Chapter 6: Before I Knew Maria
I didn't believe Victoria.
That was my first reaction.
My second was worse.
I remembered something.
The day I interviewed Maria six years earlier, she had said she'd heard about the position through an employment agency.
I had never checked beyond that.
Why would I?
Her references were excellent.
Her background check was clean.
And over six years, she had earned my trust a thousand times.
But Victoria had chosen her accusation carefully.
Not "Maria is dangerous.""
Not "Maria betrayed you.""
Something verifiable.
"Rocco?"" Victoria whispered through the phone.
"I'm here.""
"Please check.""
"Where are you?""
She hesitated.
"Somewhere safe.""
"From Marcus?""
"From everyone.""
The call ended.
Maria stared at me.
"I don't know what she's talking about.""
"I know.""
But my voice sounded different.
She heard it.
"You think I'm lying.""
"I think I've been lied to by several people tonight.""
Pain flashed across her face.
I hated myself for causing it.
But Noah came first.
Always.
Daniel stepped between us emotionally, if not physically.
"Nobody makes assumptions. We verify.""
I nodded.
Noah's medical records were stored in my private office archive, including everything from his birth onward.
I opened the digital files.
Noah had been born with significant hearing loss.
His mother, Elena, had handled most early appointments because I had been drowning in the expansion of my company.
Then Elena died when Noah was eleven months old.
An aneurysm.
Sudden.
Merciless.
After that, my memories blurred into hospital rooms, funeral flowers, bottles, diapers and grief.
I searched the oldest records.
Nothing.
Then Daniel pointed.
"That one.""
A consultation report from when Noah was six months old.
I opened it.
Three pages.
On the final page was a list of people present during the appointment.
Rocco DeLuca.
Elena DeLuca.
Dr. Samuel Price.
And:
Maria Santos — Patient Family Liaison.
I stopped breathing.
Maria stepped closer.
"No.""
I looked at her.
"You said you didn't know us.""
"I didn't.""
"Your name is right there.""
"I wasn't there.""
"Then explain it.""
"I can't!""
Her voice cracked.
Noah appeared at the office door.
We all went silent.
He was holding his stuffed dinosaur.
"Daddy mad?""
My anger disappeared instantly.
I crossed the room and picked him up.
"Not at you.""
He touched my cheek.
"Maria sad.""
I looked over his shoulder.
Maria was crying quietly.
Even now, Noah noticed her before himself.
I handed him to Daniel.
"Can you stay with him for a minute?""
Daniel nodded.
Maria and I moved into the hallway.
She wiped her face.
"Rocco, six years ago I was working for a medical advocacy nonprofit.""
I froze.
"What?""
"We helped families navigate insurance, specialists, accessibility programs.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because when I applied to work for you, that organization had already closed. I didn't think it mattered.""
"Did you ever meet Elena?""
"No.""
"Did you ever see Noah?""
She shook her head.
"Not that I remember.""
"Then why is your name there?""
Maria pressed her fingers against her forehead.
"I don't know.""
Then she stopped.
Her face changed.
"What?""
"There was another Maria Santos.""
My pulse jumped.
"At your organization?""
"No. At Morrow.""
I stared at her.
"You're sure?""
"I remember because we occasionally received referrals from them. One of their coordinators had my exact name.""
That changed everything.
"Can you prove it?""
"Maybe.""
We searched old professional records.
Ten minutes later, Maria found an archived staff newsletter saved in her email backup.
A photograph showed twelve employees at a conference.
One woman's name appeared beneath the image.
Maria Santos.
But it wasn't my Maria.
This woman was older.
Different face.
Different person.
Daniel examined the medical record.
"Someone counted on the shared name creating suspicion.""
"They wanted me to turn against her.""
Maria whispered, "Victoria knew you'd find my name.""
Exactly.
Which meant the phone call hadn't been a confession.
It had been another move.
I checked the hidden phone again.
There were messages between Victoria and Marcus.
Most were coded.
Initials.
Dates.
Short instructions.
Then one thread caught my attention.
V: R trusts M completely.
M: Then break that first.
V: How?
M: Use the old medical file.
I turned the screen toward Maria.
Her face went blank.
They had planned this.
Every piece.
The hearing aid.
The quiet house.
The forged resignation.
Even the accusation against Maria.
"Why?"" Maria whispered.
That question still remained.
Daniel opened the trust documents again.
"Maybe this explains it.""
He pointed to a clause I'd overlooked.
My father had designed the trust with one unusual condition.
If I married while Noah was still a minor, my spouse would gain limited management authority over certain family holdings.
But only after the marriage.
Victoria couldn't control anything yet.
Our wedding was three months away.
"So why Monday?"" I asked.
Daniel frowned.
"Good question.""
I searched the phone.
Monday appeared everywhere.
Noah's placement.
Maria's resignation.
A scheduled meeting with Charles Bennett.
Then I found a calendar entry.
Monday, 10:00 a.m.
Emergency Board Session.
My company had no emergency board session scheduled.
At least none that I knew about.
Daniel read the attached note.
His expression changed.
"Rocco.""
"What?""
He turned the screen toward me.
The agenda contained only one item.
Temporary removal of CEO due to incapacity.
My name.
My company.
My removal.
It had already been prepared.
Then the hidden phone buzzed.
A photograph arrived from the unknown number.
Marcus was standing outside Charles Bennett's office.
Beside him was Victoria.
She wasn't hiding.
She wasn't frightened.
And she certainly wasn't running from Marcus.
May you like
Under the photograph were six words.
"She lied. The vote is tomorrow morning.""
