Chapter 5: The Woman Victoria Blamed
Claire entered with a laptop pressed against her chest.
Victoria’s voice dropped.
“You no longer work for me.”
“I resigned an hour ago.”
“You’ll never work in Manhattan again.”
Claire set the laptop beside Marcus’s papers.
“That threat is why I copied everything.”
Victoria turned to the family.
“She stole confidential files.”
“I copied emails carrying my forged approval,” Claire said.
“You used my name whenever you didn’t want a charge traced back to you.”
Daniel picked up the flash drive.
“Did she open Emily’s account?”
Claire nodded.
“She used the photograph you sent.
I saw the application after it was approved.”
“Why didn’t you warn us?”
“My mother depends on my insurance,” Claire said.
“Victoria reminded me of that every time I questioned her.”
Emily pulled out the chair beside her.
“Sit down.”
Claire hesitated.
“After what I helped her do?”
“You came back,” Emily said.
“Sit down.”
Victoria’s attorney, Stephen Weller, entered carrying a leather folder.
He took one look at Claire and stopped.
“Do not say another word,” he told Victoria.
She snatched the folder from him.
“Robert signed the guarantee.
Here it is.”
She placed a notarized copy in front of me.
My signature was convincing, and an official seal appeared beneath it.
Stephen adjusted his cuffs.
“Mr.
Hayes, the document is enforceable.
Any accusation made here could expose you to substantial damages.”
Victoria crossed her arms.
“Pay the dinner bill, honor the wedding contract, and I may forget this childish scene.”
“You’re offering me a deal?” I asked.
“I’m offering to protect Emily.
Refuse, and the jeweler can pursue her for the entire balance.”
Emily’s eyes filled.
“You would do that to me?”
“You benefited from the purchases.”
“I’ve never seen the jewelry.”
“That may be difficult to prove.”
For one terrible moment, nobody answered her.
The forged guarantee looked official, the bridal account carried Emily’s information, and Stephen spoke with the confidence of a man who expected everyone else to surrender.
Victoria held out her hand.
“The check, Robert.”
I reached into my coat and took out my wallet.
Her mouth curved upward.
Then I placed one business card on the table.
“Call the number on the back,” I said.
Stephen examined it.
“Hayes Property Holdings?”
“My company owns the building housing the Whitmore Grand Hotel.
Your wedding contract requires the property owner’s approval for private events above $50,000.”
Marcus looked at the guarantee.
“There is no owner’s authorization.”
“There will be,” Victoria said.
“Everyone has a price.”
“Not tonight,” I replied.
Claire opened her laptop.
“There’s more.
Victoria submitted the guarantee with a notary seal registered to Patricia Cole.”
Stephen’s expression changed.
Victoria noticed.
“What?”
“Patricia retired last year,” he said.
“She notarized it before retiring.”
“No,” Claire replied.
“The file was created twelve days ago.”
Victoria grabbed the laptop, but Daniel caught it before it struck the floor.
“Let go!” she shouted.
“No.”
“You ungrateful boy.”
Daniel held the computer against his chest.
“Dad warned me about you.”
Victoria went perfectly still.
Before Daniel could explain, Marcus’s phone rang.
He listened for several seconds, then opened the private-room door.
A silver-haired woman waited outside with a worn notary ledger in her hands.
She looked at Victoria and raised the ledger.
May you like
“I’m Patricia Cole,” she said.
“That is my stolen seal—and I know who took it.”
