Chapter 6 - Richard’s First Real Fear
Richard Vance had always believed panic was a weakness experienced by other people.
By noon the day after the party, he discovered he had been mistaken.
His attorney, Steven Mallory, placed a tablet on the desk.
The birthday video had reached social media.
Not Vanessa’s version.
Evan’s.
Richard watched himself grab Maya.
Watched Maya’s face hit the cake.
Watched Lily cry.
Watched Vanessa laugh.
Three million views.
Then four.
Then six.
Richard stopped the video.
“Get it removed.”
Mallory stared at him.
“From the internet?”
“Yes.”
“That isn’t how this works.”
“Then make it work.”
“There are copies everywhere.”
Olivia sat near the fireplace.
“This will pass. People have no attention span anymore.”
Mallory looked at her.
“The police are considering charges.”
“It was a family argument.”
“It was assault.”
Olivia’s face hardened.
“Whose lawyer are you?”
“His. Which is why I’m not lying to him.”
Richard stood.
“What about Maya?”
“She filed for an emergency protective order this morning.”
Richard froze.
“How?”
“She has representation.”
“Who?”
Mallory hesitated.
“Dawson, Cole and Pierce.”
Richard stared.
One of the most expensive litigation firms in the country.
“That makes no sense.”
“It makes less sense when you hear who authorized the retainer.”
Richard already knew.
“Sterling.”
Mallory nodded.
Richard turned to Olivia.
She looked worried now.
Not because Maya had left.
Because Julian Sterling had entered the fight.
Richard walked toward the window.
“He was at the party.”
Olivia said, “Why?”
“I invited him.”
“You invited Julian Sterling to a child’s birthday party?”
“I wanted access to Sterling Capital.”
Olivia closed her eyes.
For once, Richard heard the stupidity of his own plan.
Mallory continued.
“There’s more.”
Richard turned.
“Maya has requested temporary sole custody.”
“She won’t get it.”
“The video will help her.”
“She has no income.”
“That may not matter.”
“She has nowhere to live.”
Mallory hesitated again.
Richard noticed.
“What?”
“Her attorney listed a temporary residence owned by an entity called Reed Family Services.”
Thomas Reed.
Richard cursed.
His phone vibrated.
Vanessa.
He ignored it.
The phone vibrated again.
Then a message.
We need to talk about Evelyn.
Richard stopped moving.
Olivia saw his face.
“What?”
Richard showed her.
Olivia’s complexion changed.
Mallory looked between them.
“Who is Evelyn?”
“No one.”
“Richard.”
“I said no one.”
Mallory gathered his papers.
“If there are facts you’re withholding that affect my representation, you need to disclose them.”
Richard said nothing.
Mallory walked out.
The second the front door closed, Olivia took Richard’s phone.
She called Vanessa.
Vanessa answered immediately.
“What have you done?”
Vanessa laughed nervously.
“Nice to hear your voice too.”
“Why are you mentioning Evelyn?”
“Because Maya asked me about her.”
Richard grabbed the phone.
“When?”
“Ten minutes ago.”
Richard’s stomach dropped.
“How did she contact you?”
“She didn’t. A lawyer did.”
“What did they ask?”
“Whether I knew Evelyn Bennett.”
“And what did you say?”
“What do you think I said?”
Richard paced.
“Listen to me very carefully. You never met Evelyn.”
Vanessa went silent.
“You understand?”
“Yes.”
“You never met her.”
“I said yes.”
“You never followed her. You never went inside her apartment. You never took anything.”
Olivia snapped, “Richard.”
Too late.
Vanessa’s voice changed.
“Why would you say that over the phone?”
Richard realized his mistake.
“Are you recording me?”
“No.”
“Vanessa.”
She hung up.
Richard stared at the phone.
Olivia stood.
“You’re losing control.”
He turned on her.
“This started because you told me Maya was harmless.”
“She was.”
“She left.”
“So?”
“She found Sterling.”
Olivia’s face became still.
Richard watched her carefully.
“You know something.”
“No.”
“Mother.”
Olivia walked toward the bar.
“You are upset.”
“You recognized the name Eleanor Ashbourne years ago.”
Olivia poured water.
Her hand trembled.
Richard saw it.
He had seen his mother face police, lawsuits, debt collectors, angry business partners and the death of his father without trembling.
“Who was she?” he asked.
Olivia placed the glass down.
“A foolish woman.”
“What did she have on us?”
“Not us.”
“Then who?”
Olivia looked at him.
“You need to focus on getting Lily back.”
“No. I need to know why Maya’s mother was photographing me before I ever met Maya.”
Olivia said nothing.
Richard’s breath caught.
He had never told his mother about the photograph because he had only seen it years ago, once, inside Evelyn’s apartment.
Olivia should not have known.
Unless.
Richard whispered, “You knew she was watching me.”
Olivia turned away.
He grabbed her arm.
“What happened to Evelyn?”
Olivia’s eyes snapped toward his hand.
“Let go.”
“What happened to her?”
“Let go.”
Richard released her.
Olivia smoothed her sleeve.
Then she said something that caused Richard’s fear to become something worse.
“Your mistake was not marrying Maya.”
Richard stared.
May you like
Olivia continued.
“Your mistake was believing the assignment ended when you married her.”
