Chapter 9: Paper Trails.
779 Words
The manila folder landed on Dominic's mahogany desk with a soft thud. My hands trembled as I stared at the stack of papers his lawyer had compiled - bank statements, property deeds, transfer records. Five years of lies spread out in black and white.
"You need to see this," Dominic said, his voice unusually gentle. He pushed a highlighted document toward me. "Look at the dates."
I picked up the paper, forcing myself to focus through the tears threatening to blur my vision. "This is... this is from last year. When we were still trying for the baby."
"Read the transfer amount."
"Two hundred fifty thousand dollars." My voice cracked. "To an account in Victoria's name."
Dominic's jaw tightened. "There's more."
I flipped through the statements, each page revealing another betrayal. Money from our properties, from our joint savings, all funneled into hidden accounts. Some in Victoria's name, others I didn't recognize. The dates lined up perfectly - each major transfer coinciding with a time I'd been distracted by fertility treatments or property renovations.
"He was planning this," I whispered, the realization hitting me like a physical blow. "All those times he told me to just sign the papers, that he'd handle everything..." A bitter laugh escaped me. "God, I was so stupid."
"Stop." Dominic's hand covered mine, warm and steady. "You trusted your husband. That's not stupid."
I pulled away, needing space to breathe. The office suddenly felt too small, too intimate. Through the window, I could see Moonstown's skyline, dark clouds gathering above the jagged buildings. "Did you know?" I turned to face him. "About Victoria? About any of this?"
"No." His dark eyes held mine. "Martins and I haven't spoken in years. Not since..." He trailed off, something haunted crossing his face.
"Since what?"
A knock at the door saved him from answering. One of his men - Joey, I thought his name was - stepped in, looking uncomfortable.
"Boss, we found a current number for Victoria Cole."
My heart stumbled. Before I could think better of it, I grabbed my phone from my purse. "Give it to me."
"Shirley-" Dominic started.
"Please." I met his gaze. "I need to do this myself. As me, not as... whatever this is." I gestured vaguely at his office, at the trappings of his power.
He studied me for a long moment, then nodded. Joey handed me a slip of paper and quietly left the room. My fingers trembled as I dialed, each ring echoing in my ears like a thunderclap.
"Hello?" Her voice hadn't changed. Somehow, that made it worse.
"Well." I struggled to keep my voice steady. "You sound awfully calm for someone who's been helping steal my money."
A sharp intake of breath. "Shirley-"
"Did you ever feel guilty?" The words tumbled out before I could stop them. "All those times you held me while I cried about losing the baby, about the failed treatments - were you already sleeping with him then?"
"It's not that simple, Shir."
"Don't." My voice shook. "Don't call me that. Don't act like we're still friends."
"What do you want me to say?" Her voice cracked slightly. "That I'm sorry? Would that make any of this better?"
"I want you to tell me how long you've been helping him steal from me. I'm looking at the bank statements right now, Victoria. Two hundred fifty thousand dollars? That's quite a nest egg for your little family."
She was quiet for a moment. "He said it was temporary. Just until he could get things sorted with the new development..."
"Stop lying!" I was shouting now, but I didn't care. "You're still protecting him, even now?"
"You don't understand. Martins has a plan. Once the baby-"
"The baby." I laughed, the sound harsh even to my own ears. "You know what's funny? I actually feel sorry for that child. Growing up with parents like you two..."
"Shirley, please. Let me explain-"
"No." I cut her off, my voice ice-cold. "I don't want your explanations. I want what's mine. And trust me, Victoria - you don't want to be there when I get it."
I ended the call and turned to find Dominic watching me, his expression unreadable.
The rain was falling harder now, drumming against the windows like my racing thoughts. Victoria's voice - that mixture of guilt and defiance - kept echoing in my head. She knew. She'd known everything, all along.
"I need to make some calls," I said, my voice steadier than I felt.
It was time to stop playing nice. Time to show Martins and Victoria exactly what happens when you underestimated me.
The game was about to change.
- Writer
