Chapter 9 - Victoria Calls
Victoria called at 6:17 that evening.
Rebecca was still with me.
My father had driven into the city and was downstairs speaking with hotel security.
I nearly declined.
Rebecca shook her head.
“Let her talk.”
So I answered.
“Elena.”
Victoria’s voice was sweet.
Too sweet.
“I think we all got off on the wrong foot this morning.”
I stared at the rain beginning to streak the hotel window.
“You threw a dirty rag at me?”
“I didn’t throw anything.”
“Julian did.”
“You know what I mean.”
“No.”
She sighed.
“Marriage requires adjustment.”
“Apparently.”
“I was strict with you because women today are taught terrible ideas.”
I almost smiled.
“Like having bank accounts?”
“Like treating marriage as something disposable.”
“Fourteen hours ago you watched your son tell me I wasn’t his wife.”
“He was angry.”
“He had been married for fourteen hours.”
“Elena.”
Her tone became maternal.
“You need to understand Julian is under a great deal of pressure.”
There it was.
“Financial pressure?”
Silence.
Then she laughed.
“Every man has responsibilities.”
“Eight hundred thousand dollars’ worth?”
Rebecca looked at me sharply.
Victoria stopped breathing.
For three seconds, the line was completely silent.
Then her voice changed.
“Who have you been talking to?”
“Public records.”
“You had no right.”
That almost made me laugh.
“I had no right to check the financial condition of the family trying to access my money?”
“No one is trying to access your money.”
“Then why does Julian know the value of my company shares?”
“He’s your husband.”
“Why did he impersonate me to my lawyer?”
A longer silence.
“Elena, be very careful about accusations.”
“I am.”
“Because defamation can be expensive.”
“Good thing I have a lawyer.”
She inhaled sharply.
“You think this is funny?”
“No.”
I looked toward Rebecca.
“I think it’s evidence.”
That word shook her.
I could hear it.
“What do you want?”
Victoria finally asked.
I leaned back.
“Nothing.”
“Everyone wants something.”
“I want out.”
“You don’t get to humiliate my son and walk away.”
“I’m not humiliating him.”
“People are already asking why you left.”
“That sounds like Julian’s problem.”
Her voice dropped.
“You have no idea what you’re doing.”
“I’m beginning to.”
“We spent almost thirty thousand dollars on that wedding.”
I frowned.
“My parents paid for nearly everything.”
“Not everything.”
“What did you pay for?”
Silence.
Then she snapped.
“That is not the point.”
“No.”
“The point is you expected a return.”
Rebecca’s pen stopped moving.
Victoria said nothing.
I continued.
“You expected the $45,000.”
“Elena—”
“You expected access to my shares.”
“Elena.”
“And you thought I had my grandfather’s trust.”
The silence on the other end changed.
It wasn’t anger.
It was shock.
I sat upright.
Rebecca noticed immediately.
“Victoria?”
Nothing.
Then I heard a whisper.
Not Victoria.
Julian.
He was somewhere beside her.
“Hang up.”
I smiled.
There it was.
Confirmation without confession.
“You thought the trust belonged to me.”
Victoria recovered.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yes, you do.”
“Elena—”
“The trust isn’t mine.”
A faint sound came through the phone.
Julian swearing.
Victoria hissed his name.
I continued before she could stop me.
“You married the wrong granddaughter.”
Then I hung up.
Rebecca stared at me.
For one second, neither of us spoke.
Then my phone began ringing again.
Julian.
I declined it.
He called again.
Declined.
A text came next.
What do you mean the trust isn’t yours?
I showed Rebecca.
She smiled slowly.
“That.”
May you like
She pointed at the screen.
“May be the most useful message he has sent all day.”
