Chapter 2: The Secret My Mother Took to Her Grave
The applause grew louder.
Through the glass wall of the private lounge, I could see Adrian standing beneath the enormous illuminated VALE GROUP logo.
Vanessa stood beside him, her hand resting on his arm.
My mother's emerald necklace sparkled beneath the stage lights.
Celeste watched my face.
"Who sent you that message?""
"I don't know.""
"Show me.""
I handed her my phone.
She read both messages, then looked toward the stage.
"Interesting.""
"What's interesting?""
"Someone knows what Adrian is planning.""
I stared at her.
"Do you think Vanessa sent it?""
Celeste shook her head.
"Vanessa has spent the last two years trying to get your husband to give her more authority. She wouldn't warn you unless she had discovered something that threatens her, too.""
I looked at the message again.
Especially if it has anything to do with Vanessa.
"What does that mean?""
Celeste folded the ownership agreement and returned it to the envelope.
"It means we should find out before your husband makes his announcement.""
We stepped into the main hall.
A waiter passed with a tray of champagne. Celeste took two glasses, handed me one, and nodded toward the stage.
Adrian was speaking confidently.
"Vale Group has always represented more than fashion. It represents vision, loyalty, and the courage to recognize talent before the rest of the world catches up.""
The audience applauded.
He placed a hand on Vanessa's back.
"Tonight, I'm proud to announce the woman who will help lead our next chapter.""
Vanessa smiled.
A photographer raised his camera.
"Please welcome our new global creative president, Vanessa Hart.""
The room erupted.
I stood motionless.
Creative director had apparently not been enough.
Adrian was giving her an executive position in front of the world's most influential fashion buyers.
Then he continued.
"And, as part of this exciting transition, we are finalizing a restructuring of the company's ownership.""
Celeste's fingers tightened around her champagne glass.
"There's the announcement.""
Adrian smiled at the audience.
"Vale Group will soon welcome a new strategic investment partner, allowing us to expand into the American luxury market.""
A man near the front stood and applauded.
I recognized him.
Richard Collins.
The chairman of Collins International, one of the largest private investment firms in New York.
He had attended Adrian's wedding to me eleven years earlier.
At the time, he had spent most of the evening talking to my mother.
Now he was smiling at my husband.
"Do you know about this investment?"" I asked Celeste.
"No.""
"Could it be legitimate?""
"Possibly. But if Adrian is using company shares to secure it, he cannot do so without the controlling shareholder's consent.""
My phone vibrated again.
This time, the message included a photograph.
It showed a document lying on a desk.
At the top was a heading:
*PROPOSED TRANSFER OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST.*
Beneath it were the names Adrian Vale and Vanessa Hart.
My stomach tightened.
"What is this?""
Celeste leaned closer.
Her expression hardened.
"Where did you get that?""
"Someone just sent it to me.""
She studied the photograph.
"Claire, this is not an ordinary investment agreement.""
"What is it?""
"It's a proposal to transfer shares into a new holding company.""
"Whose holding company?""
Celeste looked directly at me.
"Adrian and Vanessa's.""
I felt the room grow colder.
The document included a reference to a family trust.
My family trust.
And someone had written a figure beside it.
*51%.*
"He's trying to transfer my shares?""
"He's trying to make it appear that you authorized the transfer.""
I looked at the photograph again.
There was a signature at the bottom.
My name.
Claire Eleanor Vale.
It was almost perfect.
Almost.
The capital C was too rounded.
My mother had taught me to sign my name when I was eight. She had always told me that a signature was more than ink.
It was a promise.
I knew every movement of mine.
That wasn't my signature.
"Someone forged it.""
Celeste nodded.
"Then we need to preserve that photograph.""
I forwarded it to her.
Across the room, Adrian had finished speaking.
He was accepting congratulations while Vanessa posed beside him.
I watched him lean toward Richard Collins.
"Everything is in place," Adrian said.
Richard glanced toward the audience.
"Has Claire approved the final documents?""
Adrian's smile didn't move.
"Claire trusts me.""
Richard looked uncomfortable.
"That wasn't what I asked.""
Adrian lowered his voice.
"She's my wife. She'll sign whatever I put in front of her.""
My fingers went numb.
For eleven years, I had believed his confidence came from knowing me.
Now I understood.
He had mistaken my trust for weakness.
Celeste placed her champagne glass on a nearby table.
"Come with me.""
We moved toward the side entrance, but someone stepped into our path.
Vanessa.
She had changed into a sparkling silver jacket over her gown.
Up close, the necklace looked even more familiar.
I could see the tiny scratch on the third emerald.
My mother had accidentally made it when I was fourteen. She had dropped the necklace onto a marble countertop while teaching me how to fasten its clasp.
I had cried because I thought it was ruined.
She had laughed and kissed my forehead.
"Now it has a story, darling.""
Vanessa touched the scratch with her fingernail.
"Beautiful, isn't it?""
I looked at her.
"Take it off.""
She sighed.
"Claire, we're not doing this again.""
"That necklace is not yours.""
"Adrian gave it to me.""
"And he had no right.""
Vanessa leaned closer.
"Do you know what your problem is?""
I didn't answer.
"You think being married to Adrian makes you important. But nobody in this room knows what you actually do.""
Her eyes moved over my simple black dress.
"Look at you. You don't even look like a woman who belongs in this industry anymore.""
Celeste stepped forward.
"Miss Hart, I suggest you choose your next words carefully.""
Vanessa laughed.
"Madame Moreau, with all due respect, this is a private matter.""
"Not anymore.""
Vanessa's smile faded.
Celeste looked at the emeralds.
"Take off that necklace.""
"Adrian gave it to me.""
"Then Adrian has given you something he does not own.""
For the first time, Vanessa looked uncertain.
Before she could respond, Adrian appeared.
"What's going on?""
Vanessa immediately moved closer to him.
"Your wife is harassing me again.""
Adrian turned toward me.
"Claire, enough.""
I held up my phone.
"Did you forge my signature?""
His face changed.
Only slightly.
But I saw it.
"What are you talking about?""
I showed him the photograph.
For a second, his eyes remained fixed on the document.
Then he laughed.
"Where did you get this?""
"That doesn't matter.""
"Actually, it does. You're making accusations based on a photograph you can't even authenticate.""
Celeste spoke calmly.
"Adrian, the transfer of the Bennett family trust requires the beneficiary's authorization.""
His expression became rigid.
"Madame Moreau, I wasn't aware you were involved in our family affairs.""
"I was involved before you had a company.""
"That's a rather dramatic statement.""
"No. It's a factual one.""
Adrian looked at me.
"Claire, we need to talk privately.""
"We're talking.""
"Not here.""
"Why? Are you worried the investors might hear?""
He glanced at Richard Collins, who was watching us from a few feet away.
Then he lowered his voice.
"You're tired. You're upset. Let's go back to the hotel.""
I shook my head.
"I'm staying.""
His jaw tightened.
"Fine. But don't expect me to keep protecting you from the consequences of your behavior.""
He turned away.
Vanessa followed, but not before giving me one last look.
Her fingers remained wrapped around the emerald necklace.
I watched them disappear into the crowd.
Then Richard Collins approached.
"Claire, may I speak with you?""
Celeste nodded.
"Go ahead.""
Richard looked uncomfortable.
"I need to ask you something about your mother.""
"What about her?""
He glanced toward Adrian.
"Did Eleanor ever tell you why she insisted on including a personal guarantee in the original ownership agreement?""
I shook my head.
Richard exhaled.
"Then there's something you need to know.""
He opened his briefcase and removed a thin blue folder.
"Your husband isn't simply trying to take control of your inheritance.""
He placed the folder in my hands.
"He's trying to sell a company he doesn't legally own.""
I looked at the papers.
The proposed buyer was listed as Collins International.
The transaction date was tomorrow morning.
And beneath the purchase price, there was a condition that made my blood run cold.
*The seller must certify that all controlling shareholders have approved the transaction.*
My name appeared beneath that certification.
A signature that wasn't mine.
I looked up.
"Mr. Collins, why are you showing me this?""
He hesitated.
"Because I received a call from someone three days ago.""
"Who?""
Richard glanced at the necklace Vanessa was wearing.
"Your husband's creative director.""
My heart stopped.
"Vanessa?""
He nodded.
"She told me something about the company that made me reconsider the entire deal.""
May you like
Before I could ask what it was, he leaned closer.
"Claire, I think your husband has been lying to both of us.""
