Chapter 7: The Boardroom Betrayal
Adrian snatched the document from Richard.
"That's ridiculous.""
Richard remained seated.
"I'm telling you what I know.""
"Then perhaps your memory needs refreshing.""
Richard pointed to the seal.
"This notary's office closed in December, eleven years ago. The registration number on this document was retired shortly afterward.""
One of the lawyers began examining the pages.
"Mr. Vale, where did this original come from?""
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"From the company archives.""
"Who certified it?""
"My legal department.""
"Which solicitor?""
Adrian looked at Vanessa.
She looked away.
I sat quietly.
For eleven years, I had watched Adrian intimidate people until they stopped asking questions.
He raised his voice.
He interrupted.
He reminded everyone how much money he controlled.
And most people eventually gave in.
But this time, nobody moved.
Richard Collins stood.
"I am suspending our proposed acquisition until these documents have been independently verified.""
Adrian stepped toward him.
"You can't do that. The contracts are signed.""
"Not by the legitimate controlling shareholder.""
Adrian's eyes flashed.
"You're making a mistake.""
Richard gathered his papers.
"No. I think I made one when I trusted you.""
He walked out.
The lawyers followed him.
Only Adrian, Vanessa, and I remained.
For several seconds, the room was silent.
Then Adrian turned toward me.
"You planned this.""
I picked up my handbag.
"No. You planned this. I simply arrived.""
He moved around the table.
"Claire, listen to me.""
I stopped.
"What?""
"We can still work this out.""
I stared at him.
"You forged my mother's signature.""
"That's not what happened.""
"You forged Julian's signature.""
"I was protecting the company.""
"You tried to sell my inheritance.""
"Our inheritance.""
I almost smiled.
"Interesting. Yesterday, you told me I had never contributed anything.""
He rubbed his forehead.
"You're taking everything out of context.""
"No, Adrian. I'm finally putting it in context.""
Vanessa stood.
"Can we stop pretending Claire is some innocent victim?""
I turned toward her.
"What did you say?""
She folded her arms.
"You knew Adrian was unhappy. You knew the marriage was over. You just refused to accept it.""
"Did you know about the ownership transfer?""
She hesitated.
Adrian immediately interrupted.
"Vanessa, don't.""
That single sentence told me more than any confession could have.
I looked at her.
"How long have you been helping him?""
She raised her chin.
"Long enough to know he deserves what he built.""
"And the forged documents?""
"Ask Adrian.""
"I am asking you.""
Vanessa glanced at the lawyers' empty chairs.
Then she lowered her voice.
"You don't understand what happens inside this company.""
I stepped closer.
"Then explain it.""
She laughed bitterly.
"Adrian promised me a future. A real future. Not a life where I have to stand behind a woman who doesn't even understand the business.""
I looked at her emerald necklace.
"Did he promise you the company, too?""
She didn't answer.
Adrian grabbed her arm.
"That's enough.""
She pulled away.
"Don't touch me.""
He stared at her.
For the first time, the two of them looked less like lovers and more like business partners whose deal had collapsed.
I walked toward the door.
Adrian called after me.
"Claire!""
I stopped.
"If you leave now, don't expect me to protect you.""
I turned around.
"From what?""
He lowered his voice.
"There's a lot you don't know about your mother.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What are you talking about?""
His expression changed.
For a moment, he looked almost pleased.
"Ask Celeste Moreau what happened during the final months of Eleanor's life.""
I stared at him.
Then I left.
At noon, Thomas called.
"Claire, where are you?""
"At the hotel.""
"Don't go anywhere. We have a problem.""
My heart sank.
"What happened?""
"The original ownership documents have disappeared from the Geneva office.""
I stood up.
"What?""
"Someone entered the building last night.""
"Was anything else taken?""
"Only the company records and a personal file belonging to your mother.""
I looked toward the window.
"Who had access?""
"The building administrator is checking the security footage.""
"Could it have been Adrian?""
Thomas hesitated.
"Possibly.""
"Then call the police.""
"I already have.""
A message arrived while we were speaking.
It was from an unknown number.
You should have listened to Adrian.
Another message followed.
Your mother wasn't the person you think she was.
Then a photograph appeared.
It showed Celeste Moreau standing outside a hospital.
The date was eleven years earlier.
On the back of the photograph was a handwritten sentence.
She was there when Eleanor signed the last document.
I called Celeste immediately.
She answered after the first ring.
"Claire?""
"Did you visit my mother in the hospital eleven years ago?""
Silence.
"Yes.""
"Did she sign a document?""
Another silence.
"Claire, where are you?""
"Answer me.""
Celeste exhaled.
"Your mother signed several documents during her final weeks.""
"Did she transfer the company shares?""
"No.""
"Did she authorize Adrian to sell them?""
"Absolutely not.""
"Then why am I receiving photographs suggesting otherwise?""
Celeste's voice became urgent.
"Because someone is trying to make you doubt the one person who can prove what happened.""
"Who?""
"Me.""
I froze.
"What?""
"Your mother gave me something before she died. Something Adrian has spent eleven years trying to find.""
"What is it?""
Celeste lowered her voice.
"The original recording of Eleanor's final meeting with Adrian.""
My knees weakened.
"Where is it?""
"In a place your mother chose because she knew nobody would think to look there.""
"Tell me.""
"I will. But not over the phone.""
"Celeste—"
"Claire, listen carefully. Adrian knows about the recording. And if he realizes I still have it, he will come for it.""
The call ended.
I stared at my phone.
A moment later, another message appeared.
This time, it came from Vanessa.
You think you're winning, don't you?
Then:
Ask your precious Celeste why she never told you she was with your mother the night she died.
I read the message again.
Before I could respond, the hotel room doorbell rang.
I looked through the peephole.
A young woman stood in the corridor holding a large envelope.
"Delivery for Mrs. Vale.""
I opened the door cautiously.
"Who sent this?""
She checked her tablet.
"Mr. Adrian Vale.""
I took the envelope.
The woman walked away.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
It was a photograph of my mother lying in her hospital bed.
Celeste sat beside her.
And Adrian stood behind them.
But something else caught my attention.
My mother was holding a small object in her right hand.
A silver key.
The same key that had been missing from the velvet box in the Blue Room.
At the bottom of the photograph, Adrian had written:
Your mother gave me the key herself, Claire.
I called Thomas.
He answered immediately.
"Claire?""
I whispered:
May you like
"I think Adrian has the original recording.""
And then I heard the hotel room door handle turn.
