Chapter 6 - The Money He Thought I Would Never Find
The account was registered to Sterling Growth Partners.
Vanessa's company.
But Julian had access to it.
Rebecca explained that investigators had traced transfers associated with the financing arrangement into several accounts.
Some transactions were still being examined.
Others had already raised serious questions.
"What happened to the money?" I asked.
"We have evidence of payments toward Julian's debts and transfers connected to Vanessa."
I felt my chest tighten.
"How much?"
"More than two hundred thousand dollars is currently under scrutiny."
My father gripped the arm of his chair.
"That man..."
He stopped.
I knew what he wanted to say.
But I didn't want anger to control us.
Not now.
"What happens next?" I asked Rebecca.
"The financial investigation is expanding. We have also requested preservation of the relevant account records."
"And my company?"
"Still operating. Still yours."
Those words meant everything.
Still yours.
For years, Julian had made me feel as though I owned nothing important.
Now the truth was undeniable.
I had built something valuable.
And I was going to protect it.
That afternoon, I returned to the flagship salon.
Maya was waiting in my office.
She closed the door behind us.
"There's something I need to tell you."
I looked up.
"What?"
"Vanessa came here yesterday."
My stomach dropped.
"To the salon?"
Maya nodded.
"She demanded to speak with our finance manager."
"What did she want?"
"Copies of our supplier agreements and employee payroll records."
I stared at her.
"Did anyone give her anything?"
"Absolutely not."
I exhaled.
Maya sat across from me.
"Elena, she told the receptionist that she would soon be running the company."
I felt a sudden wave of anger.
"She said that?"
"Yes."
I thought about the red dress Vanessa had worn that morning.
Her confidence.
Her expensive handbag.
Her mocking smile.
She had walked through my life as if everything I owned was waiting to become hers.
Maya leaned forward.
"There's more."
I looked at her.
"One of our suppliers received a message claiming that Crown & Grace would soon change ownership."
I closed my eyes.
"Did they believe it?"
"They called us first."
Thank God for relationships built on trust.
I had spent years honoring contracts, paying invoices on time, and treating suppliers respectfully.
Julian had never understood the value of that.
Maya continued.
"I've contacted everyone who received suspicious messages. They're being directed to our legal counsel."
I nodded.
"Good."
Then she smiled.
"And Elena?"
"Yes?"
"Our clients have been asking about you."
My heart softened.
"Are they upset?"
"Some noticed your absence. Everyone wants to know when you're coming back."
I looked through the office window.
A woman was laughing with Jasmine while getting her hair styled.
Another sat beneath a dryer reading a magazine.
Life was continuing.
And for the first time, I wanted to be part of it again.
"Tomorrow," I said.
Maya grinned.
"Good."
That evening, my father and I ate dinner at the apartment.
He had made chicken soup.
The same recipe he cooked when I was sick as a child.
For a while, neither of us mentioned Julian.
Then he set down his spoon.
"Elena, can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Did he ever hurt you before?"
I stared into my bowl.
The answer wasn't simple.
Julian had never cut my hair before.
But there had been other moments.
A hand gripping my wrist too tightly.
A door slammed inches from my face.
A cruel insult delivered in front of strangers.
He had made me feel frightened without leaving visible marks.
"Yes," I whispered.
My father's eyes filled.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I thought I could fix it."
He shook his head.
"Sweetheart, you can't fix someone who enjoys hurting you."
I began crying.
He moved beside me.
"I'm sorry I didn't see it."
I held his hand.
"You see it now."
He kissed my forehead.
"And I won't look away again."
Later that night, Julian sent me seventeen messages.
The first few were angry.
"You ruined everything."
"You made me look like a criminal."
"Vanessa is hysterical because of you."
Then his tone changed.
"Elena, please call me."
"We need to talk."
"I know I made mistakes."
Finally, after midnight, one message stopped me.
"I never meant for any of this to happen."
I stared at it.
How could someone spend months arranging a secret deal and claim it was accidental?
I forwarded everything to Rebecca.
Then I turned off my phone.
The next morning, I returned to work.
When I entered Crown & Grace, my employees applauded.
I nearly burst into tears.
Jasmine hugged me first.
Then Maya.
Then the rest of the team.
I stood in the middle of the salon, overwhelmed.
"You don't have to do this," I whispered.
Maya smiled.
"Yes, we do."
I looked around.
The mirrors were spotless.
The stations were busy.
Fresh flowers sat on the reception desk.
And for the first time in weeks, I felt normal.
A client named Margaret Sullivan approached me.
Margaret was a respected businesswoman in her sixties.
She had been coming to me for nearly fifteen years.
"I heard you've been having trouble," she said gently.
I nodded.
She touched my shoulder.
"Clara would be proud of you."
My throat tightened.
Clara had died three years earlier.
But her lessons remained with me.
"Thank you."
Margaret smiled.
"Would you mind fixing my hair today?"
I laughed through my tears.
"It would be my pleasure."
For the next hour, I did what I loved.
I washed her hair.
Trimmed the ends.
Styled it into soft waves.
We talked about ordinary things.
Her grandchildren.
My father.
The weather.
For sixty peaceful minutes, Julian didn't exist.
When Margaret left, she hugged me.
"Never let anyone convince you that your work is small."
I stood there after she walked away.
Then my phone rang.
Rebecca.
"Elena, we have a problem."
My stomach tightened.
"What now?"
"Julian's attorney has filed a response."
"And?"
"He's claiming you knew about the loan and authorized the arrangements."
I gripped the counter.
"That's a lie."
"I know. But we're going to have to prove it."
I took a deep breath.
"Then we'll prove it."
Rebecca hesitated.
"There's something else."
"What?"
"He's also claiming you agreed to put your company at risk to save your marriage."
The words stunned me.
Then I felt something I hadn't expected.
Not fear.
Not sadness.
Determination.
"Rebecca?"
May you like
"Yes?"
"Tell him I'll see him in court."
