Chapter 10 - The Man Between Them
Richard entered the library.
He saw Vanessa.
Then Julian.
Then the closed doors.
His expression tightened.
“I thought we were meeting tomorrow.”
“We are.”
Julian smiled.
“This is something else.”
Vanessa crossed her arms.
“Why are you here?”
Richard looked at her.
“You weren’t answering.”
Julian noticed the familiarity.
Not client and attorney.
Not future family.
Partners.
Julian poured himself a drink.
“Tell me about Daniel Bell.”
Richard froze.
Vanessa spoke first.
“He knows.”
Richard turned toward her.
“How much?”
“All of it.”
Julian laughed.
“Not even close.”
Richard removed his glasses.
“Julian, whatever Vanessa told you—”
“My father left a video.”
Richard’s face became gray.
Julian continued.
“He told me you betrayed him.”
Richard sat down slowly.
“He misunderstood.”
“Then explain.”
Richard looked older suddenly.
“He wanted Bellmont.”
“So?”
“I gave him information that helped him acquire it.”
“Illegal information?”
Richard said nothing.
Vanessa glared at him.
“Tell him.”
Richard looked at her.
“You need to be quiet.”
“No.”
“Vanessa.”
“My father died because of you.”
Richard slammed his hand against the table.
“Your father died because he refused to accept reality.”
Silence filled the room.
Julian watched Vanessa.
The hatred in her eyes was real.
Whatever partnership existed between them had never been built on trust.
Richard turned to Julian.
“I made mistakes.”
“You forged my insurance documents.”
“I did not.”
“Emily Shore says you did.”
Richard’s face changed again.
That was enough.
Julian finally understood.
Emily mattered.
A lot.
Richard reached into his jacket.
Julian tensed.
But Richard only removed his phone.
“We should discuss this privately.”
Vanessa laughed.
“You mean without me.”
Richard ignored her.
Julian stepped between them.
“Nobody leaves.”
Richard stared at him.
“You don’t understand what you’re doing.”
“I understand perfectly.”
“No.”
Richard lowered his voice.
“You’re about to destroy your father’s reputation.”
Julian stopped.
“What does that mean?”
Richard looked toward Martha’s portrait hanging above the fireplace.
“The Bellmont acquisition was not your father’s idea.”
Julian followed his gaze.
Richard continued.
“It was your mother’s.”
May you like
Vanessa smiled.
And suddenly the victim Julian had rescued from the swimming pool became part of a story he had never heard.
