Chapter 8: The Woman Who Took The Money And Vanished
Vanessa Cross disappeared overnight.
No warning.
No explanation.
No goodbye.
The woman who had confidently stood beside Adrian in front of hundreds of people was suddenly gone.
At first, Adrian believed she was avoiding him.
Then he realized something worse.
She had taken information.
Not just money.
Information.
Daniel discovered it before noon.
“She accessed several confidential files before leaving.””
I looked at him.
“What files?””
“Investor reports. Executive communications. Strategic plans.””
My expression hardened.
“She was preparing.””
Daniel nodded.
“Looks like it.””
I looked through the report.
Vanessa had not been acting alone.
She had been collecting information for months.
The question was why.
Adrian arrived while I was reviewing the documents.
He looked exhausted.
Not powerful.
Not like the man who stood on stage and humiliated me.
Just a man who finally realized everyone around him had their own agenda.
“She used me.””
I didn’t answer.
“She knew who I was.””
I looked up.
“What does that mean?””
His face tightened.
“She knew about Ashcroft Holdings.””
That caught my attention.
“What?””
Adrian sat down.
“She found out months ago.””
My eyes narrowed.
“And you didn’t tell me?””
He looked ashamed.
“I didn’t know she knew.””
That was believable.
For once.
Because Adrian’s greatest weakness had always been the same.
He believed he was the smartest person in every room.
People who underestimated others were easy to manipulate.
Even Vanessa understood that.
“How did she find out?””
Adrian hesitated.
“I showed her.””
I stared at him.
“You showed her?””
He looked away.
“When things got complicated between us, I wanted to prove I wasn’t dependent on you.””
My voice became cold.
“So you told another woman about my family’s company.””
“I didn’t tell her everything.””
“You told her enough.””
He had no answer.
That was the problem with Adrian.
Every explanation eventually became another confession.
Daniel entered.
“We have a bigger problem.””
I looked at him.
“What now?””
He placed a tablet on the table.
A news article appeared.
“Anonymous Investor Group Announces Challenge To Vale Meridian Leadership.””
I read the headline.
Then I saw the names.
Several former shareholders.
Including people connected to Victor Halston.
My eyes narrowed.
“This is not just Adrian.””
Daniel nodded.
“No.””
I looked at Adrian.
For the first time, we were facing the same enemy.
And neither of us liked it.
“Where is Vanessa?””
Adrian shook his head.
“I don’t know.””
I studied him.
“Are you sure?””
His eyes met mine.
“Yes.””
For once, I believed him.
Because Adrian looked genuinely afraid.
That evening, I received an unexpected visitor.
Victor Halston.
He entered my office without his usual confidence.
That concerned me.
People like Victor never looked uncertain.
“You knew,” I said immediately.
He didn’t pretend otherwise.
“Yes.””
“About Vanessa?””
“Yes.””
I stood.
“And you said nothing?””
Victor sighed.
“Because I wanted to know what she was trying to accomplish.””
I stared at him.
“You used me as bait.””
“No.””
His voice became serious.
“I was trying to protect you.””
I laughed once.
“Everyone says that after making decisions for me.””
That silenced him.
Because it was true.
My entire life, powerful people had claimed they were protecting me.
My father.
Victor.
Even Adrian.
But protection without honesty became control.
Victor placed a folder on my desk.
“This is why Vanessa disappeared.””
Inside were photographs.
Bank records.
Emails.
I looked through them.
Then I saw the name.
The person behind everything.
My hands froze.
“No.””
Victor watched my reaction.
“You know them.””
I stared at the document.
Because I did.
I knew them very well.
The person financing Vanessa.
The person challenging my company.
The person manipulating Adrian.
Was someone I never thought would betray me.
Someone who had sat at my family table.
Someone who had called me family.
May you like
My own cousin.
Rebecca Ashcroft.
