Chapter 8 - What Victor Believed
At Hayes Manor, emergency lights illuminated the ballroom.
Guests had been moved into the library while the estate accounts were reviewed.
Victor stood alone in his father’s study.
The acknowledgment document lay on the desk.
He read it three times, searching for the trap.
Kendra entered without knocking.
“You signed exactly what they wanted.”
“I acknowledged receipt. Nothing more.”
“You legitimized the default.”
“The default was already active.”
“You should have refused.”
Victor turned toward her.
“You told me the Zurich entities were secure.”
“They are.”
“Russell Kane had photographs.”
“He had one photograph.”
“He named four entities.”
Kendra poured herself a drink.
“Thomas Hartwell wants us to turn on each other.”
Victor crossed the room and took the glass from her hand.
“Why were you in Zurich?”
“To protect your company.”
“From whom?”
“From you.”
Victor stared at her.
Kendra’s confidence did not break.
“You were becoming sentimental,” she said.
“You mean I was questioning the plan.”
“You married Olivia.”
“That was always the plan.”
“No. The plan was to gain her trust, access the Hartwell inheritance, and force Thomas into a negotiation.”
“That is what I did.”
“You fell in love with her.”
Victor looked away.
Kendra smiled without warmth.
“You could not even answer her on the driveway.”
“There was no answer that would have helped.”
“The truthful answer would have destroyed the plan.”
Victor picked up the wedding ring Olivia had thrown before entering the SUV.
He had found it beside the driveway.
Water still clung to the diamond.
Kendra watched him turn it between his fingers.
“She called her father.”
“She had no one else.”
“She had you.”
“Not after tonight.”
Kendra moved closer.
“That is what worries me.”
Victor looked at her.
“What are you saying?”
“You were supposed to make Olivia hate Thomas Hartwell more than she hated you.”
Victor’s face changed.
“Why?”
“So she would never listen to him.”
“She already hated him.”
“Hatred weakens when people suffer together.”
Victor placed the ring on the desk.
“You knew Hartwell would move tonight.”
“I suspected.”
“You told me we had another week.”
“I needed the wedding completed.”
“Why?”
Kendra’s eyes shifted toward the portrait of Daniel Hayes.
Victor noticed.
He stepped toward the painting and pulled it aside.
The safe door stood slightly open.
He had closed it earlier.
Victor opened it fully.
Several files remained inside.
One was missing.
The blue file marked VOSS PROGRAM.
He turned slowly.
“Where is it?”
Kendra’s expression became unreadable.
“I don’t know.”
“You were the only person with the code.”
“So were you.”
“I was with Olivia.”
Kendra stepped back.
Victor grabbed her wrist.
“Where is the file?”
“Let go.”
“Did you take it?”
“Victor.”
“Did you know someone was coming for the Hartwell letter?”
Kendra’s silence was enough.
Victor released her as though she had burned him.
“You’ve been working with Voss.”
“I have always worked with Voss.”
“You told me he left the program after my father died.”
“He did.”
“Then why was he in Zurich?”
Kendra smiled faintly.
“You saw the surveillance report.”
Victor’s hand tightened.
“You placed it where I would find it.”
“You needed motivation.”
“For what?”
“To finish what Daniel started.”
Victor stared at her.
“My father wanted to expose the program.”
Kendra’s smile disappeared.
“No, Victor. Your father wanted to own it.”
A sound came from the hallway.
Both turned.
One of Victor’s guards entered.
“Sir, an unauthorized team breached the east wing.”
Victor moved toward the door.
“How many?”
“Four.”
“Armed?”
“Yes.”
Kendra reached into her evening bag and removed a small pistol.
Victor stared at it.
“You brought a weapon to my wedding?”
“I brought protection.”
“From Hartwell?”
“From everyone.”
A second guard appeared.
“They’re heading toward the bridal suite.”
Victor looked at Kendra.
“The letter.”
They ran.
By the time they reached the suite, the door had been forced open.
The room was empty.
The velvet box remained on the dressing table.
Victor opened it.
Inside was a folded envelope.
Olivia Hartwell was written across the front in faded ink.
Kendra reached for it.
Victor moved it away.
“Don’t.”
“That letter belongs to the investigation.”
“It belongs to Olivia.”
“Since when do you care what belongs to her?”
Victor looked at the envelope.
He thought of Olivia on the driveway.
Her face when she asked whether he had ever loved her.
He had wanted to say yes.
But yes would have been only part of the truth.
And partial truth had destroyed them.
Victor broke the seal.
Kendra raised the pistol.
“If you open that letter, there is no going back.”
Victor unfolded the first page.
The handwriting belonged to Olivia’s mother.
May you like
The first line made him stop breathing.
My dearest Olivia, if you are reading this, then Victor Hayes has already found you.
