr.
Cole,” the attorney said, “I’m calling to confirm that your access to the family company has been suspended.”
May you like
Vanessa lifted her champagne glass from the table.
“Welcome to married life, Ethan.”
