Chapter Three
1241 Words
The week of October brought cool autumn air to New York City. The leaves in Central Park were turning golden and falling to the ground. The city was still moving fast. It was a pretty time of year. For people, it was just another week. For Andrew Lawson, Kate Lawson, Donald Hayes and Victoria Hayes, it was the start of a season that would change their lives forever.
Andrew Lawson built his business from work, not from money his family had.
He started Lawson Global Holdings when he was twenty-four years old.
He had one property and a few investors who believed in him.
Twelve years later, the company was one of the real estate and investment companies in the world.
They had projects in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Even though Andrew was very successful, he stayed humble.
Every Saturday morning, he went to the children's wing of St. Matthews Hospital.
He gave the hospital a lot of money every year. The kids liked that he came to visit them without cameras or reporters.
He sat with them, played games, read them stories, and told them to keep fighting.
That Saturday was the same as all the others.
When Andrew walked into the ward, some of the kids knew who he was.
"Mr. Andrew!" a little girl said.
"You came back!"
Andrew. Said, "I promised I would."
He spent hours with the kids, giving them books, toys, and blankets that his foundation had made.
One of the nurses was watching from the hallway, and she smiled.
"If only every rich person was like him," she said.
Andrew heard her. Said, "Money does not mean much if it cannot help someone else."
It was that kind of kindness that made Kate fall in love with Andrew years ago.
---
Across the city, Kate Lawson was standing in a courtroom.
The room was quiet as the judge was about to announce the decision in a corporate lawsuit.
Kate had spent months defending a small technology company that was wrongly accused of stealing ideas from a company.
Her final argument was great.
She presented all the evidence, and the witnesses helped her case.
She answered all the accusations calmly and precisely.
The judge put on his glasses. Started to speak.
"After looking at all the evidence..."
The room was silent, waiting to hear what he would say.
"This court decides in favor of the defendant," he said.
The people in the courtroom clapped.
Kate had won another case.
Outside the courthouse, reporters surrounded her.
"Mrs. Lawson!" they said.
"That's twenty-eight wins in a row!"
"What's your secret?"
Kate. Said, "There are no secrets. I just prepare well, tell the truth, and respect the law."
A young law student came up to her.
"Mrs. Lawson, I want to be a lawyer like you one day," she said.
Kate. Said, "You can be even better. Just keep learning."
The young woman was very happy.
Kate walked to her car, not knowing that Donald had watched the interview from across the street.
He admired her dedication to justice, not to being famous.
That was something he respected a lot.
---
Donald Hayes made his money by creating software that changed the logistics industry.
He did not forget where he came from like some rich executives.
Donald's mother was a teacher. She raised him alone.
She worked three jobs so he could go to college.
Before she died, she made him promise not to let money change who he was.
He kept that promise.
Every month the Hayes Foundation paid for university tuition for hundreds of students.
A few people knew that Donald himself looked at each application.
That afternoon he visited one of the foundation's centers.
The students were happy to see him.
One boy came up to him shyly.
"Mr. Hayes?" he said.
"Yes?"
"My mom says you're the reason I can stay in school," the boy said.
Donald knelt. Said, "No, you stay in school because you work hard. I just opened the door for you."
The boy. Felt proud.
The center's director was. She wiped away a tear.
Donald did not want to be recognized for his deeds.
He just believed that success meant helping others as you moved forward.
---
Victoria Hayes was also well respected in the business world.
She was the CEO of Hayes Luxury Group. Had turned a small fashion company into a big international brand.
She was smart, disciplined, and independent.
Many people thought she was successful because she was married to Donald.
That was not true.
Victoria had built her company before she met him.
Together they were one of New York's admired couples.
That afternoon Victoria talked to hundreds of employees about a charity project.
"Business should make people's lives better," she said.
"Our company will give training and jobs to women who are rebuilding their lives after domestic violence."
The audience applauded loudly.
One woman in the audience owed everything to Victoria.
Her name was Emily Carter.
She was a fashion designer who had escaped an abusive marriage three years ago.
Victoria had given her a job and a safe place to start over.
After the event, Emily came up to Victoria.
"Thank you for believing in me," she said.
Victoria. Said, "You believed in yourself. I just gave you a chance."
Emily hugged her tightly.
Neither woman noticed a man watching from outside the building.
His name was Victor Steele.
He looked angry as he watched Victoria laugh with her employees.
To everyone, she was a great leader.
To Victor, she was the woman who had taken away the future he wanted for himself.
His obsession with her was getting stronger every day.
---
That evening, the Lawsons went to a charity gala hosted by New York's Business Leaders Association.
The ballroom was fancy and full of people.
Andrew and Kate arrived together holding hands.
The cameras flashed as they walked in.
"They're a couple, " one photographer said.
Inside, Andrew greeted the guests warmly.
Kate stayed by his side, smiling nicely.
A minute later, Donald and Victoria arrived.
Andrew went over to them.
"Donald!" he said.
"It's been too long," Donald replied.
The two men shook hands warmly.
Andrew smiled at Victoria.
"You look great," he said.
"So do you," she replied.
Kate and Donald said hello politely.
For some reason, there was a feeling between them that they could not explain.
It only lasted a second.
Victoria noticed. Andrew did not.
They had dinner, listened to speeches, and donated money to help kids and cancer research.
To everyone, it was a night to celebrate being generous and successful.
No one knew that these four people would soon be connected by betrayal, obsession, and murder.
As the gala ended, Victor Steele watched from across the street in his car.
He stared at Victoria as she got into a limousine with Donald.
His jaw tightened.
"They all think she's untouchable," he said to himself.
"Everyone has a weakness."
The limousine drove away into the night.
Victor reached into his pocket. Pulled out an old silver locket.
Inside was a picture of him and Victoria, from years ago.
He closed it slowly.
"I've waited enough," he said.
The game had begun.
Before it was over, each of them would find out that even the strongest hearts can be broken and even the happiest lives can be shattered by secrets that are hiding in plain sight.
- Writer
