For several seconds Valerie could hear only the faint engine noise behind Alexander\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n
His plane was still somewhere over the Caribbean.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow does Mercer have access?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou tell me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m looking at a transfer schedule.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat transfer schedule?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSixty-three million dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alexander stopped breathing loudly enough for her to hear it.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom where?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPart of it from my company.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, Valerie. That is impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cApparently impossible has excellent paperwork.\u201d<\/p>\n
Naomi motioned for Valerie to keep him talking.<\/p>\n
Valerie needed no encouragement.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you sign an amendment to the Bennett Family Legacy Trust in January?\u201d<\/p>\n
Alexander hesitated.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
The admission hurt.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you watch me sign it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho told you I had?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRichard.\u201d<\/p>\n
Valerie closed her eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere were you when you signed?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHis office.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWas Stephen there?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho notarized it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t remember.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTry.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSome woman\u2019s name.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSusan Mercer?\u201d<\/p>\n
A pause.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was dead.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe died in November.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe document is dated January.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alexander swore again.<\/p>\n
This time Valerie heard genuine disbelief.<\/p>\n
Naomi wrote something on her legal pad and turned it toward Valerie.<\/p>\n
Ask about original.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere is the original trust amendment?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStephen had it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you receive a copy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRichard emailed one.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cComplete?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI assume.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStop assuming.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alexander\u2019s voice sharpened.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t forge your signature.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t say you did.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou think I did.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think you signed a document giving yourself authority you knew I had never discussed with you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat isn\u2019t what Richard told me it did.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did he tell you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat it streamlined investment approvals.\u201d<\/p>\n
Valerie almost laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cStreamlined.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know how it sounds.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought you had agreed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy would you think that when I never mentioned it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRichard said he discussed it with you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that was enough?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was your CFO.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was your friend.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was both.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cExactly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alexander went silent.<\/p>\n
Valerie paced slowly.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you read the amendment?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAll of it?\u201d<\/p>\n
Another hesitation.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAlexander.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was in a hurry.\u201d<\/p>\n
The sentence summarized too much of the last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid anything appear after the signature page?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Naomi looked up.<\/p>\n
\u201cAsk him whether the pages were numbered.\u201d<\/p>\n
Valerie did.<\/p>\n
Alexander paused.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think so.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThink.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. They were.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow many?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t remember.\u201d<\/p>\n
Martin, still connected separately to Naomi, sent another message.<\/p>\n
The photographed version Camille found contained pages one through eleven.<\/p>\n
Naomi showed Valerie.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow many pages do you remember?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe twelve.\u201d<\/p>\n
Valerie stopped.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was a schedule.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat schedule?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAsset list.\u201d<\/p>\n
The photographed document contained no asset schedule.<\/p>\n
Naomi\u2019s expression changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlexander, listen carefully,\u201d Valerie said. \u201cWhat assets were listed?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know all of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBennett Center?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMatthew\u2019s trust?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it referenced the family trusts collectively.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour parents\u2019 home?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re sure?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBennett Development reserve holdings?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAbsolutely?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Valerie looked at Naomi.<\/p>\n
Then there was another document.<\/p>\n
Or another page.<\/p>\n
Something had expanded the collateral pool beyond what Alexander believed he had signed.<\/p>\n
That did not excuse him.<\/p>\n
It changed the crime.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy did you sign it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor Mercer.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did Richard tell you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat lenders needed evidence the family structures wouldn\u2019t interfere with closing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you didn\u2019t ask me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou would have said no.\u201d<\/p>\n
The answer came too quickly.<\/p>\n
Valerie\u2019s anger returned.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo you believed I had agreed to something you deliberately avoided asking me about because you knew I would refuse.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alexander said nothing.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is remarkable even for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI made mistakes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. You made choices. Richard may have made crimes.\u201d<\/p>\n
The distinction silenced him.<\/p>\n
Then Alexander asked, \u201cWhat exactly is on the transfer schedule?\u201d<\/p>\n
Valerie read the sources.<\/p>\n
When she reached Bennett Development Reserve Holdings, he interrupted.<\/p>\n
\u201cStop.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat account was never disclosed to Mercer.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou knew about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course I knew about it. I\u2019m your husband.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRichard knew.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was CFO.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStephen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe shouldn\u2019t have.\u201d<\/p>\n
Valerie looked toward Naomi.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow could they access it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey can\u2019t. Not without authorization.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhose?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYours.\u201d<\/p>\n
Valerie stared at the forged signature on the trust amendment.<\/p>\n
The implication was obvious.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat else did you sign?\u201d<\/p>\n
Alexander became defensive.<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing giving them access to your company.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat else?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA limited investment authority.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor Richard?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSend it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t have it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRichard.\u201d<\/p>\n
Valerie almost shouted.<\/p>\n
Instead she lowered her voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlexander, you gave Richard documents you did not retain?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was handling the closing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were handing him your life.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI trusted him.\u201d<\/p>\n
The words echoed strangely after everything Alexander had done to everyone who trusted him.<\/p>\n
Valerie almost said it.<\/p>\n
She stopped herself.<\/p>\n
There would be time for that cruelty later.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you give him power of attorney?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSigning authority?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLimited.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow limited?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor Mercer-related transactions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Naomi closed her eyes.<\/p>\n
Valerie saw the problem immediately.<\/p>\n
\u201cDefine Mercer-related.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alexander did not answer.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know what we intended.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIntentions do not control bank wires.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI need to see the document.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo do I.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alexander\u2019s voice changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have a copy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou just said you didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot with me. At home.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy study.\u201d<\/p>\n
Valerie looked at the clock.<\/p>\n
Nearly eleven.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhich drawer?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBottom drawer of the desk. There\u2019s a false panel.\u201d<\/p>\n
She stopped.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have a false panel in your desk?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not the time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, apparently the time was nine months ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cValerie.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTell me how to open it.\u201d<\/p>\n
He did.<\/p>\n
Matthew insisted on accompanying her.<\/p>\n
Valerie refused.<\/p>\n
Then he simply walked toward the elevator.<\/p>\n
\u201cMatthew.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not sitting with Grandma while you search Dad\u2019s secret compartment.\u201d<\/p>\n
She almost ordered him back.<\/p>\n
Instead she followed.<\/p>\n
They reached the townhouse shortly before midnight.<\/p>\n
The housekeeper had gone home.<\/p>\n
Alexander\u2019s study smelled faintly of leather, paper, and the cedar oil he used on the antique desk.<\/p>\n
Matthew stood near the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been in here a thousand times.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo have I.\u201d<\/p>\n
Valerie knelt beside the bottom drawer.<\/p>\n
Alexander\u2019s instructions worked.<\/p>\n
Press the underside.<\/p>\n
Slide the wooden strip.<\/p>\n
Lift.<\/p>\n
A narrow compartment opened.<\/p>\n
Inside sat a black document folder.<\/p>\n
Matthew stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is extremely dad.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite herself, Valerie almost laughed.<\/p>\n
She opened the folder.<\/p>\n
Insurance papers.<\/p>\n
Copies of passports.<\/p>\n
A second phone.<\/p>\n
A sealed envelope addressed to Alexander.<\/p>\n
And a document titled LIMITED TRANSACTION AUTHORITY.<\/p>\n
Valerie photographed every page before touching anything else.<\/p>\n
Naomi joined them by video.<\/p>\n
\u201cPage count?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEight.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNumbered?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Valerie read.<\/p>\n
The authority permitted Richard Cole to execute documents necessary for the acquisition, capitalization, financing, and operation of Mercer Coastal Investments.<\/p>\n
Broad.<\/p>\n
Dangerously broad.<\/p>\n
But it contained limitations.<\/p>\n
No disposition of Bennett Development assets.<\/p>\n
No additional borrowing against family trusts.<\/p>\n
No transfer exceeding five million dollars without Alexander\u2019s written approval.<\/p>\n
Naomi exhaled.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat helps.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matthew stood behind Valerie.<\/p>\n
\u201cHelps who?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPotentially everyone except Richard.\u201d<\/p>\n
Valerie reached the final page.<\/p>\n
Alexander\u2019s signature.<\/p>\n
Richard\u2019s acknowledgment.<\/p>\n
Stephen Cole as witness.<\/p>\n
No Valerie.<\/p>\n
No Susan Mercer.<\/p>\n
Then Matthew pointed.<\/p>\n
\u201cPage four.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe staple marks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Valerie looked.<\/p>\n
The document had been restapled.<\/p>\n
Tiny holes appeared beside the current staple.<\/p>\n
Naomi saw them through the camera.<\/p>\n
\u201cScan every page.\u201d<\/p>\n
Valerie did.<\/p>\n
Martin received the scans.<\/p>\n
Then Valerie opened the sealed envelope.<\/p>\n
Inside was a handwritten letter.<\/p>\n
Alexander\u2019s writing.<\/p>\n
Dated six weeks earlier.<\/p>\n
Valerie,<\/p>\n
If you are reading this, then I probably failed to tell you before everything became impossible.<\/p>\n
She stopped.<\/p>\n
Matthew looked at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cRead it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s addressed to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n
He stepped back.<\/p>\n
Valerie continued silently.<\/p>\n
Alexander wrote that he intended to leave the marriage.<\/p>\n
He admitted Camille.<\/p>\n
He admitted the house.<\/p>\n
He described Mercer as his attempt to build something independent.<\/p>\n
He claimed he would repay every dollar drawn against shared facilities before initiating divorce proceedings.<\/p>\n
Then came a sentence that made Valerie stop.<\/p>\n
Richard says the financing is temporary and no Bennett Development asset can be touched without your direct authorization.<\/p>\n
Valerie read it again.<\/p>\n
Alexander had believed that.<\/p>\n
Or had wanted Valerie to believe he had.<\/p>\n
The next paragraph was worse.<\/p>\n
If Mercer succeeds, I will finally know whether I was capable of doing something without standing behind you.<\/p>\n
Valerie folded the letter.<\/p>\n
Matthew watched her.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did he say?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat he was afraid.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf himself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matthew seemed to understand enough not to ask more.<\/p>\n
Martin called twenty minutes later.<\/p>\n
\u201cI compared the limited authority with metadata from the lender package.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are two versions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Valerie sat at Alexander\u2019s desk.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe one you found is eight pages.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe lender received nine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Naomi\u2019s voice came through Valerie\u2019s laptop.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is page nine?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t have it yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCan you obtain it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m working on it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Valerie looked at the staple holes.<\/p>\n
Someone had inserted a page.<\/p>\n
Or removed one.<\/p>\n
\u201cCould page nine override the limitations?\u201d<\/p>\n
Naomi answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf drafted correctly, yes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matthew leaned against the bookshelf.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo whoever added it could make Dad\u2019s permission much bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPotentially.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout changing his signature?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matthew looked sick.<\/p>\n
Valerie understood the lesson he was receiving in real time.<\/p>\n
Signatures could be real while documents lied.<\/p>\n
Trust could be exploited without anyone breaking into a vault.<\/p>\n
At 1:16 a.m., Martin called again.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have page nine.\u201d<\/p>\n
No one spoke.<\/p>\n
He sent the file.<\/p>\n
Valerie opened it.<\/p>\n
ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY SCHEDULE.<\/p>\n
The language authorized Richard Cole to pledge, transfer, encumber, or otherwise utilize any asset under direct or indirect control of Alexander Bennett or associated Bennett family entities as necessary to complete Mercer financing.<\/p>\n
It was devastatingly broad.<\/p>\n
At the bottom appeared Alexander\u2019s initials.<\/p>\n
A.B.<\/p>\n
Valerie enlarged them.<\/p>\n
Alexander\u2019s initials had a distinctive upward stroke on the B.<\/p>\n
These did not.<\/p>\n
\u201cForged,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Martin agreed.<\/p>\n
\u201cLikely.\u201d<\/p>\n
Naomi added, \u201cWe need forensic confirmation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matthew pointed lower.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another signature.<\/p>\n
Not Valerie\u2019s.<\/p>\n
Stephen Cole\u2019s.<\/p>\n
Witness.<\/p>\n
The document had been constructed to look as though Alexander knowingly granted Richard access to virtually everything.<\/p>\n
Valerie called Alexander again.<\/p>\n
He answered immediately.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you find it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDoes it help?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are two versions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe lender has a ninth page.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alexander\u2019s voice went cold.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy copy has eight.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat does page nine say?\u201d<\/p>\n
She told him.<\/p>\n
For several seconds he said nothing.<\/p>\n
Then: \u201cI never signed that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour initials appear on it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI never signed it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Those three words changed the silence.<\/p>\n
Alexander seemed unable to respond.<\/p>\n
Valerie had not forgiven him.<\/p>\n
She had simply recognized a different betrayal layered beneath his own.<\/p>\n
Finally he said, \u201cRichard.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cProbably.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStephen too.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cProbably.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alexander\u2019s breathing became audible.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey used me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Valerie looked at the secret compartment, the second phone, the letter explaining an affair he had not had the courage to confess.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you made yourself very easy to use.\u201d<\/p>\n
He absorbed that.<\/p>\n
Then his voice changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe second phone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Valerie looked down.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTurn it on.\u201d<\/p>\n
She did.<\/p>\n
\u201cPasscode?\u201d<\/p>\n
He gave it.<\/p>\n
Messages loaded.<\/p>\n
Most were between Alexander and Richard.<\/p>\n
Some involved Camille.<\/p>\n
Others concerned Mercer.<\/p>\n
Valerie scrolled.<\/p>\n
Then Alexander said, \u201cSearch for the word Falcon.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJust do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
She searched.<\/p>\n
Seven messages appeared.<\/p>\n
Richard: Falcon structure approved.<\/p>\n
Alexander: Stephen comfortable?<\/p>\n
Richard: Completely.<\/p>\n
Alexander: And Valerie\u2019s companies remain outside?<\/p>\n
Richard: Entirely. That was your condition.<\/p>\n
Valerie stared.<\/p>\n
There it was.<\/p>\n
Alexander had specifically required her companies to remain outside.<\/p>\n
Then another message.<\/p>\n
Richard: Once Falcon closes, Mercer becomes independent from Bennett family exposure.<\/p>\n
Alexander: Good. I want this to be mine, not hers.<\/p>\n
Painful.<\/p>\n
Petty.<\/p>\n
But useful.<\/p>\n
Valerie continued.<\/p>\n
The final Falcon message was from Richard.<\/p>\n
Do not discuss Falcon with Camille. She doesn\u2019t understand the structure.<\/p>\n
Valerie frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is Falcon?\u201d<\/p>\n
Alexander answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cA refinancing vehicle.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor Mercer?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCayman Islands.\u201d<\/p>\n
Naomi swore.<\/p>\n
Martin immediately began searching.<\/p>\n
Five minutes later he found it.<\/p>\n
Falcon Meridian Ltd.<\/p>\n
Registered eleven months earlier.<\/p>\n
Directors: Stephen Cole and an offshore nominee.<\/p>\n
Beneficial owner records unavailable.<\/p>\n
But one historic filing contained a familiar correspondence address.<\/p>\n
Susan Mercer\u2019s former office.<\/p>\n
Valerie stared at the screen.<\/p>\n
The dead notary.<\/p>\n
The extra page.<\/p>\n
The offshore accounts.<\/p>\n
The false collateral.<\/p>\n
Falcon.<\/p>\n
This had been prepared before Alexander bought Camille the house.<\/p>\n
Before the engagement ring.<\/p>\n
Possibly before the affair itself.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlexander,\u201d Valerie said slowly, \u201cwhen did Richard first show you the St. Lucia project?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout eighteen months ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd when did you meet Camille?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA year ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
The timeline shifted.<\/p>\n
Richard came first.<\/p>\n
Mercer came first.<\/p>\n
Then Camille.<\/p>\n
Valerie looked at Naomi.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat if the affair wasn\u2019t the reason for the deal?\u201d<\/p>\n
Naomi understood immediately.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat if the deal created the conditions for the affair?\u201d<\/p>\n
Alexander heard.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you saying?\u201d<\/p>\n
Valerie looked at the Falcon registration date.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m saying Richard may have started building your new life before you knew you wanted one.\u201d<\/p>\n
For several seconds Valerie could hear only the faint engine noise behind Alexander\u2019s voice. His plane was still somewhere over the Caribbean. \u201cHow does Mercer have access?\u201d he asked. \u201cYou … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16662,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16672","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-insightdrama"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16672","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16672"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16672\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16700,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16672\/revisions\/16700"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/16662"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16672"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16672"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16672"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}