Chapter 13 - MR. VALE|
Rebecca found the name within forty-eight hours.
Mr. Vale was not a member of the Blackwood family. He was a private financial consultant who had previously advised several companies facing complicated ownership disputes.
His business record was legitimate, but the forensic accountant discovered that one of the foundation’s consulting companies had paid a firm associated with him.
The payments were not automatically evidence of wrongdoing. They could have represented legitimate services.
However, the invoices contained vague descriptions, and no supporting reports had been found.
Rebecca advised me not to contact him directly.
“We need to establish what he did before deciding whether he is a witness, a suspect, or simply someone who was paid for ordinary work.”
I agreed.
That afternoon, Dominic arrived at my apartment without warning.
I opened the door but did not invite him inside.
“We need to talk,” he said.
“You've said that before.”
“This is serious, Emma.”
“So is pretending to be deaf for three years. You seemed comfortable with that.”
He looked past me into the apartment.
“Can I come in?”
“No.”
His expression tightened.
“You're making a mistake by listening to Gabriel.”
“I am listening to documents.”
He took a breath.
“Gabriel doesn't understand the entire situation.”
“Then explain it to me.”
Dominic glanced toward the hallway before lowering his voice.
“The foundation's records are complicated. Some transactions were handled by outside consultants. If you make accusations without understanding the details, you could damage the company and your own reputation.”
“My signature appears on documents I never approved.”
“We can resolve that privately.”
“By doing what?”
He hesitated.
“I can provide financial security. You won't need to work. We can agree on a settlement and end this without dragging everyone through court.”
I stared at him.
“You're offering me money to stop asking questions.”
“I'm offering you peace.”
“You used to say that when you wanted me to stop talking.”
His face changed.
For the first time, he looked genuinely angry.
“You have no idea how much pressure I've been under.”
“I know how much pressure I was under. I was trying to save a marriage you had already abandoned.”
He looked away.
“Vanessa has made everything more complicated.”
“No, Dominic. Vanessa has made your lies harder to manage.”
He stepped closer.
“You think you're innocent because you didn't understand the paperwork?”
“I know I didn't approve payments I never saw.”
“Then let me handle it.”
“No.”
The word came out more firmly than I expected.
Dominic stared at me.
I continued.
“You don't get to decide what I know, what I sign, or what I am allowed to question anymore.”
His expression became cold.
“If you continue, people could get hurt.”
I felt a chill move through me.
“Is that a threat?”
He immediately shook his head.
“I'm warning you that this family has enemies.”
“Then you should have thought about that before making me part of your secrets.”
I closed the door.
Through the peephole, I watched him stand in the hallway for several seconds before walking away.
My hands were shaking, but I did not regret what I had said.
That evening, Rebecca called.
“We've located the original trust agreement,” she said. “And there is a provision that changes everything.”
“What provision?”
“The trustee can suspend certain benefits if there is credible evidence of deliberate financial misconduct.”
I sat down.
“Who has the authority to invoke it?”
“An independent review committee.”
“Who chairs that committee?”
Rebecca paused.
“Your husband.”
I closed my eyes.
Of course he did.
May you like
Dominic had not only deceived me.
He had positioned himself to decide whether the evidence against him mattered.
