Chapter 12 - The Contract in His Name
Adrian’s first instinct was to tear the agreement in half. Marisol stopped him.
“Don’t touch it more than necessary. We need the original preserved.”
Celeste’s attorneys insisted the agreement was valid and that Adrian had signed it during a private meeting months earlier. Adrian remembered signing a stack of documents related to the wedding venue and a charitable foundation. He had trusted Celeste to explain each page.
“Then we need the meeting file, the witness, and the digital signature records,” Marisol replied.
Naomi watched Adrian’s face. The betrayal seemed to hurt him more than the financial threat. He had spent years believing he was a good judge of character. Now every memory of Celeste had become a question.
After the attorneys left, Adrian checked his calendar and found the meeting. It had taken place in a hotel conference room. Graham Pike had attended, along with a notary whose name appeared on the disputed agreement.
The hotel had security footage, but the retention period was almost over. Adrian called the manager and requested that it be preserved for a legal inquiry.
Meanwhile, Naomi went back to the kitchen and found a small envelope tucked behind the spice drawer. It contained a flash drive and a note in Evelyn’s handwriting: If they take the papers, the copies must survive.
The drive held scans of the trust deed, old medication instructions, and a spreadsheet of payments to Vale Medical Consulting. More importantly, it contained a short audio file recorded on Evelyn’s old phone.
“Once the doctor signs, Adrian won’t be able to challenge the transfer. He’ll be too busy protecting his reputation.”
“Yes,” she said. “You were.”
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Then the mansion’s alarm began to sound. A security guard called from the hall.
“Someone’s in the east wing. They’re looking for the safe.”
