Chapter 8 - Vanessa's Price|
I refused to get into Vanessa's car.
“If you have evidence, give it to the police.”
She smiled without warmth.
“The police won't care about a decades-old accident unless someone with money tells them to care.”
“Then give it to Daniel.”
“No. I want to speak to you privately.”
Cameron moved closer.
“Whatever you have to say, you can say in front of me.”
Vanessa's expression sharpened.
“Of course you want to stay. You've been manipulating her for months.”
“That's enough,” I said.
For a moment, Vanessa seemed surprised that I had interrupted her.
Then she opened her handbag and removed a small photograph.
It showed Richard Reed standing outside a private clinic beside a man I didn't recognize. On the back was a handwritten date and the initials C.W.
“Your mother discovered that Charles Whitmore was moving foundation money through medical research companies,” Vanessa explained. “My father wanted those accounts hidden. Richard agreed to help him.”
“And the accident?”
“My father arranged the surveillance. Martin managed the payments. But the driver was hired through a separate contractor.”
Cameron stared at her.
“You knew this when we were engaged?”
“I knew there had been a scandal. I didn't know the entire story until recently.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because your father was involved, and I wanted to protect my family.”
“You were protecting criminals.”
“I was protecting myself!”
Her voice cracked.
For the first time, I saw fear beneath her arrogance.
Vanessa explained that Charles had kept records of every transaction, not because he feared the law, but because he believed blackmail was the best form of insurance. After Richard's death, he had used those records to pressure Cameron into supporting a merger that would place Whitmore interests inside Reed Global.
Cameron had refused.
That was why Vanessa had ended the engagement.
“You could have told me the truth,” Cameron said.
“And destroy my father? Destroy everything I grew up with? You have no idea what it's like to be raised by a man who treats affection like a business contract.”
I almost felt sorry for her.
Almost.
“Why come to me now?” I asked.
“Because my father has decided I'm no longer useful. He found out I kept copies of some documents.”
She handed me a flash drive.
“There's a recording on it. My father discussing the payments with Martin. It doesn't prove who drove the car, but it proves they knew Margaret was in danger.”
Cameron didn't take the drive.
“Why should we trust you?”
“You shouldn't.”
Vanessa looked at me.
“But if you want the truth, you need to understand that my father will destroy anyone who threatens him. Including his own daughter.”
She got back into the SUV and ordered the driver away.
At Daniel's office, the recording confirmed that Charles and Martin had discussed the investigation into my mother. However, the conversation stopped short of an explicit order to cause her death.
Daniel advised us to preserve the file and submit it to investigators.
Cameron agreed.
Then he turned to me.
“I'm sorry.”
“For what?”
“For bringing you into a fight you never asked to join.”
I studied his face.
“You didn't bring me into it. Your family did. You just stopped pretending it wasn't happening.”
He reached for my hand, then hesitated.
I closed the distance myself.
For one brief moment, we stood together without the weight of our titles.
Then Daniel's phone rang.
He listened, went pale, and slowly lowered it.
May you like
“Vanessa has disappeared,” he said.
“And Charles Whitmore has just filed an emergency motion to remove Cameron as CEO.”
