Chapter 10 - The Man Who Knew My Real Name
Victor Hale stepped out of the elevator.
He was bleeding.
Grant immediately moved toward him.
“What happened?”
Victor ignored him.
He looked at me.
“Your mother is alive.”
“I know.”
“She was taken downstairs.”
“By Victoria?”
Victor nodded.
“I worked for her.”
Grant stiffened.
“For how long?”
“Six years.”
I stared at him.
“Why help us now?”
Victor looked at me.
“Because I realized what she planned to do.”
“What?”
“Kill the trust.”
Daniel frowned.
“You can't kill a trust.”
“You can destroy the people who control it.”
Victor handed me a small drive.
“Everything is on here.”
I took it.
Inside were recordings.
Payments.
Messages.
Instructions.
One file was labeled:
ROWAN — FINAL PHASE.
I opened it.
Victoria's voice filled the room.
“Grant must believe Eleanor hates him.”
I froze.
Another voice answered.
Madison.
“I understand.”
Grant looked at Madison.
She lowered her head.
The recording continued.
“Once the divorce is final, Eleanor will lose access to the trust.”
Daniel shook his head.
“That's impossible.”
Victoria laughed.
“Not if she signs voluntarily.”
I looked at the divorce papers.
My signature was still missing.
The entire plan had depended on me signing.
Grant suddenly understood.
“That was the point.”
“Yes.”
“They wanted her to sign away her rights.”
Daniel took the drive.
“They manipulated the settlement.”
I stared at Grant.
“You knew.”
“I suspected.”
“You let me walk into that room.”
“I needed you to see how far they would go.”
I looked at him.
“That isn't protection.”
“I know.”
Victor interrupted.
“Your mother is downstairs.”
We moved toward the private elevator.
Halfway down, the lights went out.
Grant grabbed my hand.
I didn't pull away.
The elevator stopped.
A voice came through the intercom.
“Eleanor.”
Victoria.
“You should have signed.”
I stared into the darkness.
“You should have asked me.”
She laughed.
“You think money makes you powerful?”
“No.”
I tightened my grip on Grant's hand.
“Truth does.”
The elevator jolted.
Then the doors opened.
We stepped into darkness.
At the far end of the basement, a single light was on.
My mother sat in a chair.
Victoria stood behind her.
She held a gun.
I stopped.
Grant stepped forward.
Victoria smiled.
“Finally.”
She raised the weapon.
“Give me the charter.”
I held it up.
“Let her go.”
Victoria shook her head.
“No.”
Then she looked at Grant.
“Tell your wife what you did six years ago.”
Grant went pale.
I turned toward him.
“What did you do?”
Victoria smiled.
“Tell her.”
Grant closed his eyes.
May you like
Then whispered:
“I was the one who opened the vault.”
