Chapter 10 - THE NAME BEHIND THE MONEY|
The man Sophia named was Victor Hale.
He had been the Moretti family's financial adviser for decades. He was old enough to have advised Alexander's grandfather and influential enough to remain in the background while other men took the public blame.
According to Sophia, Victor had arranged the payments that followed her father's death.
I asked her why she had returned to Chicago now.
“Because Victor is preparing to sell the riverfront property,” she said. “The money from that sale will disappear into companies that don't exist on paper.”
“And you thought Alexander would help you?”
“I thought he would listen.”
“You came to his grandfather's birthday and let him embrace you in front of his family.”
Her eyes lowered.
“I wanted him to feel guilty.”
“Did you know he would remove his wedding ring?”
“No.”
I didn't believe her completely, but I believed that she hadn't planned that exact moment.
“Why did you let him behave that way?”
“Because I was angry.”
“At me?”
“At both of you.”
I studied her face.
“You knew he was married.”
“Yes.”
“And you still encouraged him to act as though he wasn't.”
She didn't answer.
I turned away.
“I don't need another woman explaining why my husband hurt me.”
“Claire, wait.”
I stopped.
“Sophia, I don't trust you. But if what you're saying is true, I want the records.”
She handed me a small envelope.
“My father kept copies of the original property agreements. I found them after I returned.”
I opened it.
There were several pages, handwritten notes, and a list of account numbers.
One name appeared repeatedly.
Northbridge Development.
The same company that had tried to take my mother's property.
I called Evelyn.
She told me not to touch the documents until we could authenticate them. I agreed.
When I returned home, Alexander was waiting outside my apartment.
He stood beside a black car, his hands in his coat pockets.
“I know you met Sophia,” he said.
I didn't ask how.
“Then you know she gave me documents.”
“Give them to me.”
“No.”
“Claire, those records could be dangerous.”
“That's why I'm not handing them to you.”
His face hardened.
“You don't understand what Victor Hale is capable of.”
“Then explain it.”
He looked away.
I waited.
Finally, he said, “Victor has been moving money through my family's businesses for years. My grandfather trusted him. I trusted him.”
“And now?”
“Now I think he used Sophia to get close to me.”
I felt anger rising.
“You let him use your office to forge my name.”
“I didn't know.”
“You keep saying that.”
“Because it's true.”
“Then start proving it.”
He stepped closer.
“I can protect you.”
I shook my head.
“You still don't understand. I don't want protection that comes with control.”
His expression changed.
“I don't know how to do this any other way.”
“Then learn.”
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then he reached into his coat and took out a small black notebook.
“This belonged to my grandfather. Victor has been searching for it.”
I looked at the notebook but didn't take it.
“What's inside?”
“Names. Payments. Dates. Enough to show what happened to Daniel Reynolds.”
“And enough to expose your family?”
He nodded.
“Why are you giving it to me?”
“Because you are the only person I know who won't use it to protect me.”
I stared at him.
That was the closest thing to an apology he had ever offered.
But before I could respond, a car pulled up behind him.
Nathan stepped out, his face pale.
“Alexander,” he said. “We have a problem.”
“What?”
“Victor knows Claire has the documents.”
May you like
Nathan looked at me.
“And he's coming here.”
