Chapter 20 - Brooke’s Second Life
Brooke had worked in Meridian’s charitable foundation.
Her position gave her access to donor events, executive schedules and internal reports. Victoria had believed the role was harmless.
Brooke had used it to map the company’s relationships.
She had recorded which directors disliked Victoria, which executives felt overlooked and which investors wanted faster growth.
Grant paid her through a consulting company registered under her sister’s name.
The affair with Arthur began later.
At first, Arthur had been another source of information.
Then Brooke realized he could become protection.
If Grant abandoned her, Arthur could provide a home, money and access to Victoria’s wealth.
If Arthur discovered Grant, Brooke could use the pregnancy to hold him.
Every relationship had been a backup plan.
Arthur read the recovered emails in silence.
“You think she never cared about me.”
“I think she cared about surviving,” Victoria replied. “That does not mean she was incapable of feeling anything. It means her feelings never stopped her from using you.”
Daniel recovered a calendar entry from Brooke’s account.
It showed a meeting scheduled for the night she disappeared.
The location was Meridian’s underground parking garage.
The attendee was Julian Cross.
Security footage confirmed that Brooke had entered the garage but never entered Julian’s vehicle.
Instead, she climbed into a black car registered to Margaret Sloan.
Margaret was Meridian’s first outside investor.
She had retired from the board four years earlier.
Victoria had not spoken to her since.
When Victoria called, Margaret answered immediately.
“I wondered how long it would take you,” the older woman said.
“Where is Brooke?”
“Safe.”
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“Why did you take her?”
“Because Grant is not the person controlling this.”
