Chapter 5 - THE SECRET MEETING
That evening, I waited by the phone. Clara called three times with updates. Julian had called an emergency board meeting for the following morning. He was demanding my presence. He wanted an explanation for the canceled contracts. He was already accusing me of emotional instability, of making rash decisions while pregnant, of endangering the company’s stability for personal reasons.
“He is turning the board against you before you even walk through the door,” Clara said grimly. “He is painting himself as the hero stepping in to save Vale Dominion from your poor judgment.”
“Let him,” I said. “Let him show his hand. I will be there. And I will be ready.”
Margaret did not call. Not by eight. Not by nine. At ten minutes past ten, my phone finally rang. Not Margaret. Victor. His voice sounded breathless, terrified, speaking in hushed, rapid tones.
“Elena, do not say a word. Just listen.”
“Where is your mother?” I asked sharply.
“She is here,” Victor said. “She spoke to me. She told me everything. And Elena… I swear to you, I did not know the half of it. Julian told me you were wealthy, yes—but he said your family was old money, quiet, nothing like this. He said if I married you and kept you out of business decisions, he would ensure Whitmore Logistics received every contract we needed to grow. He promised me wealth, respect, status. And he warned me never to tell you who you really were—that if I did, the deal was off.”
Victor paused, swallowing hard. “I married you because I was greedy. Because I wanted everything Julian promised. But then… after we were together… I began to truly love you. Or at least I thought I did. But Julian threatened me. Said if I backed out or told you the truth… he would ruin me. He told my mother you were nobody so she would never respect you enough to ask questions. It was all a trap, Elena. Julian used me to get close to you. To keep you under control.”
“And the money?” I asked. “The extra payments?”
Victor hesitated. “Julian took most of it himself. Kept some offshore. Gave me just enough to keep me dependent. And Elena… he told me yesterday—after you canceled the contracts—that he intended to frame me for embezzlement. To disappear. To leave me holding all the blame while he lives rich somewhere else.”
My blood ran cold. “He will frame you?”
“That is exactly why Mother called you,” Victor said. “She realized Julian intended to destroy me to protect himself. Elena… Julian is dangerous. More dangerous than you can imagine. He has powerful friends. And he told me this afternoon that if you kept digging… he would make certain you suffered an unfortunate accident before the baby was born.”
I gripped the phone tighter. “He threatened me directly?”
“He laughed about it,” Victor whispered. “Said a pregnant woman falling down stairs or suffering a sudden tragic illness would be very convenient for everyone. Elena… he means to kill you. And he intends to blame it on the stress of our separation.”
Silence stretched between us. I pressed one hand hard against my stomach. Julian had been sending those messages. Julian had been planning this from the very beginning. Marriage to Victor had never been about love. It had been about placing me under his control. And once I had served my purpose… I was meant to be removed.
“Where is Julian now?” I asked quietly.
“At his penthouse. He expects me there at midnight. To sign documents transferring everything remaining in Whitmore Logistics—and certain Vale Dominion assets still under my temporary signature—over to his control. Then he flies to Switzerland at dawn.” Victor’s voice cracked. “Elena… he intends to disappear before the board meeting. Before you can expose him.”
“Victor, listen to me carefully,” I said, every nerve firing. “Go to that meeting. Keep him talking. Sign nothing. Stall him as long as you possibly can. Clara and I will gather every piece of evidence we hold and bring it straight to the authorities. We will have them waiting when he tries to leave.”
“He will kill me if he suspects,” Victor whispered in horror.
“Then do not let him suspect,” I said. “This is your one chance, Victor. Help us expose him… and perhaps I will speak on your behalf. Let you rebuild your life honestly. Refuse… and you go down with him. Choose now.”
Victor breathed out shakily. “I will stall him. But Elena… be careful. Julian does not travel alone. He brings men. Dangerous men.”
“I will be careful,” I promised.
I ended the call and immediately dialed Clara. Then I stood up and began packing every file, every record, every piece of evidence we had gathered. Julian intended to flee. Tonight. Which meant I had to move faster than he did.
But as I reached for the final folder on my desk, something fell out from between its pages. A folded scrap of paper. Handwriting I recognized instantly as my late father’s. I had never seen this note before. I unfolded it slowly.
May you like
*If you are reading this, Julian has betrayed us. Watch the accounts. Watch the man he chooses to marry you to. Trust no one. Especially not him.*
My heart hammered against my ribs. My father had known. He had suspected Julian would do exactly this. And he had hidden this warning where only I would eventually find it.
