Chapter 8 - Before the Gala
Richard drove back to Westbury with one thought repeating in his head.
They knew each other before me.
Every memory of meeting Victoria at the charity gala suddenly felt staged. Her surprise when they were introduced. Graham’s enthusiastic approval. The background report that described her as brilliant, philanthropic, and spotless.
All of it had passed through Graham.
Daniel met Richard at the garage.
“Graham’s phone is off. His apartment is empty.”
“What about Victoria?”
“Still here. Her attorney arrived.”
Richard walked straight into the library.
Victoria sat beside a criminal defense lawyer in a navy suit.
She looked calm again.
That frightened him more than tears.
Richard placed Nicole’s photograph on the table.
“When did you meet Graham Pike?”
Victoria looked at the picture for less than a second.
“I don’t remember.”
“Try.”
Her attorney raised a hand. “Mrs. Sterling will not answer—”
“She was in a hotel lobby with him eight months before our first date.”
Victoria’s mouth curved faintly.
“You really have no idea what was happening around you, do you?”
Richard stepped closer.
“Tell me.”
“Ask Graham.”
“He ran.”
“Then maybe he was afraid of you.”
“No. He was afraid of what I’d find.”
For the first time, Victoria’s composure cracked.
Just a flicker.
Richard saw it.
Then Daniel entered carrying a sealed envelope.
“We found this in Graham’s office safe.”
Inside were copies of family trust documents.
Richard recognized them immediately.
The Sterling Children’s Trust had been created after Maya’s birth. It protected controlling shares of the family company for her future.
Someone had highlighted one clause.
IF THE BENEFICIARY IS DECEASED OR PERMANENTLY INCAPACITATED BEFORE AGE TWENTY-FIVE, CONTROL REVERTS TO THE SETTLOR OR HIS LEGALLY RECOGNIZED SPOUSE.
Richard felt the room tilt.
Victoria stood abruptly.
Her attorney whispered, “Sit down.”
Richard looked at his wife.
May you like
“You didn’t want Maya to love you,” he said.
“You wanted her out of the way.”
