Chapter 12 - THE MAN WHO BUILT THE TRAP|
Richard Cole had worked for the Moretti family for nearly twenty years.
He was not a loud man. He did not threaten people in public or demand attention at parties. He wore conservative suits, spoke softly, and remembered everyone's preferred drink.
That was why people trusted him.
Alexander had treated him like a second father after Dominic Moretti died. Richard had handled contracts, introduced business partners, and advised Alexander through the difficult transition from heir to leader.
Victoria had once thanked him for helping organize her wedding.
Now his name appeared on documents that might have placed her entire inheritance at risk.
Nathan's investigation uncovered a network of companies linked through overlapping directors and addresses. Several had received payments from Moretti businesses. Others had been used to purchase property or secure loans.
The pattern suggested that Richard had exercised far more control over the financial structure than anyone understood.
But the records still did not establish the full extent of his knowledge or whether Alexander had knowingly participated.
Nathan was careful.
“We need evidence that connects Richard to the forged documents, not merely his position in the companies.”
They found it in an old email archive.
A message from Richard to a financial administrator instructed the recipient to replace an earlier authorization with a revised version bearing Victoria's signature.
The administrator replied that the signature had not been verified.
Richard's response was chillingly casual.
It has been approved by the family. Process it.
There was no proof yet that Richard had personally forged the signature, but the exchange showed that he had pushed a disputed document through the system.
Nathan preserved the messages and arranged for their authenticity to be examined.
Then a second discovery emerged.
Several days before Victoria's anniversary, Richard had requested access to the storage facility containing Box 17.
The request had been denied because the registered account was inactive.
He had returned two days later under a different company name.
The facility's access records confirmed that someone using his credentials had entered the unit.
Victoria read the report twice.
“He knew the ledger was there.”
“Most likely,” Nathan said.
“And he knew we were looking for it.”
“Possibly. We still need to establish how he learned about the investigation.”
Victoria stared at the timeline.
The anonymous threats had begun shortly after Nathan contacted the corporate records office. The warning note appeared after the archive was accessed. Someone was monitoring their movements or receiving information from an insider.
She looked at Nathan.
“Could Richard be watching us?”
“We should assume our communications may have been exposed. We'll change our procedures and report the threats.”
Victoria felt the familiar coldness settle over her.
She was not going to stop.
That evening, Alexander met Richard in his office.
He placed the copy of the Continuity Agreement on the desk.
“Explain it.”
Richard looked at the document without surprise.
“Your father created that agreement.”
“Did you forge Victoria's signature?”
“No.”
“Did you tell Sophia to sign Northbridge documents?”
“I instructed her to sign documents related to a property arrangement.”
“Did you move money through my companies?”
Richard removed his glasses.
“Your business has survived because I made difficult decisions.”
“That's not an answer.”
“It's the only one you're getting tonight.”
Alexander stood.
For a moment, the old relationship between them seemed to collapse under the weight of twenty years.
“You used me.”
Richard looked almost disappointed.
“I kept your empire alive while you spent your life believing that power meant never having to understand the details.”
Alexander's face hardened.
“Did you use Victoria's name to conceal the transfers?”
Richard said nothing.
Alexander stepped closer.
“If you did, I'll destroy everything you built.”
Richard smiled faintly.
“You should be careful, Alexander. Your signature is on the same documents as hers.”
He picked up his briefcase and walked toward the door.
Before leaving, he turned.
“Ask yourself one question. If the authorities examine every transaction, which one of you do you think they will believe was in control?”
The door closed.
Alexander remained standing beside the desk.
For the first time, he understood that Richard had not simply betrayed him.
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He had built a trap in which Alexander and Victoria could destroy each other.
And the only person who knew where the trap ended was now preparing to disappear.
