Chapter 6: The Recording That Lied
By noon, a reporter stood outside the bakery.
“Did you demand money from Vanessa Whitmore?” he called as Camilla locked the door.
“Did you threaten to ruin her engagement?”
Wren pulled down the shade.
Camilla’s phone played the recording again.
“Five thousand,” her voice seemed to say.
“Or Daniel learns everything.”
“I never said those words together.”
Daniel paused the file.
“Listen to the background.”
A mixer started, stopped, then started again beneath the same sentence.
Wren leaned over his shoulder.
“It’s been cut.”
Vanessa’s voice came through the phone.
Camilla answered and put it on speaker.
“Withdraw your accusation,” Vanessa said.
“Tell the reporter you were confused.”
“You altered my words.”
“Can you prove that?”
“We will.”
“You have until four.
After that, I release the second recording.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“What second recording?”
Vanessa was silent.
“What have you done?” he asked.
“I protected our future.”
“There is no future until you tell the truth.”
“Then remember what ending this engagement will cost you.
My father’s investment keeps your company’s expansion alive.”
“You threatened Camilla’s bakery.
Now you’re threatening my employees?”
“I’m reminding you that choices have consequences.”
Daniel’s hand tightened around the phone.
“So do lies.”
Vanessa ended the call.
Mrs.
Bell arrived carrying a small black case.
“I brought the venue’s original audio files.”
Camilla unlocked the door for her.
“You’ve already done more than anyone could ask.”
“No.
Last night, Vanessa offered me ten thousand dollars to delete them.”
Mrs.
Bell opened the case and removed a backup drive.
“What did you tell her?” Wren asked.
“I told her I needed until noon.”
Daniel stared at her.
“You let her think you agreed?”
“I wanted her to explain exactly which files frightened her.”
Mrs.
Bell connected the drive to Wren’s tablet.
A recording opened from the venue corridor.
Vanessa’s voice filled the bakery.
“Erase the kitchen video and the office audio.
If anyone asks, say the system failed.”
“And Camilla?” Mrs.
Bell’s recorded voice asked.
“I’ll make her look greedy.
People always believe that about women who serve them.”
Camilla sat down hard.
Mrs.
Bell touched her shoulder.
“I’m sorry I gave her enough rope to say it.”
“You gave me the truth.”
Daniel picked up his phone.
“I’m sending this to the reporter.”
“Wait,” Mrs.
Bell said.
“There’s more.”
The recording continued.
“The notebook is safe,” Vanessa said.
“Once the investors approve my dessert company, I’ll destroy it.
Without the original, Camilla can never challenge the contract.”
Wren covered her mouth.
“Dessert company?”
Daniel looked toward Vanessa’s transfer document.
“She wasn’t stealing one cake.
She was building a business from Camilla’s recipes.”
Camilla stood.
“Where is my notebook?”
A knock struck the front door.
Vanessa stood outside with her father and two men in business suits.
One held a folder stamped WHITMORE INVESTMENTS.
Daniel opened the door but blocked the entrance.
Vanessa smiled at Camilla over his shoulder.
“My investors are ready to sign.
By this evening, every recipe in that notebook will belong to me.”
Mrs.
Bell reached for the tablet.
Vanessa saw the audio file on the screen.
May you like
Her smile vanished.
“Father,” she said quietly, “take that tablet.”
