Chapter 7 - Vanessa Tells the TruthVanessa agreed to meet Alexander in a private dining room.
No cameras.
No lawyers initially.
She arrived wearing the same controlled expression she had worn in the ballroom.
Alexander did not offer small talk.
“You entered Amelia’s room.”
Vanessa folded her hands.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Your mother gave me the key.”
“I know.”
“She wanted a letter.”
“What letter?”
Vanessa hesitated.
Alexander waited.
Finally:
“One Amelia wrote concerning the foundation.”
“Why did you agree to search for it?”
Vanessa gave him an almost pitying look.
“Because I wanted to marry you.”
At least it was honest.
“You thought stealing private documents would help?”
“I thought locating them would help.”
“That distinction is not impressive.”
“No.”
She looked down.
“My father wanted a Whitmore alliance.”
“And you?”
“I wanted what your name represented.”
Alexander said nothing.
Vanessa continued.
“You think Catherine and Olivia were there because they loved your personality?”
“That isn’t relevant.”
“It is.”
Her smile held no humor.
“All of us grew up understanding marriage could be strategic.”
“That does not excuse this.”
“I know.”
“Did you find the letter?”
“No.”
“Did you take anything?”
Vanessa looked away.
Alexander caught it.
“What did you take?”
“A photograph.”
He stared.
“That’s all?”
“There was writing on the back.”
“What writing?”
She reached into her bag.
For the first time, Vanessa looked nervous.
She placed a photograph on the table.
Amelia holding baby Noah.
On the back, in Amelia’s handwriting:
If Alexander ever asks where I placed the signed papers, tell him I trusted the place Noah trusted.
Alexander’s heart accelerated.
“The window seat.”
Vanessa shook her head.
“I thought that too.”
“The blue envelope was there.”
“Maybe.”
“Then why is it gone?”
“I don’t know.”
He studied her.
“Did my mother send someone into Elena’s house?”
Vanessa’s face changed.
“What?”
He explained.
Vanessa went pale.
“No.”
“You’re sure?”
“I’m sure she wouldn’t—”
She stopped herself.
Alexander leaned closer.
“Wouldn’t what?”
Vanessa exhaled.
“There is somebody else.”
“Who?”
“My father.”
Alexander stared.
Vanessa continued.
“When your mother told him about Amelia’s foundation concerns, he became worried the Holloway family would be locked out of any future alliance.”
“Your father knew about the missing letter?”
“Yes.”
“Did he know Elena had access to Noah?”
“Everyone knew after the newspapers.”
Alexander stood.
“Why are you telling me this now?”
Vanessa looked at him.
“Because I wanted a marriage.”
Her voice broke slightly.
“I did not want a frightened six-year-old turned into corporate leverage.”
For the first time, Alexander saw something other than calculation.
Shame.
“My father asked me last week whether Noah ever hid things with Elena.”
Alexander’s expression hardened.
“Why?”
“I didn’t ask.”
“Ask now.”
He left.
That evening Elena called him.
“Noah remembered something.”
Alexander drove home immediately.
Noah sat at the kitchen table.
Elena beside him.
“What did you remember?”
Noah twisted a napkin.
“Mommy made a game.”
“What game?”
“Hiding important things.”
Alexander crouched.
“Where?”
Noah looked toward the hallway.
“Not my room.”
“Where then?”
He whispered:
“Hers.”
Alexander frowned.
They searched Amelia’s bedroom again.
Closet.
Desk.
Books.
Nothing.
Noah grew frustrated.
Then suddenly he climbed onto the window seat.
Pressed the wooden panel beneath the cushion.
A second compartment opened.
Alexander stopped breathing.
Inside was an empty space.
May you like
And one torn piece of blue paper.
Someone had found the hiding place before them.
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