Chapter 10: The Person Behind The Curtain
I kept the phone against my ear long after Victoria stopped speaking.
The line was still connected.
But neither of us said anything.
Because sometimes silence reveals more than words.
I looked at Michael.
He was standing near my desk, waiting.
Watching.
And for the first time since this entire nightmare began, I wondered if I had been so focused on my father’s betrayal that I never questioned anyone else.
“Who are you?”” I asked Victoria.
“My father was a partner of your grandfather.””
I frowned.
“My grandfather?””
“Yes.””
“What does that have to do with my villa?””
Her voice became quieter.
“Everything.””
I walked toward the window.
Outside, people moved across the base.
Normal lives.
Normal problems.
My life no longer felt normal.
“What are you trying to tell me?””
“I’m telling you that your father didn’t create the trust.””
“Then who did?””
A pause.
“Your grandfather.””
I closed my eyes.
“That still doesn’t explain why my name is on it.””
“No.””
Her voice sounded heavy.
“Because your grandfather believed someone in your family would eventually try to take control of everything.””
My stomach tightened.
“You mean my father?””
“I mean anyone.””
I looked back at Michael.
He noticed my expression.
“Who is it?””
I covered the phone microphone.
“Victoria Hayes.””
His face changed.
“Hayes?””
“You know that name?””
He hesitated.
“Not personally.””
That hesitation bothered me.
“What does that mean?””
Before he answered, Victoria spoke again.
“Emma, you need to be careful who you trust.””
I looked at Michael.
The person who had helped me.
The person who had guided me.
The person who had always seemed to have the answers.
“What proof do you have?””
“I have something your grandfather left behind.””
“What?””
“The original trust instructions.””
My heart raced.
“Where are they?””
“Safe.””
“That’s not an answer.””
“No.””
She sighed.
“Because I need to know if you’re ready to hear the truth.””
I almost laughed.
“My entire family lied to me. I think I can handle the truth.””
Victoria was silent.
Then she said:
“Meet me tonight.””
The call ended.
I stood there holding my phone.
Michael stepped closer.
“What did she say?””
I looked at him.
“She knows about the trust.””
His expression changed.
“What trust?””
The question was simple.
But something about it felt wrong.
Because Michael already knew about the trust.
Or at least he should have.
“You tell me.””
He froze.
“What?””
“You heard me.””
The room became quiet.
Michael looked confused.
Then hurt.
“Emma, what are you saying?””
“I’m saying I need answers.””
He stepped back.
“I have been helping you.””
“I know.””
“Then why are you looking at me like I’m the enemy?””
I didn’t answer.
Because I didn’t know.
And that scared me.
That night, I met Victoria at a small restaurant near the lake.
She was older.
Late fifties.
Elegant.
Calm.
The moment she saw me, she stood.
“You look like your grandmother.””
I stopped.
“My grandmother?””
She smiled sadly.
“Yes.””
We sat down.
She placed a small box on the table.
“I’ve kept this for twenty years.””
“What is it?””
“Something your grandfather wanted you to have.””
I opened it.
Inside was a key.
Old.
Silver.
With a small engraving.
My initials.
I stared at it.
“How did he know?””
Victoria looked at me.
“Because your grandfather knew exactly who you were.””
“That makes no sense.””
“It will.””
She pushed a document toward me.
“This explains why the villa was sold to you.””
I read the first page.
Then the second.
Then my hands stopped moving.
Because one sentence changed everything.
*The property shall remain protected under the care of Emma Carter until the original family agreement is fulfilled.*
I looked up.
“Original family agreement?””
Victoria nodded.
“The villa was never just a home.””
“Then what was it?””
Her expression became serious.
“A safe place.””
“For what?””
She looked around before answering.
“For evidence.””
My heart sank.
“Evidence of what?””
Victoria leaned closer.
“Of what your grandfather discovered before he died.””
I whispered:
“What did he discover?””
She looked directly into my eyes.
“That someone inside your family had been stealing from the company for years.””
The words hung between us.
I thought of my father.
His confidence.
His secrets.
His control.
May you like
But then Victoria said something I didn’t expect.
“And your father wasn’t the person who started it.””
