Chapter 6 - THE BRIDE RETURNS
Victoria arrived at the Callaway mansion at three in the afternoon.
She wore a cream coat and dark sunglasses. Her wedding dress had been replaced by an expensive traveling outfit, but the diamond ring remained on her finger.
She entered the study without waiting for an invitation.
“Nathaniel, this has become ridiculous.”
He sat behind his father's old desk. Daniel stood near the door.
Victoria glanced at him.
“Can we speak alone?”
“No.”
Her smile tightened.
“You're treating me like a criminal.”
“My mother was nearly killed.”
“It was an accident.”
“She says you pushed her.”
Victoria's eyes filled instantly.
“Your mother has never liked me. She wanted to ruin our marriage from the beginning.”
“Why did you ask her to sign over her voting authority?”
“Because your father created an outdated arrangement. You need a modern structure.”
“Why did you bring Marcus Bell into it?”
“I didn't.”
Nathaniel slid the forged document across the desk.
“Is this your idea of a modern structure?”
Victoria glanced at the page.
For a fraction of a second, her expression changed.
Then she laughed.
“That's absurd. I have never seen that.”
“Your name is on the email.”
“Emails can be fabricated.”
“Your father's companies received millions from accounts Marcus controlled.”
“My father runs legitimate businesses.”
“Then he'll have no trouble explaining the payments.”
Victoria took a step closer.
“Listen to me. I married you because I love you.”
Nathaniel's face remained still.
“You married me two hours before my mother went over a railing.”
“I didn't push her.”
“Then explain why you lied about the document.”
Victoria's eyes flashed.
“You're going to destroy our marriage over the word of a housemaid?”
Nathaniel stood.
“Rose saved my mother's life. She has shown more courage in one evening than you have shown in this entire relationship.”
Victoria's mouth tightened.
“Where is she?”
“Why?”
“I want to apologize.”
“No.”
“Then you're keeping her from me?”
“I'm keeping you away from anyone you might try to intimidate.”
Victoria stared at him.
Then she removed the engagement ring and placed it on the desk.
“You'll regret this.”
Nathaniel looked at the ring.
“I already regret marrying you.”
She turned toward the door.
Daniel stepped aside but did not leave her alone. Security escorted her from the property.
As the front doors closed, Nathaniel noticed a small black device beneath the edge of his desk.
A recording transmitter.
He picked it up.
“Daniel.”
The security director returned.
“Someone has been listening to this room,” Nathaniel said.
Daniel examined the device. “This wasn't installed by our team.”
“Find every other one.”
They searched the study, bedroom, library, and conference room. Two more devices were discovered behind a wall panel and beneath a side table.
Victoria had not come to apologize.
She had come to find out how much they knew.
That evening, Rose called Nathaniel.
“I received another message.”
He looked at the phone. “What did it say?”
“Your bride wants the original file. It says if I give it to her, my brother will be left alone.”
Nathaniel's voice hardened.
“Do not respond.”
“I wasn't going to.”
“Good. The police are now involved. Let them handle the threats.”
Rose hesitated.
“Mr. Callaway, I think I know where the missing signature page is.”
“Where?”
“I saw Victoria put something inside her bouquet before the ceremony. She asked the florist to keep it away from the water. It was wrapped in a piece of blue ribbon.”
Nathaniel looked at Daniel.
May you like
“The bouquet was taken to the hotel florist after the reception,” Daniel said.
“Find it,” Nathaniel ordered.
