Chapter 3 The First Crack
The first rule my grandfather had ever taught me about power was simple.
"Never interrupt your enemy while they're making a mistake."
For six years, I had watched Dominic build Vance Holdings into one of the fastest-growing software companies in the state. The public believed he had done it alone. Investors admired his confidence. Business magazines praised his instincts.
They never saw the people working quietly behind the curtain.
Neither did Dominic.
As I rocked Grace to sleep in the nursery, Leo called.
"I've confirmed Marcus's findings."
"The shareholder registry?"
"Yes."
I tucked the blanket around Grace before stepping into the hallway.
"And?"
"Someone has been requesting copies of confidential ownership records for nearly three months."
"Who authorized it?"
"That's the strange part."
"They were requested using Dominic's executive credentials."
I frowned.
"But he never mentioned anything."
"Because I don't think he knows."
Across town, Dominic stood in the executive boardroom overlooking the city skyline.
The quarterly numbers were better than expected.
Revenue had climbed.
Stock analysts were optimistic.
Board members applauded his leadership.
Dominic smiled with practiced confidence.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "this is only the beginning."
His chief financial officer shifted uneasily.
"There is one issue."
Dominic's smile faded.
"What issue?"
"The internal auditors found several large transfers."
"Routine acquisitions?"
"No."
"Vendor payments?"
The CFO shook his head.
"We can't identify the destination accounts."
The room fell silent.
Dominic frowned.
"How much?"
"Approximately four-point-eight million dollars."
His expression hardened.
"Who approved them?"
The CFO hesitated.
"According to the records..."
Everyone waited.
"...you did."
"What?"
Dominic stood so quickly that his chair tipped backward.
"I never signed those transfers."
The CFO slid several documents across the polished table.
Every authorization carried Dominic's digital signature.
Every approval appeared genuine.
Every transaction had passed internal security.
Board members exchanged uneasy glances.
Dominic forced himself to breathe.
"Freeze every outgoing payment."
"We already have."
"No one leaves this room until I know what happened."
At nearly the same moment, Brooke walked through the lobby carrying two designer shopping bags.
She noticed unusual tension immediately.
Employees whispered in clusters.
Several executives hurried toward the conference floor.
One of Dominic's assistants approached her.
"Mr. Vance wants everyone in the executive conference room."
Brooke smiled politely.
"Did something happen?"
"I don't know."
But the assistant's nervous expression suggested otherwise.
Marcus arrived at my mother's guesthouse just before lunch.
He carried another thick envelope.
"We've traced the missing money."
Leo looked surprised.
"Already?"
Marcus nodded.
"The transfers were routed through three shell companies."
"Who owns them?"
"On paper?"
He paused.
"No one."
I frowned.
"What does that mean?"
"They're registered overseas using nominee directors."
Leo leaned back in his chair.
"Professional laundering."
Marcus nodded once.
"Very professional."
I stared at the documents.
"Can you trace the final destination?"
Marcus smiled faintly.
"We already did."
He placed one page in front of me.
The receiving account belonged to...
Mercer Capital.
Nathan's investment company.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Finally Leo broke the silence.
"So Nathan isn't just Brooke's boyfriend."
Marcus nodded.
"No."
"He's involved."
"Very involved."
I looked toward Grace sleeping peacefully in the living room.
"What if Dominic isn't the only target?"
Marcus folded his hands.
"I've been thinking the same thing."
That evening Dominic stormed into the penthouse.
His tie hung loose around his neck.
Brooke immediately recognized the look on his face.
"What happened?"
He threw a stack of documents across the kitchen island.
"Someone stole almost five million dollars."
Her eyes widened.
"What?"
"My company."
She picked up the papers.
"How?"
"I don't know."
He poured himself a glass of whiskey.
"But I will."
Brooke forced herself to remain calm.
"Could it be an accounting mistake?"
Dominic laughed bitterly.
"Not five million dollars."
She nodded slowly.
"Do the police know?"
"They will tomorrow."
For the first time since she'd met him...
Fear flickered across Brooke's face.
Late that night...
She slipped quietly from the penthouse.
A black SUV waited beneath the parking garage.
Nathan sat behind the wheel.
"You shouldn't have called me."
"I had no choice."
He looked annoyed.
"What's wrong?"
"They found the transfers."
Nathan remained surprisingly calm.
"So?"
"So they're investigating."
"They won't find anything."
"You don't know Dominic."
Nathan smiled.
"I know him better than he knows himself."
Brooke stared through the windshield.
"I don't like this anymore."
Nathan turned toward her.
"It's too late."
"I never wanted anyone hurt."
"No one is getting hurt."
She looked at him.
"What about Dominic?"
Nathan's expression became cold.
"He made his choice."
"And Amelia?"
He didn't answer.
That silence frightened Brooke more than any words could have.
The next morning Leo received an unexpected phone call.
He listened without speaking.
When the conversation ended, he looked directly at me.
"You need to hear this."
"What happened?"
"Dominic hired an outside forensic accounting firm."
"Good."
Leo frowned.
"They're not just reviewing company accounts."
"What else?"
"They've started examining his personal finances."
I blinked.
"Why?"
"Because the board doesn't trust him anymore."
By noon, financial news websites were reporting rumors of an internal investigation at Vance Holdings.
The company's stock slipped three percent before markets closed.
Commentators called it a temporary correction.
Investors weren't convinced.
That afternoon my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I almost ignored it.
Instead...
I answered.
"This is Amelia."
Several seconds passed before a woman's voice whispered,
"I need to see you."
"Who is this?"
"You know who."
Silence.
Then—
"Brooke."
Every muscle in my body tightened.
"What do you want?"
"I can't explain over the phone."
"You have five seconds."
Her breathing sounded uneven.
"You're in danger."
I almost laughed.
"You destroyed my marriage."
"I know."
"You stood beside my hospital bed."
"I know."
"You celebrated stealing my husband."
Another silence.
Finally she whispered,
"It wasn't supposed to happen like this."
Those words stopped me.
Because for the first time...
She didn't sound victorious.
She sounded terrified.
"We need to meet," she said quietly.
"Before Nathan realizes I've called you."
The line went dead.
That evening Marcus traced the call.
"It came from a disposable phone."
Leo looked concerned.
"Do you think it's a trap?"
Marcus answered honestly.
"It could be."
I stared at Grace sleeping against my shoulder.
Or...
It could be the first crack in a plan that had been years in the making.
Outside, thunder rolled across the darkening sky.
Somewhere in the city, Brooke Lawson was running out of time.
May you like
And for the first time since my marriage ended...
The woman I believed had stolen my life was asking me to help save hers.
