Chapter 9 - THE PRICE OF A LIEBy four fifteen, Elena's face was on television.
She sat on Mia's bed in the staff cottage while reporters crowded outside the estate gates.
A television anchor called her “a longtime household employee at the center of an alleged financial and personal scandal.”
Mia colored a purple elephant beside her.
“Why is your picture on TV?”
Elena muted the screen.
“Because some grown-ups are saying things that aren't true.”
“Do they get timeout?”
Elena almost smiled.
“I wish.”
Mia considered it.
“I can put them in timeout.”
Elena pulled her close.
For the first time in years, she wanted to quit.
Not because Vanessa had won.
Because Mia deserved a life where strangers didn't scream questions at the gate because her mother happened to work for a rich man.
Across the city, Damian faced twelve board members on a wall-sized video screen.
Chairman Robert Kessler didn't waste time.
“We have forged transfers, a missing suspect, and an employee ID on financial approvals.”
“Elena Reyes did not steal from me.”
“You cannot prove that yet.”
That sentence landed hard.
The board imposed temporary joint approval on major decisions.
After the meeting, Rachel looked at Damian.
“You should distance yourself from Elena.”
“No.”
“You're vulnerable.”
“She is being framed.”
“That's precisely why.”
Damian looked at her.
“Her resigning doesn't make the lie true.”
Rachel studied him.
“You care about her.”
Damian didn't answer.
At the estate, Marcus found something.
A photograph.
Vanessa at a ski resort.
Beside a man named Caleb Ross.
A private investigator confirmed Caleb had once been engaged to Vanessa.
Damian called him.
“Caleb Ross?”
“Who is this?”
“Damian Cross.”
Silence.
Then:
“She found you too.”
Damian sat down.
“You know Vanessa?”
“I almost married her.”
“When?”
“Six years ago.”
Damian's eyes narrowed.
Vanessa had told him she'd never been engaged.
Caleb's voice hardened.
“If Owen is involved, don't trust anything with your signature on it.”
“Why?”
“She framed my accountant.”
Damian went still.
“What happened?”
“He lost his job. His reputation. Almost his marriage.”
“And Vanessa?”
“She walked away.”
Caleb paused.
“But there was a master file.”
“What master file?”
“The one proving she and Owen built the whole thing together.”
Damian looked toward the black ledger.
“Where is it?”
Caleb's voice dropped.
“If you have her notebook, don't lose it.”
May you like
Damian turned.
The ledger was gone.
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