He had asked her to manage the wedding expenses through a separate account. He thought the money in that account belonged to him.
That was not the case.
After Rosa reported that Vanessa had encouraged service providers to inflate their invoices, my lawyers replenished the account with a traceable reserve.
“What contracts?” I asked.
” All.”
“And what about the commissions?”
Her eyes narrowed.
I called Martin Hale, our legal advisor, and put him on speakerphone.
“We have confirmation,” I told him.
“Understood,” he replied. “The fraudulent payment requests are blocked. The investigators are ready.”
Daniel looked at me.
” Fraud ?”
Martin continued.
“Ms. Vale asked three service providers to add fictitious consulting fees totaling two hundred and forty thousand dollars. These fees were paid to an agency owned by her brother.”
Vanessa took a step back.
“That’s a lie.”
I placed the bank documents on the table.
“Your brother’s agency was created eleven days after your engagement.”
Daniel took the documents.
In a matter of seconds, he appeared to age several years.
Vanessa forced her tears.
“Daniel, your mother hates me. She’s the one who orchestrated everything.”
“No,” he said softly. “She left you alone. You showed her who you were.”
Her tears disappeared instantly.
“Weak little boy,” she spat. “Without me, you are nothing but your mother’s obedient heir.”
I held his gaze.
“Your last mistake. Daniel is not my successor by blood. He earned this position through his integrity. And the trust you hoped to gain after marriage cannot be touched by any spouse.”
Sirens wailed beyond the gates.
Vanessa turned towards the windows.
I hadn’t brought Daniel down solely to reveal his cruelty to him.
I had him brought down so he could see his plan collapse.
PART 3
Two investigators specializing in financial crimes arrived with Martin and a uniformed police officer. Vanessa backed away until her back touched the stairs, one hand gripping the banister.
“It’s a family misunderstanding,” she said.
Martin opened a thick file.
“No. This is an attempted bank wire fraud, falsified authorizations, and conspiracy.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Forged permits?”
Martin handed him a stack of documents.
Vanessa had forged Daniel’s signature on supplier authorizations and had even prepared documents that would have made her the co-director of his investment firm after the marriage.
Daniel read each page in silence.
When he finally looked up, the pain in his eyes overcame the anger.
“Was all of that true?”
“Of course.”
“So why did you research my trust before our second date?”
Silence fell in the room.
The forensic analysis of the work laptop Vanessa had borrowed revealed searches concerning Daniel’s estate, his marital rights, trust disputes, and an incapacity proceeding.
