CHAPTER 2: the name in the glass
1278 Words
The house was too quiet. It was built on noise. Money noise, power noise, people who never whispered because they were used to being heard.
Nathan Rowland stood in the corridor outside the wing. He stared at a door he hadn’t opened since he was seventeen. Then it was his mother’s study. Now it belonged to no one but everyone knew some of his father’s "important conversations" happened behind it.
Since the wedding nothing in the house felt like it belonged to him anymore.
Behind him footsteps clicked softly on marble.
“You’re still doing that thing " a voice said.
He didn’t turn. "What thing?”
“Acting like the house betrayed you personally.”
Nathan finally turned. Lissa Voss stood there in a cream dress. Her hair was pulled back. She looked like she had stepped out of a world that didn’t understand chaos.
“You’re bold " Nathan said.
“I’ve been called worse since yesterday’s headlines.”
He let out a laugh without humor. "Welcome to the Rowland family.”
Lissa tilted her head slightly. ". The Voss family now depending on which newspaper you believe.”
That name again. Voss.
Nathan studied her carefully this time. "You don’t look like someone who enjoys scandal.”
“I don’t " she replied. "But I survive it.”
For a moment neither of them spoke. Deeper in the house a door shut—firm controlled. Chief Anthony Rowland’s presence was never loud. It always rearranged the atmosphere.
Lissa glanced toward the sound. "Your father is meeting James.”
Nathan’s expression tightened. "Already?”
“They didn’t wait for permission.”
That did it. Nathan pushed off the wall. "Then I’m joining.”
Lissa stepped aside. Then she surprised him by following.
“You don’t have to come " he said.
“I know " she replied. ". I want to.”
The study was darker than Nathan remembered. Heavy curtains blocked the morning light. The air smelled faintly of leather and expensive cologne.
Chief Anthony Rowland sat behind a desk like it was a throne carved from oak. James Voss stood near the window phone in hand face unreadable.
Then there was Melissa Rowland—formerly Melissa Voss—standing between them like a bridge nobody trusted.
Nathan felt it immediately: this wasn’t a meeting. It was a negotiation.
“Perfect timing " James said without looking up. "The family audience is complete.”
“Cut the sarcasm " Chief Anthony replied calmly. "We have a situation.”
Lissa stepped in now. The room shifted.
James finally looked at her.
Something flickered in his expression too quick to catch, too sharp to ignore.
Nathan noticed.
So did Melissa.
“What situation?" Nathan asked.
Chief Anthony leaned forward. "The Voss holdings are under review. Someone leaked acquisition files.”
Silence dropped like a stone.
James slowly lowered his phone. "That’s impossible.”
“It’s already in circulation " Melissa said quietly. "Three investors have pulled out this morning.”
Nathan’s eyes narrowed. "So someone inside the family betrayed you.”
“No " James said sharply eyes locked now on Lissa. "Someone inside this room did.”
The words hit like a slap.
Lissa didn’t flinch, Something in her posture changed subtle defensive.
Nathan noticed it.
“So you’re accusing your sister?" Nathan asked.
James didn’t answer immediately.
That pause was worse than an answer.
Melissa stepped forward. "James”
“Don’t " he cut her off. Then colder "I need to know if you did it Lissa.”
The room went still.
Nathan turned slowly toward her. "Lissa?”
She exhaled through her nose. "You’re asking the question.”
That confused him. "Then what’s the right one?”
Her eyes lifted to James.
“Who told you I had access?”
The silence that followed was different this time Heavier.
James didn’t answer immediately.
That hesitation was the answer.
Nathan caught it instantly.
“So you didn’t deny it " Nathan said slowly watching James now.
James finally looked away.
Melissa’s voice broke in softer now. "This isn’t business. If the leak is real people will lose everything.”
Chief Anthony stood. "Then we find the source before the board meeting tonight.”
James grabbed his jacket. "I already know where to start.”
“Where?" Nathan asked.
James looked at Lissa again.
This time there was no hesitation.
“Her apartment.”
The ride was silent.
Nathan drove because he refused to sit in the passenger seat while James gave directions from the back like he owned the world.
Lissa sat beside Nathan staring out the window.
“You’re not saying anything " he said finally.
“What would you like me to say?" she replied.
“That you didn’t do it.”
She turned slightly. "Would you believe me if I did?”
That question landed differently.
Nathan didn’t answer immediately. Because the honest answer was dangerous.
“I don’t know you enough yet " he said.
A faint smile touched her lips. "That’s the honest thing you’ve said to me.”
They pulled into a high rise district far from the chaos of the main city.
James was already out of the car before it stopped fully.
“Third floor " he said "Let’s go.”
Lissa’s expression tightened for the time. "You broke into my apartment?”
“I had reason " James replied.
Nathan followed them up.
The apartment was minimalistic clean, expensive emotionally empty. Like someone had designed it to avoid attachment.
James didn’t look around like a guest.
He looked like a hunter.
“I’ll make this quick " he said, heading to the study desk.
“Don’t touch my things " Lissa warned.
James ignored her.
Nathan watched from the doorway arms crossed. Something about this didn’t sit right.
Too easy.
Too direct.
James pulled open a drawer.
Paused.
Then slowly removed a folder.
“That’s not mine " Lissa said immediately.
James opened it anyway.
Were printed contracts, transfer codes and encrypted acquisition drafts.
Nathan stepped forward.
“Those look like Voss documents.”
“They are " James said.
Lissa’s voice sharpened. "I’ve never seen that folder in my life.”
James wasn’t listening anymore.
He was reading.
Then he stopped.
His face changed.
Not anger.
Recognition.
Nathan noticed first. "What is it?”
James turned the folder slightly.
Inside the page was a signature.
Not Lissa Voss.
Not Melissa Rowland.
Not James Voss.
It was Chief Anthony Rowland.
Nathan’s breath slowed. "That’s impossible.”
James looked up slowly. "Is it?”
Lissa stepped closer eyes scanning the page.
Then she froze.
Because, beneath the signature… was a line of handwriting.
A note.
Short.
Precise.
Impossible.
“She doesn’t know who she really is yet.”
Silence exploded in the room.
Nathan looked at Lissa.
Lissa looked at the note.
For the first time since they met she looked uncertain.
“I didn’t write that " she whispered.
James closed the folder slowly.
“No " he said.
“Your father did.”
The elevator ride down felt different.
No one spoke.
Even James didn’t pretend to have control
By the time they reached the lobby Nathan’s phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A voice came through immediately.
Calm, Measured.
Familiar.
“Bring her home " Chief Anthony Rowland said.
Nathan stopped walking.
“Father what is going on?”
A pause.
Then
“You’re asking the question.”
The line went dead.
Nathan looked up.
Lissa was already staring at him.
Because she had heard it too.
For the first time
She looked like she was beginning to remember something she was never told.
- Writer
