Chapter 2: What Was Inside the Red Folder
Nathaniel didn't look at me.
He looked at Vanessa.
"Where did that folder come from?"
Vanessa's smile didn't waver.
"Nathaniel, this isn't the moment—"
"I'm not asking about the moment.
I'm asking about the folder."
He picked it up from behind the champagne table.
Red.
Unmarked on the outside.
His name was on the first page inside.
His jaw tightened.
Vanessa took one step toward him.
"Whatever someone told you, they're lying.
You know how staff can be."
The word staff landed in the room like a stone.
I felt Lily press her face into my shoulder.
Nathaniel turned one page.
Then another.
He stopped.
"These are wire transfers." His voice was quiet.
"From the Meridian charity account."
"Nathaniel—"
"Signed with my authorization code." He looked up.
"I didn't sign these."
The woman who had ignored me all evening suddenly found somewhere else to stand.
Vanessa's expression shifted.
Just slightly.
Just enough.
"Someone is trying to embarrass us before the wedding," she said.
"That's all this is."
Nathaniel closed the folder.
He looked at her for a long moment.
Then he looked at me.
I didn't know why.
May you like
I still don't.
But something in his face had already decided.
