Chapter 6: The Deal Behind My Wedding
The knock came again.
Three hard strikes.
Daniel's fingers tightened around my wrist before he realized what he was doing.
"Emily, listen to me," he whispered.
"You need to leave.""
I pulled my hand free.
"I'm not going anywhere until someone explains what is happening.""
Vanessa hurried toward the door.
"Daniel, don't make this worse.""
He blocked her path.
"You said Richard was only interested in the jewelry.""
"He was.""
"Then why is he talking about company documents?""
Vanessa looked toward the door, then back at him.
"Because you don't understand how business works.""
Daniel let out a disbelieving laugh.
"You told me Michael's company was going to be sold.""
My heart stopped.
"What?""
Both of them turned toward me.
Daniel looked as if he wanted to swallow the words he'd just spoken.
I stepped forward.
"What did you say?""
Vanessa recovered first.
"He's exhausted. He's been under tremendous pressure.""
"Stop talking about him as if he isn't standing here," I snapped.
"Daniel, what did you mean?""
He looked at the photograph in my hand.
Then he looked at me.
"Your father has been considering selling part of his construction company to expand into commercial development. Vanessa said she knew how to accelerate the process.""
"How?""
"She said she could get access to documents before the lawyers finalized everything.""
I shook my head.
"She doesn't have access to Dad's business.""
"She has access to his home office.""
"That isn't the same thing.""
"I know that now.""
I stared at him.
"Did you agree to help her?""
Daniel didn't answer.
The man outside knocked again.
"Daniel! I know you're in there.""
Vanessa's composure finally cracked.
"Open the door before he starts making a scene.""
Daniel looked at her with disgust.
"You said you could handle Richard.""
"I can.""
"Then handle him!""
The door rattled.
"Ten seconds, Daniel!""
Daniel moved toward the desk, grabbed his phone, and called hotel security. He spoke quickly, giving the room number and explaining that a visitor was threatening him.
When he hung up, he looked at me.
"I need you to believe one thing. I never wanted your father hurt.""
"But you were willing to let him be deceived.""
Daniel lowered his eyes.
"Yes.""
The admission hurt more than an excuse would have.
Vanessa folded her arms.
"This is exactly why I didn't want you involved, Emily. You turn every complicated situation into a personal betrayal.""
I faced her.
"You stole my mother's necklace.""
"I borrowed it.""
"You sold it.""
"I hadn't completed the sale.""
"You destroyed my wedding dress.""
"Madison made a mistake.""
"You told her to do it!""
Vanessa's mouth tightened.
"That dress was making you impossible to deal with. Every conversation had to be about your wedding, your mother, your perfect little future.""
I stared at her.
"So you decided to punish me?""
"I decided to bring you back to reality.""
"By making me miserable?""
"By reminding you that life doesn't revolve around you.""
I looked at the muddy stains still dried on my hands.
For years, I'd tried to understand Vanessa. I'd told myself that grief made me difficult, that my father's remarriage had been an adjustment for everyone, that Madison's cruel jokes were simply the result of insecurity.
I'd spent so long explaining away their behavior that I'd stopped asking why I was always the one expected to endure it.
"You're right about one thing," I said.
Vanessa looked almost pleased.
"What?""
"My life doesn't revolve around you.""
Her expression changed.
I took out my phone and called Dad.
He answered immediately.
"Emily? Where are you?""
"I'm at the hotel with Daniel and Vanessa. Richard is outside the room, and I think this is bigger than the necklace.""
"Are you safe?""
"Yes. Hotel security is on the way.""
"Stay where you are. I'm coming.""
I told him what Daniel had said about the company documents.
Dad went silent.
Then his voice changed.
"Emily, listen carefully. Do not let Vanessa leave with any bags or papers. Don't touch anything that belongs to her. Just keep everyone there until I arrive.""
"Why?""
"Because I think I know what they're after.""
The call ended.
I looked at Daniel.
"What is my father talking about?""
Daniel sat down on the edge of the bed.
"There's a property deal your father has been negotiating. A commercial development near the waterfront. If it goes through, the company could double in size over the next five years.""
"I know about the development.""
"Then you know how much it's worth.""
I nodded slowly.
"What's that got to do with you?""
Daniel reached into the envelope and pulled out a printed email.
"Richard wanted information about the deal before it became public. Vanessa said she could get it through your father's office.""
I read the email.
It contained no explicit admission of a crime, but the implication was unmistakable. Someone had been asking for confidential documents, and someone else had promised to provide them.
I looked at Vanessa.
"You were going to steal Dad's business information?""
She lifted her chin.
"I was going to help secure an investment.""
"Without his permission?""
"He would have benefited from it.""
"Then why hide it?""
She had no answer.
A sudden pounding interrupted us.
Hotel security had arrived.
Two guards stood outside with the manager, who informed us that Richard had been asked to leave the property. He was waiting in the lobby while the police were contacted about his threats.
Vanessa seized her handbag.
"I am leaving.""
I stepped aside but kept my eyes on her.
Dad had told me not to let her leave with bags or papers. I wasn't going to grab her or start another confrontation, but I wasn't going to pretend everything was fine either.
"What's in the bag?"" I asked.
"Personal belongings.""
"Then you won't mind opening it for the hotel manager and the police.""
Her face twisted.
"You have no right to demand that.""
"No," I said.
"But Dad has already reported the stolen jewelry, and the police will decide what happens next.""
Vanessa looked at Daniel.
He stared at the carpet.
For the first time, she was entirely alone.
The hotel manager asked everyone to remain in the room until the police arrived. Vanessa reluctantly placed her handbag on the desk.
Inside were her wallet, a makeup case, two envelopes, and a small velvet pouch.
When the manager asked what was inside the pouch, Vanessa snatched it back.
"That's private.""
I recognized the pouch.
I'd seen it on my mother's dresser when I was a little girl.
My mother kept her wedding ring in it before Dad bought the safe.
"Open it," I whispered.
Vanessa stared at me.
"No.""
Daniel stood.
"Vanessa, just open it.""
She glared at him.
"You have no idea what you're doing.""
"Neither do you anymore.""
Her hands trembled as she opened the pouch.
Inside lay a gold wedding ring.
My mother's ring.
I reached for it, but Dad's warning echoed in my head. I didn't touch it.
The hotel manager photographed it, then placed it carefully on the desk.
I stared at the familiar engraving inside the band.
Mom's initials.
The date of her wedding to Dad.
It was unmistakably hers.
"Why?"" I asked Vanessa.
"Why would you take this?""
She looked at the ring for a long moment.
Then she said something that made my entire understanding of the night shift.
"Because your mother left more than jewelry, Emily.""
I felt a chill move through me.
"What are you talking about?""
Vanessa raised her eyes.
"Your father has been lying to you about the inheritance.""
The room fell silent.
Daniel looked up sharply.
"Vanessa, don't.""
She ignored him.
"Your mother didn't leave you just a necklace and a ring. She left you a trust. A very substantial one.""
I turned toward the door as Dad's footsteps approached from the hallway.
He entered the room with his attorney, Margaret Lewis, close behind him.
His eyes immediately found the ring on the desk.
Then he looked at Vanessa.
"What have you told her?""
Vanessa smiled faintly.
"The truth, Michael.""
Dad's face went pale.
Margaret set her briefcase on the desk.
"Michael," she said quietly, "if Vanessa has discovered the trust documents, we need to talk before Emily hears another word.""
I stared at my father.
He looked at the ring.
May you like
Then at me.
And for the first time in my life, my father seemed afraid of what I was about to learn.
