Chapter 7 - THE SECRET LUCA KEPT
The person in the photograph was Nora.
I stared at her face.
Luca watched me carefully.
“I found that photo in Richard's files.”
“When?”
“Yesterday.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I didn't know what it meant.”
I looked at Nora.
“She saved our children.”
“I know.”
“She warned us.”
“I know.”
“Then why is she standing beside Richard?”
Luca shook his head.
“I don't know.”
We found Nora in the kitchen.
I showed her the photograph.
Her face went pale.
“I knew you'd find it.”
“What is this?”
She sat down.
“Before I worked for your family, Richard recruited me.”
“I know.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“You don't know the whole story.”
She explained that Richard had originally placed her inside another wealthy family's home.
Her job was to observe.
Listen.
Report.
Then that family collapsed financially.
Nora quit.
Years later, Richard approached her again.
He knew she was desperate.
He offered her money to work for us.
“I refused.”
“But you came anyway.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he threatened my brother.”
She looked at Luca.
“Your husband's affair gave Richard access.”
“How?”
“Chloe would leave her phone around.”
“She didn't know I was watching.”
Nora had photographed messages.
She had copied documents.
She had become an unwilling informant.
But she had also secretly protected us.
The photograph had been taken before she turned against Richard.
I believed her.
Not completely.
But enough.
Then Nora gave me another envelope.
“I found this in Richard's safe.”
Inside was a list.
Names.
Accounts.
Dates.
And one line:
JESSI STERLING — FINAL CONTROL MECHANISM.
“What does that mean?”
Nora shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Luca took the list.
“Maybe the trust.”
I looked at him.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because Richard doesn't need my trust to control the company.”
I pointed to the document.
“He needs me to appear guilty.”
Luca understood.
“He wants to blame you for the missing money.”
“Yes.”
Rachel confirmed it that afternoon.
The forged transfers, the fake signature, and the staged photographs were part of one plan.
If the company collapsed, Richard intended to claim that I had misappropriated funds.
Luca's affair made me a convenient target.
A betrayed wife.
A financial professional.
Someone with access.
Someone whose marriage was falling apart.
The story would be believable.
And Richard would walk away with the company.
Then Chloe arrived.
She came alone.
No makeup.
No jewelry.
Her red dress was gone.
She looked exhausted.
Luca stood.
“What are you doing here?”
“I need to tell Jessi the truth.”
I crossed my arms.
“Then tell me.”
Chloe looked at me.
“I never expected to fall in love with Luca.”
He closed his eyes.
“I know.”
“I thought he was leaving you.”
“He wasn't.”
“I know that now.”
She swallowed.
“My father told me Luca would inherit everything.”
“He didn't.”
“No.”
She looked at him.
“He lied to me too.”
I believed her.
She explained that Richard had encouraged the relationship.
Not because he cared about Chloe's happiness.
Because he needed Luca emotionally dependent on her.
He gave Chloe information about the company.
He told her which contracts were failing.
He told her which executives were vulnerable.
And Chloe passed some of it to Luca.
Luca used it without understanding where it came from.
“Why didn't you stop?”
I asked.
She looked ashamed.
“Because I wanted the life he promised me.”
That answer was honest.
And ugly.
But honest.
Then Chloe gave us the most important thing yet.
A small flash drive.
“What's on it?”
“Everything my father sent me.”
Rachel examined it.
There were emails.
Transaction records.
Instructions.
And one message from Richard.
It was dated three weeks earlier.
THE LAST MOVE HAPPENS WHEN ARTHUR DIES.
I stared.
“What last move?”
Chloe shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Then another email appeared.
It mentioned a meeting at a warehouse.
Tomorrow.
Richard.
A financial broker.
And a representative from a private equity company.
The purpose:
ACQUISITION OF VANCE INDUSTRIAL.
If Arthur died before the meeting, the acquisition would go through.
If he survived, they needed another route.
Arthur was still alive.
Barely.
We had less than twenty-four hours.
Then the hospital called.
Arthur had taken a sudden turn.
We rushed there.
He was awake.
Barely.
He looked at me.
“Did you find it?”
“Yes.”
“The warehouse?”
“Yes.”
He smiled faintly.
“Then it's time.”
“Time for what?”
He reached beneath his pillow.
He pulled out a small red envelope.
“This was your husband's grandfather's.”
I opened it.
Inside was a single stock certificate.
It represented a controlling block of Vance Industrial shares.
Arthur whispered,
“Richard doesn't know about these.”
I stared.
“Why?”
“Because they were transferred into my father's personal trust before the company became public.”
“Who owns them now?”
Arthur looked at me.
“You.”
I couldn't speak.
Luca stared at his father.
“You gave her controlling shares?”
Arthur nodded.
“Not because she's your wife.”
He looked at me.
“Because she earned my trust.”
Luca lowered his head.
Arthur continued.
“The shares cannot be transferred without Jessi's consent.”
That meant Richard couldn't acquire the company.
Unless he could force me.
Or discredit me.
Or remove me.
Then Arthur's monitor began beeping.
Nurses rushed in.
Luca grabbed my hand.
“Dad?”
Arthur looked toward him.
“Be better.”
Then he looked at me.
“Protect the children.”
His eyes closed.
The doctors pushed us out.
I stood in the hallway holding the red envelope.
Luca stood beside me.
For the first time, neither of us knew whether Arthur would survive the night.
Then Rachel received a message.
She read it.
Her face changed.
“What?”
She looked at us.
“The warehouse meeting has been moved.”
“When?”
“Tonight.”
I stared.
“Why?”
Rachel turned the phone toward me.
A message from Richard.
THEY KNOW ABOUT THE SHARES.
Then another line appeared.
May you like
BRING JESSI.
ALONE.
