Chapter 2 - THE WOMAN BEHIND THE NUMBERS|
Victoria had always understood that her husband conducted business in ways he never discussed at the dinner table.
Alexander owned shipping companies, warehouses, private security firms, and restaurants throughout Illinois. Some businesses were legitimate. Others existed in the gray spaces between legality and organized crime.
She had never asked too many questions.
Trust, she had believed, was what marriage required.
Now, sitting across from Nathan in her private study, she examined a series of financial records that made her hands tremble.
“What am I looking at?”
Nathan pointed to a company called Northbridge Holdings.
“Three years ago, this company began receiving substantial transfers from businesses controlled by your husband. The money was subsequently moved through several shell companies.”
“And?”
“And someone used your signature to authorize a portion of those transfers.”
Victoria stared at him.
“That is impossible.”
“I know you didn't authorize them. The signatures appear to have been copied from older corporate documents.”
She turned another page.
The amount exceeded twelve million dollars.
A separate transfer showed nearly four million more.
“What does Alexander gain from this?”
“That's what I'm still trying to determine. Some money went into Sophia's property purchases. Some disappeared into accounts I haven't identified.”
Victoria's stomach tightened.
“Why would he use my name?”
Nathan leaned forward.
“Because you're the public face of several family foundations. Your signature carries credibility. And if anyone investigates, the paperwork suggests you approved the transactions.”
For the first time, Victoria felt something more frightening than heartbreak.
Fear.
“What happens if the authorities find these documents?”
“If the transfers are connected to criminal activity, you could be questioned. Depending on what they believe you knew, the consequences could be serious.”
Victoria stood and walked to the window.
Alexander had not merely betrayed her marriage.
He might have been preparing to make her responsible for his crimes.
“Can you prove the signatures are forged?”
“Eventually. But we need the original records, the transaction histories, and evidence showing who accessed the accounts.”
“Then find it.”
Nathan closed the folder.
“There is something else.”
He removed a photograph.
It showed Sophia entering a private office building on Wacker Drive. Alexander followed several minutes later.
“Three weeks ago, Sophia visited the registered office of Northbridge Holdings. She isn't listed as an employee, director, or shareholder.”
Victoria studied the image.
“Perhaps she was visiting someone.”
“Perhaps. But the building houses the financial administrator who processed these transfers.”
The room seemed suddenly smaller.
“Do you think Sophia knows?”
Nathan chose his words carefully.
“I think we should assume she knows more than she's admitting.”
That afternoon, Victoria returned home wearing her usual composed expression.
Sophia was waiting in the drawing room.
She wore a cream-colored dress, diamond earrings, and a smile that vanished only when Victoria entered.
“Alexander said you wanted to talk.”
Victoria placed her purse on the table.
“I thought we should get to know each other.”
Sophia glanced toward the staircase.
“I'm not sure that's necessary.”
“Neither am I. But since you're carrying my husband's child, I thought we could at least be civil.”
Sophia's hand moved protectively over her stomach.
“Alexander loves me.”
Victoria poured herself a glass of water.
“Does he?”
“He says you're cold. He says you stopped caring about him years ago.”
Victoria looked at her.
“And what does he say about the money?”
Sophia froze.
It lasted less than a second, but Victoria saw it.
“What money?”
“Nothing important.”
Victoria smiled politely.
Sophia suddenly stood.
“I should go.”
“Of course.”
As Sophia reached the doorway, Victoria added, “One more thing. Did Alexander ever tell you why he created Northbridge Holdings?”
Sophia turned so quickly that her hair swung across her face.
For the first time, her expression contained no arrogance.
Only alarm.
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
“Then you have nothing to worry about.”
Sophia left without saying goodbye.
That evening, Nathan called.
He had obtained preliminary records showing that Northbridge had been established using a corporate identity linked to Victoria's charitable foundation.
But the registered agent had recently submitted a document changing the company's authorized representative.
The new representative was Sophia Bennett.
Nathan sent Victoria a photograph of the filing.
She stared at it for a long time.
Then another message arrived.
Victoria, there's a problem. Someone has discovered we're investigating.
May you like
Before she could respond, a second message appeared.
And that person just transferred the remaining money out of the account.
