Chapter 6 - THE CONTRACT BENEATH THE WEDDING
The ceremony never officially ended.
It simply dissolved.
Guests gathered in corners.
Phones buzzed.
Diplomatic vehicles surrounded the estate.
Within twenty minutes, news helicopters began circling beyond the property boundary.
Inside the library, Helena stood opposite Adrian.
“What investigation?”
Adrian closed the doors.
Amalia placed a red leather folder on the table.
“The Calderon procurement agreement.”
Helena recognized the name.
Varenne had spent two years negotiating a maritime defense modernization contract.
Hawthorne Defense Systems had been one of four American bidders.
“I recused myself from procurement before I left.”
“Which is why no one told you.”
Adrian opened the folder.
“Hawthorne-linked intermediaries transferred fourteen million dollars through shell companies registered in Luxembourg.”
Helena stared at the documents.
“To whom?”
“Three ministry officials.”
“Arrested?”
“Two.”
“And the third?”
“Missing.”
Helena looked toward the ballroom.
“Does Daniel know?”
“We don’t know.”
That answer frightened her more than a yes.
Daniel had spent months fighting to complete a merger.
A merger Evelyn constantly described as essential to Hawthorne Capital’s future.
“What company is Daniel acquiring?”
Adrian slid another document forward.
“Sterling Meridian.”
Helena went still.
Madison Sterling’s family.
“Yes.”
Adrian nodded.
“The same holding group through which several payments were routed.”
Helena closed her eyes.
The former fiancée.
The merger.
The constant phone calls.
The pressure placed on Daniel during his own rehearsal dinner.
None of it looked accidental anymore.
“Where is Daniel?”
“In the west garden.”
Helena found him standing alone near the frozen fountain.
He had removed his tie.
For the first time since she had met him, Daniel Hawthorne looked completely lost.
She stopped several feet away.
“Daniel.”
He did not turn.
“Is Nora even a real person?”
Helena felt the question in her chest.
“Yes.”
“No.”
He faced her.
“Nora likes old paperbacks.”
“So do I.”
“Nora hates formal dinners.”
“So do I.”
“Nora said she used to count coins before buying groceries.”
Helena hesitated.
“That part was real.”
He stared at her.
“How can it be real if you had a palace?”
“Because when I left Varenne, I froze my personal access to royal accounts.”
“You chose poverty.”
“I chose ordinary life.”
“Those aren’t the same thing.”
“No.”
Daniel looked away.
Helena stepped closer.
“My father was dying when he asked me to do this.”
Daniel’s anger paused.
“He said everyone around me loved something.”
“The crown.”
“The position.”
“The access.”
“The story.”
She looked at him.
“He wanted me to find one person who loved me when there was nothing to gain.”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“And did I pass?”
Helena said nothing.
That silence hurt him.
Then she told him about the investigation.
Every trace of personal anger disappeared from Daniel’s face.
“What?”
“Hawthorne Defense may be involved in bribery.”
“That’s impossible.”
“The payments connect to Sterling Meridian.”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
“Adrian has records.”
“My mother has been forcing that merger for nine months.”
Helena looked at him.
“And your calls last night?”
“Board pressure.”
“Who was calling?”
Daniel thought.
Then his face slowly changed.
“Victor Dane.”
“The chairman?”
“Yes.”
“Who appointed him?”
Daniel already knew.
“My mother.”
They both turned toward the house.
A black sedan was leaving through the lower gate.
Daniel frowned.
“That’s Victor’s car.”
Helena pulled out her encrypted phone.
Adrian answered immediately.
“Stop the black sedan leaving the south gate.”
Thirty seconds later, Royal security blocked the road.
But when officers opened the rear door, Victor Dane was not inside.
Only his phone was there.
May you like
On the screen was an unsent message addressed to Evelyn Hawthorne.
HE KNOWS.
