Chapter 10 - Preston's Price for the Truth.
They found Preston in the basement of a closed neighborhood restaurant.
Not because he wanted to be found.
Because Sofia had been tracking Richard Bell's car for two days.
Adrian hated every part of the plan.
Elena could tell by the silence in the vehicle.
"You can say it," she told him.
"Say what?"
"That this is reckless."
"It is reckless."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"And you're still coming."
"Unfortunately, I am still married to you."
Elena looked at the ring.
"Twenty-nine days left."
Adrian's eyes moved briefly to her hand.
"You're counting."
"Constantly."
It was a lie.
She had not thought about the deadline once in the last three hours.
The restaurant had been empty for months.
Sofia met them at the back entrance wearing a dark coat and cap.
Adrian stopped when he saw her.
For a moment neither sibling spoke.
Then he crossed the distance and pulled her into his arms.
Sofia stiffened.
Two seconds later she hugged him back.
Elena looked away.
The reunion felt too private to watch.
When they separated, Adrian's anger returned.
"Three weeks."
"I know."
"You could have sent one message."
"Marcus was reading them."
"You could have found another way."
"I did."
Sofia looked at Elena.
"Her."
Adrian's expression made it clear he did not find that comforting.
"Where's Preston?" Elena asked.
Sofia pointed downstairs.
"Bell left him there ten minutes ago."
"Why?"
"Because Victor thinks Preston is still useful."
"And Bell?"
"Bell thinks Preston knows too much."
They descended a narrow staircase.
Preston sat on a folding chair near an old freezer.
His wrists were tied in front of him with plastic restraints.
This time the bruise was real.
He looked at Elena and laughed weakly.
"You actually came."
"Don't sound flattered."
Adrian cut the restraints.
Preston rubbed his wrists.
"I suppose thank you is inappropriate."
"Very," Elena said.
She stood directly in front of him.
"Who forged my signature?"
"Richard Bell."
"Who put the sedative in my champagne?"
Preston looked away.
Elena's stomach turned.
"You?"
"I didn't know the dose."
Adrian moved so quickly that Sofia stepped between him and Preston.
"Adrian."
He stopped.
Barely.
Elena's voice shook.
"You drugged me."
Preston's eyes filled with shame.
"Victor said it would make you less resistant."
"Less resistant to signing away my life?"
"I was supposed to get you to sign a proxy."
"But I didn't."
"No."
"So Bell forged it."
"Yes."
Elena wanted to scream.
Instead she asked the question that hurt more.
"Was any of it real?"
Preston looked at her.
"What?"
"Three years."
He said nothing.
"Was any of it real?"
"At first, no."
The answer cut deeper than she expected.
Preston swallowed.
"Victor introduced us because he wanted access to you."
"And later?"
"Later I wanted out."
"That's not what I asked."
Preston closed his eyes.
"Yes."
Elena hated him for making the answer complicated.
"I loved you," he said.
"You don't get to call it love after last night."
"I know."
"Then don't."
Preston nodded.
Adrian stood behind her in absolute silence.
Elena took a breath.
"What does Victor want now?"
"Control of Marlowe Systems."
"He already had that."
"Not anymore."
"Because I married Adrian."
"Because your marriage triggered the trust review."
Preston leaned forward.
"But that's not the real problem."
"What is?"
"The second ledger."
Sofia stiffened.
"Victor knows we opened it?"
"He knows Samuel built it."
"Does he know where it is?"
"No."
Preston looked at Elena.
"That's why he has spent eight years watching you."
"He thought my father gave it to me."
"Yes."
Elena thought of the locker.
The watch.
The key.
"What happens if the ledger becomes public?"
Preston laughed without humor.
"Victor loses more than the company."
"What does that mean?"
"Marlowe isn't the only company in it."
Sofia crossed her arms.
"How many?"
"At least eleven."
"Names?"
"Banks, shipping companies, law firms."
Preston looked at Adrian.
"And one federal contractor tied to Vale Capital."
Adrian's face hardened.
"Which contractor?"
"Graybridge Solutions."
Sofia went pale.
Elena noticed immediately.
"You know it."
Sofia looked at Adrian.
"Graybridge handled the secure transport contract after Dominic went to prison."
Adrian swore under his breath.
Preston continued.
"Victor isn't trying to hide one fraud."
"He's hiding a network," Elena said.
"Yes."
"And Richard Bell manages the documents."
"Yes."
"Marcus managed Adrian's side."
"Yes."
"Who else?"
Preston's face changed.
Fear returned.
"There's one person above Victor."
Silence filled the basement.
Elena felt every eye turn toward him.
"Above Victor?"
"He calls her the Chair."
"Her?"
Preston nodded.
"I've never met her."
"Then how do you know she's real?"
"Because Victor is terrified of her."
Sofia leaned forward.
"Do you have a name?"
Preston shook his head.
"Only initials."
"What initials?"
Elena did not respond immediately.
The initials were simple.
Almost too simple.
Preston watched recognition spread across her face.
"You thought the same thing I did," he said.
"Don't pretend you know what I'm thinking."
"Madeline Marlowe."
The name hit harder spoken aloud.
Adrian's eyes moved to Elena.
Preston continued carefully.
"Victor never said the Chair was your mother."
"Then why use those initials?"
"Because whoever built the system wanted him to make that connection."
Sofia leaned against the wall.
"Did Victor ever speak to the Chair?"
"Audio only."
"Video?"
"Never."
"In person?"
"Never."
Elena felt a new unease.
"And that didn't bother him?"
Preston gave a bleak smile.
"It terrified him."
"That's why it worked."
He explained that Victor would receive instructions at irregular hours.
Sometimes the voice sounded warm.
Sometimes cold.
Always female.
Always familiar enough that Victor obeyed before asking questions.
Preston had once asked who she was.
Victor had grabbed his collar and told him never to ask again.
That was the only time Preston had seen Victor genuinely afraid.
Preston looked at Elena.
"M.M."
Elena's pulse stopped.
May you like
Her mother's name was Madeline Marlowe.
And everyone believed she had died twelve years ago.
