Claire frowned. The company name meant nothing to her.
“What is it?”
“A consulting firm.”
“Who owns it?”
The investigator took a slow breath.
“On paper, no one.
In reality…”
He opened another document. The beneficial owner was finally revealed.
Victoria Caldwell. The room fell silent.
Claire looked at Andrew.
“So it wasn’t Vanessa?”
Andrew nodded slowly.
“No.
It started long before Vanessa appeared.” That afternoon, Andrew made one decision.
“We’re informing the board.”
Claire hesitated.
“If this becomes public—”
“It will,” Andrew interrupted gently.
“The only question is whether the truth reaches them before the rumors do.”
She nodded.
“For once, let the truth go first.”
The emergency board meeting was scheduled for the following morning. Ethan barely slept.
Neither did Victoria. Mother and son spent most of the night calling lawyers, public relations advisers, bankers, anyone who might contain the damage.
By sunrise, they had a strategy. Deny everything.
Delay the investigation. Buy time.
