Chapter 4 - The Night Victor Stopped Being My Boss
The flash drive contained twelve years of records.
Bank transfers.
Emails.
Property purchases.
Names.
Richard Cole appeared everywhere.
But so did Victor.
Maria stared at one document.
A transfer authorized by Victor's signature.
“This says you approved a payment to Richard.”
Victor looked at it.
“When?”
“Ten years ago.”
“I was seventeen.”
“Then why is your signature here?”
He stared.
“I didn't sign it.”
“Someone forged it.”
“Obviously.”
She looked at another.
“This one is dated after your father died.”
Victor frowned.
He understood.
Someone had been using his identity.
The network had been moving money through his name for years.
“That means they wanted you to take the blame.”
“Yes.”
“Richard.”
“Probably.”
“Then why didn't you expose him?”
“Because I didn't know.”
Maria looked at him.
“You've been fighting this for twelve years.”
“Yes.”
“And never knew how deep it went.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“That's terrifying.”
Victor nodded.
“It is.”
They worked through the night.
At 4:00 a.m., Maria found something.
A company registered under her mother's maiden name.
Owned by a trust.
Beneficiary:
Maria Lopez.
She stared.
“What?”
Victor leaned closer.
“My mother left me something?”
“Three hundred million dollars.”
He looked at the document.
“No.”
“What?”
“Your mother didn't hide the money.”
“She gave it to you.”
Maria's heart pounded.
“Why?”
“To make you untouchable.”
“How?”
“The trust prevents anyone else from accessing the funds.”
“Then why does Richard want me?”
“Because he needs you to voluntarily transfer them.”
“That won't happen.”
Victor looked at her.
“Good.”
The next morning, Richard called.
Victor answered on speaker.
“You've been busy.”
Victor's voice went cold.
“So have you.”
Richard laughed.
“Bring Maria to the hotel.”
“No.”
“Then I send the photograph.”
A picture appeared on Maria's phone.
Her mother.
Alive.
Tied to a chair.
Maria gasped.
Victor's expression changed.
“Where?”
Richard laughed.
“Now you understand.”
The call ended.
Maria turned to Victor.
“We have to go.”
“No.”
“My mother is in danger.”
“We don't know if the photograph is current.”
“I don't care.”
“That's exactly what they want.”
He paced.
“We need a plan.”
“There isn't time.”
“There is if we use their fear against them.”
“How?”
Victor looked at her.
“You have to pretend you're willing to sign the trust over.”
“I won't.”
“You won't.”
He paused.
“Maria, I need you to trust me.”
She stared at him.
“You've lied to me.”
“Yes.”
“You've hidden things.”
“Yes.”
“You've investigated my mother.”
“Yes.”
“And you expect me to trust you?”
“No.”
He stepped closer.
“I expect you to trust yourself.”
The words landed.
They created a strange silence between them.
Then Maria said:
“Fine.”
They arranged the meeting.
Maria wore a dark dress.
Victor wore a black suit.
They arrived at the old hotel ballroom.
Richard was waiting.
So was Derek Cole, Richard's son.
Derek smiled at Maria.
“You look just like your mother.”
Maria felt sick.
“You know her.”
“Yes.”
“Where is she?”
Derek pointed toward the door.
“She'll be here.”
Victor stepped forward.
“Let her go.”
Richard laughed.
“You always were sentimental.”
“I learned from my father.”
“Your father was weak.”
“My father exposed you.”
“He failed.”
“He left evidence.”
Richard's smile disappeared.
Maria understood.
Richard was afraid.
The meeting continued.
Maria pretended to sign the trust documents.
Her hand shook deliberately.
Derek leaned close.
“You're making the right decision.”
She looked at him.
“Am I?”
“Yes.”
“Because I'm scared.”
He smiled.
“You should be.”
Then the door opened.
An older woman entered.
Gray coat.
Gray hair.
Maria stopped breathing.
“Mom?”
Elena Lopez looked at her daughter.
“Maria.”
Maria ran to her.
They embraced.
Tears came immediately.
“I thought you were dead.”
“I wanted you to.”
“Why?”
“Because living with me would have put you in danger.”
Victor approached.
Elena looked at him.
“You have your father's eyes.”
He stared.
“You knew him.”
“I loved him.”
Victor froze.
Richard shouted:
“Enough.”
The room went silent.
Elena turned toward him.
“Richard.”
“You should have stayed hidden.”
“I did.”
“You involved her.”
“She involved herself.”
Maria stepped forward.
“You lied about my father.”
Richard smiled.
“Your father knew exactly what he was doing.”
“What did he do?”
“He stole from me.”
Victor laughed coldly.
“The money was never yours.”
Richard raised his weapon.
Rafael's team entered.
Chaos erupted.
Richard escaped through the rear door.
Derek was captured.
Maria held her mother.
Victor stood nearby.
Elena looked at them both.
“You care about him.”
Maria's cheeks burned.
“Mom.”
Her mother smiled weakly.
“Then be careful.”
“Why?”
“Because love is the easiest weapon against people who know how to use fear.”
Victor heard it.
May you like
So did Maria.
Neither spoke.
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