Chapter 8
When Rachel told me Vanessa had worked for Victor Harlan, I felt the same cold fear I'd felt at the restaurant.
Another friend.
Another secret.
Another person I'd trusted.
I stood in our kitchen, holding the phone.
"How long did she work for him?"
Rachel answered carefully.
"Almost five years."
My stomach twisted.
"And she never told me?"
"I don't know why."
I closed my eyes.
Vanessa and I had met six years earlier at a charity event.
She was funny.
Confident.
Generous.
And always the person who made everyone laugh.
She'd become part of my closest circle.
Now I wondered whether anything about our friendship had been real.
"Does she work for him now?" I asked.
"No."
"When did she leave?"
"About a year ago."
I swallowed.
"Why?"
Rachel hesitated.
"She says she discovered irregular financial activity and became concerned about retaliation."
My heart raced.
"Did she know about Elijah?"
"She claims she didn't."
I stared at Marcus.
He was watching me.
"Does she have proof?"
Rachel nodded.
"She says she retained copies of original financial records."
I took a breath.
"Then I'll meet her."
Rachel immediately responded.
"Not alone. We'll arrange it through the investigators."
I nodded.
"Okay."
The meeting took place three days later.
Vanessa arrived at Olivia's office wearing a dark green dress.
Her hair was pulled back.
Her eyes were swollen.
The moment she saw me, she started crying.
"Nia."
I didn't move.
She stopped several feet away.
"I know you're angry."
I stared at her.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Her face crumpled.
"I wanted to."
I laughed bitterly.
"Apparently everyone wants to tell me things after it's too late."
She looked down.
"I deserve that."
I crossed my arms.
"Did Victor send you into my life?"
Her head snapped up.
"No."
"Are you sure?"
She nodded.
"I met you after I started working for him, but he didn't arrange it."
I watched her carefully.
She continued.
"I worked in compliance. I reviewed records and flagged unusual transactions."
I frowned.
"Then how did you miss the fraud?"
Her eyes filled.
"Some of it was hidden through companies I didn't have access to."
She swallowed.
"When I started noticing patterns, I reported them internally."
My stomach tightened.
"To whom?"
"Damian."
I closed my eyes.
Of course.
Victor's son.
Vanessa continued.
"He told me the discrepancies were being corrected."
"And you believed him?"
"At first."
I looked away.
She took a breath.
"Then I found the same account numbers in another report."
I turned back.
"What happened?"
"I copied the relevant records and asked for an independent review."
Her voice broke.
"Two days later, I was fired."
I stared at her.
"Why didn't you go to the authorities?"
"I did contact a regulator."
She wiped her cheeks.
"But I was afraid of what Victor might do if he found out."
I felt something soften inside me.
I knew that fear.
Too well.
Vanessa continued.
"When Marcus walked into the restaurant, I didn't understand what was happening."
I looked at her.
"Did you know Victor was targeting us?"
"No."
She shook her head.
"I recognized one of the account numbers when Marcus mentioned it."
My heart raced.
"Which one?"
"The account connected to Sterling Meridian."
Marcus stepped forward.
"That's the lender that financed my company."
Vanessa nodded.
"I knew I'd seen it before."
She opened her bag.
Then placed a folder on the table.
"These are copies of records from before I was fired."
Olivia began examining them.
Detective Brooks sat nearby.
I watched the detective's expression change.
She turned one page.
Then another.
Finally, she looked at Vanessa.
"Where are the original electronic files?"
Vanessa swallowed.
"I saved them on an encrypted drive."
Detective Brooks nodded.
"We'll need to preserve and authenticate them."
Vanessa handed over the drive.
Then she looked at me.
"Nia, I should've told you sooner."
I stared at her.
"Yes."
Her eyes filled.
"But I never wanted to hurt you."
I took a breath.
"I want to believe that."
She nodded.
"I know."
For several minutes, we sat quietly while the investigators discussed next steps.
Then Vanessa turned toward Marcus.
"There's something you should know."
He looked at her.
"What?"
"The agreement Caleb wanted you to sign."
Marcus stiffened.
Vanessa continued.
"It wasn't just a restructuring plan."
My stomach tightened.
"What was it?"
She looked toward Olivia.
"One of the connected entities was designed to acquire controlling rights over distressed businesses."
Marcus stared at her.
"Distressed by whom?"
Vanessa lowered her eyes.
"In some cases, the distress was created through the fraudulent financing scheme."
I covered my mouth.
Victor hadn't simply wanted money.
He wanted companies.
Properties.
Control.
And Marcus's business had been one of his targets.
Marcus sat down.
His hands trembled.
"I almost signed that agreement."
Vanessa nodded.
"I know."
I reached for his hand.
He squeezed it.
For a long time, neither of us spoke.
Then Detective Brooks addressed Vanessa.
"Your records may help corroborate evidence we've already obtained."
My heart jumped.
"Does that mean Victor can't deny it?"
The detective smiled slightly.
"It means we have another independent source to examine."
I nodded.
It wasn't a promise.
But it was hope.
Over the next several months, the criminal case continued.
Vanessa's records were authenticated.
Other witnesses came forward.
Financial investigators connected the fraudulent transfers to Victor's network.
Elijah's evidence was supported by additional banking records.
And the documents associated with Marcus's company were examined by digital experts.
The case grew stronger.
Meanwhile, my marriage continued healing.
Not quickly.
Not perfectly.
But honestly.
Marcus and I made a rule.
No important secrets.
If something frightened us, we talked.
If money became a problem, we discussed it.
If either of us felt hurt, we said so.
Some conversations were uncomfortable.
But they were necessary.
One evening, Marcus came home early.
I was cooking dinner.
He walked into the kitchen carrying a small box.
I looked up.
"What's that?"
He smiled nervously.
"Something for you."
I laughed.
"Marcus, what did you do?"
He placed the box on the counter.
"Open it."
Inside was a beautiful silver necklace.
A small heart pendant hung from the chain.
I stared at it.
"Marcus..."
He took a breath.
"I bought it because I wanted to give you something that wasn't connected to an apology."
My eyes filled.
He continued.
"Something that just says I love you."
I smiled.
"That's beautiful."
He stepped closer.
"Can I put it on you?"
I nodded.
He fastened the necklace around my neck.
Then kissed my shoulder.
I closed my eyes.
For a moment, we were just husband and wife again.
Not victims.
Not witnesses.
Not people fighting a financial criminal.
Just us.
I turned toward him.
"Marcus?"
He smiled.
"Yes?"
"I love you."
His eyes softened.
"I love you too, Nia."
Then he kissed me.
And for the first time in months, the kiss didn't feel like a question.
It felt like an answer.
Later that night, we sat on the couch watching an old movie.
My phone vibrated.
Elijah.
I smiled.
"Hey, big brother."
He laughed.
"Hey, Nini."
I rolled my eyes.
"You're never going to stop calling me that, are you?"
"Never."
I laughed.
Then noticed his voice sounded different.
Serious.
"Elijah, what's wrong?"
He hesitated.
"I wanted you to hear something from me first."
My stomach tightened.
"What?"
"Victor's attorneys contacted mine."
I froze.
"Why?"
"They're discussing a possible plea agreement."
My heart jumped.
"Really?"
"Yes."
I looked at Marcus.
He sat up.
Elijah continued.
"But there's a condition they're trying to negotiate."
I frowned.
"What condition?"
"They want certain information excluded from the public record."
My stomach twisted.
"What information?"
Elijah hesitated.
"The names of several people who helped Victor."
I stared at the phone.
"And?"
His voice became quiet.
"Nia, one of those names is someone you know."
My heart began pounding.
"Who?"
Elijah took a breath.
"Someone connected to your family."
I looked at Marcus.
His face had gone pale.
May you like
Then Elijah whispered the name.
"Your father-in-law."
