Chapter 11 - THE WOMAN BEHIND HIM
Dominic agreed to another interview after learning about the insurance policy.
For the first time, he looked scared.
Not angry.
Not offended.
Scared.
Chloe placed the document in front of him.
“Did you know?”
He read the beneficiary twice.
“No.”
I watched through the glass.
“You expect me to believe that?”
He looked toward the mirror as though he could see me.
“My mother handles corporate insurance.”
Chloe remained silent.
Dominic pushed the document away.
“She wouldn’t.”
Chloe placed Victoria’s letter beside it.
His expression collapsed.
The confidence disappeared.
He had known about my money.
He had participated in the surveillance.
He had controlled me.
He had hurt me.
Nothing could erase that.
But one truth had changed.
Dominic had thought he was Victoria’s partner.
He had actually been another asset.
Chloe asked about Rachel.
Dominic initially denied everything.
Then she showed him Arthur’s statement.
His shoulders dropped.
Rachel had discovered the first financial scheme.
She threatened to tell investors.
Dominic assaulted her during an argument.
Victoria paid Rachel to leave.
Then threatened to destroy her reputation if she returned.
“What happened to Melissa?”
“She left.”
“Why?”
“Her brothers started asking questions.”
“Claire?”
Dominic stared at the table.
“My mother said Claire was perfect.”
The sentence made my skin crawl.
“Perfect for what?”
“Stable family background.”
“Clean credit.”
“Assets.”
“Easy to isolate.”
He closed his eyes.
Then Chloe asked the question that mattered.
“What was supposed to happen after Phase Three?”
Dominic refused to answer.
Chloe waited.
Finally, he whispered.
“Claire would sign temporary authority to me.”
“And if she refused?”
Dominic’s silence answered before his words did.
“My mother said there were other ways.”
I left the observation room.
I couldn’t listen anymore.
My phone rang.
Lauren.
She sounded frightened.
“Claire, somebody broke into my apartment.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
“What did they take?”
“Nothing valuable.”
She paused.
“Just the folder Dominic gave me.”
“What folder?”
“Documents about a trust.”
My stomach dropped.
“Whose trust?”
“Mine.”
Victoria had already started with Lauren.
Then Lauren whispered.
“There was something else.”
“What?”
“The person who broke in left something on my bed.”
“What?”
“A photograph of you.”
My mouth went dry.
“What did it say?”
May you like
Lauren began crying.
“Finish what she started.”
