Chapter 12: My Father’s Oldest Friend
Richard Vale had taught me how to drive.
That was the first thing I remembered.
Not board meetings.
Not contracts.
Not money.
I remembered being sixteen years old in my father's old Mercedes while Richard laughed because I stalled at a traffic light.
"Again, kid.""
He had attended my graduation.
My wedding to Elena.
Noah's birth.
Elena's funeral.
When my father died, Richard stood beside the grave with one hand on my shoulder.
"I'll look after the company with you.""
I believed him.
Now his name was on the courier authorization for a package sent to my three-year-old son.
I looked at Charles.
He wouldn't meet my eyes.
"Where is Richard?""
No answer.
I walked toward him.
"Charles.""
He finally looked up.
"I don't know.""
"Elena wrote that you answered to someone on my board.""
Marcus turned toward him.
"What?""
That reaction was genuine.
For the first time, Marcus looked less like a conspirator and more like a man discovering he'd never understood the conspiracy he joined.
Charles stood.
"This meeting is over.""
Helen blocked his path.
"No, it isn't.""
Charles looked around.
"You don't understand the legal exposure you're creating.""
Daniel laughed once.
"Your concern about legal exposure is touching.""
I placed the courier document beside Charles.
"Richard Vale.""
His face remained controlled.
But his fingers tightened around his briefcase.
I saw it.
"So that's him.""
Charles said nothing.
Marcus suddenly grabbed Charles by the shoulder.
"You told me this was my deal.""
Charles pulled away.
"Don't touch me.""
"You said once Rocco was removed, I'd become interim CEO.""
Silence.
Marcus realized what he'd admitted.
Daniel quietly said:
"Keep talking.""
Marcus didn't care anymore.
He pointed at Charles.
"You came to me.""
Charles' face hardened.
"Be quiet.""
"You said the board wanted Rocco gone.""
"Marcus.""
"You said Victoria would control the family shares after the marriage.""
Victoria stared at him.
"What?""
Marcus looked at her.
"You didn't know?""
Her face drained.
He laughed bitterly.
"Of course you didn't.""
The entire conspiracy was collapsing because none of them trusted one another.
Exactly as Elena had described.
They isolated people.
Used fear.
Jealousy.
Money.
Secrets.
Marcus had wanted my company.
Victoria had wanted security and a place in my family.
Charles wanted something else.
And Richard?
I still didn't know.
My security chief approached.
"We located Mr. Vale.""
"Where?""
"Your old family house.""
My chest tightened.
Elena's house.
"Why?""
"We don't know.""
I looked at the blue ledger.
Then I understood.
"He knows about the ledger.""
Daniel nodded.
"He may think it's still there.""
I turned toward the door.
Charles spoke behind me.
"Rocco.""
I stopped.
"If you go there, you're making a mistake.""
I turned slowly.
"Why?""
For the first time, fear appeared on his face.
"Because Richard isn't looking for the ledger.""
"What is he looking for?""
Charles looked at the floor.
I stepped closer.
"What?""
His voice dropped.
"Something Elena hid.""
My heart accelerated.
"What did she hide?""
"I don't know.""
Marcus laughed.
"You're still protecting him?""
Charles snapped:
"You idiot. Richard has been doing this since before you met Rocco.""
The room went silent.
I stared at him.
"Doing what?""
Charles realized he'd said too much.
Daniel stepped closer.
"Answer him.""
Charles sat down.
His shoulders collapsed.
"When your father became sick, Richard expected to become chairman.""
I remembered.
My father had chosen me instead.
"He believed the company should have been his," Charles continued.
"He spent twenty-five years helping build it.""
"So he wanted revenge?""
"Control.""
Charles looked at me.
"Richard doesn't care about revenge. He cares about ownership.""
"Then why involve Noah?""
"Because your father protected the company through the family trust.""
Daniel understood first.
"If Rocco is removed but Noah remains an active beneficiary...""
"Richard still can't control the protected shares," Charles finished.
My stomach turned.
"So they needed both of us out.""
"Temporarily.""
I slammed my hand against the table.
"Stop using that word.""
Charles flinched.
"My son is not a clause in a contract.""
Nobody spoke.
I called home.
The nanny answered.
"Noah?""
"He's right here.""
"Put him on.""
A tiny voice came through.
"Daddy?""
My entire body relaxed.
"Hey, buddy.""
"You working?""
I closed my eyes.
"Yeah.""
"Come home.""
"I will.""
"Promise?""
"Promise.""
I ended the call.
Then I looked at Charles.
"What did Elena hide?""
He shook his head.
"She called me the night before she died. She said she had found something in your father's private files.""
"What?""
"Proof.""
"Of what?""
"That Richard had been stealing from the company for years.""
The room erupted.
I barely heard it.
Because one memory had surfaced.
Elena standing in our old kitchen three nights before she died.
She had asked me:
"Rocco, if you learned someone close to your father betrayed him, would you want to know?""
I had been answering emails.
I barely looked up.
I said:
"Tomorrow, Elena.""
Tomorrow never came.
My security chief's phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed.
"What?""
He listened.
Then looked at me.
"We have a problem.""
My stomach tightened.
"What happened?""
"Police just arrived at your old house.""
"Why?""
"A neighbor reported smoke.""
I ran.
Twenty minutes later, we turned onto the street.
Fire engines blocked the road.
Smoke poured from the second floor of the house where Elena and I had raised Noah during his first year.
I jumped from the car.
A firefighter stopped me.
"You can't go inside.""
"Was anyone there?""
"We found one person outside.""
"Who?""
He pointed toward an ambulance.
Richard Vale sat on the back step.
Alive.
Watching the house burn.
Our eyes met.
And he smiled.
I walked toward him.
"You burned it.""
Richard's smile disappeared.
"Careful, Rocco.""
"Where is Elena's evidence?""
He leaned closer.
"You still don't understand your wife.""
My fists tightened.
"What does that mean?""
"Elena knew I would eventually search the house.""
He glanced toward the flames.
"So she never hid the evidence here.""
My heart started pounding.
"Where did she put it?""
Richard looked at me.
Then slowly smiled again.
"With the one person she knew nobody would suspect.""
I stared at him.
"Who?""
Behind me, Maria suddenly whispered:
"Rocco...""
I turned.
She was holding the blue ledger open.
Tucked inside its back cover was a tiny brass key we hadn't noticed before.
A label was attached to it.
May you like
Two words were written in Elena's handwriting.
FOR NOAH.
