The Woman in Blue
Chapter 02 - The Woman in Blue
The brunette introduced herself as Sloane Mercer, an investment consultant from Boston. Her confidence disappeared when Hannah showed her the marriage certificate on her phone.
Daniel had told Sloane that Hannah left him two years earlier, surrendered her shares, and moved overseas. He said the divorce records were sealed because of a family scandal. Sloane believed him because he had produced court papers, financial statements, and a letter carrying Hannah’s signature.
Every document was false.
“You knew I had a wife,” Daniel snapped at Sloane. “Don’t pretend you’re innocent.”
“I knew the story you invented,” she replied.
Daniel tried to pull her toward the gate. Boarding for Zurich had begun, and he believed movement would give him control again.
Hannah opened the folder she had brought. After noticing unexplained withdrawals three weeks earlier, she had asked Naomi to conduct a quiet internal review. The audit found payments to a shell company called Blue Harbor Consulting.
Sloane went pale. Blue Harbor was registered under her name.
“I never created that company.”
Daniel had used Sloane’s credentials to make the transfers look legitimate. He also promised her twenty percent ownership of Meridian after the supposed divorce. In reality, the agreement placed every liability in her name while sending profits to an account he controlled.
Sloane removed a folded copy of the agreement from her purse. Hannah compared the signatures. The same forged version of her name appeared on the company transfer and the false divorce settlement.
A gate agent announced the final boarding call.
Daniel grabbed the black suitcase. “This conversation is over.”
Hannah stepped in front of him. “That suitcase belongs to Meridian. So does the laptop inside.”
“It belongs to me.”
“Then you won’t mind opening it.”
Daniel’s composure cracked. He accused Hannah of stalking him, sabotaging the company, and humiliating him. Several travelers raised their phones to record.
Hannah called Naomi on speaker.
“The bank confirmed attempted fraud,” Naomi said. “Airport security has been notified. The board is assembling for an emergency vote.”
Daniel laughed, but the sound was strained. “The board answers to me.”
“No,” Hannah replied. “They answer to the majority owner.”
Sloane looked at Daniel. “You told me she owned nothing.”
Hannah held up the original trust agreement.
“I own fifty-one percent.”
May you like
Daniel’s eyes shifted toward the security doors.
For the first time, he looked less like a man leaving for a new life and more like a man searching for an escape.
