Chapter 1 - The Woman at the Door
Three hours before the attack, Olivia Bennett stood in the nursery folding a pair of tiny white socks.
Sunlight poured through the tall windows, illuminating two matching cribs positioned against a pale blue wall.
One crib held a pink blanket.
The other held a gray one.
Daniel insisted they wait until birth to learn the twins’ sexes, but Olivia had secretly bought clothes for every possibility.
She placed the socks inside the hospital bag and rested a hand on her stomach.
One of the babies kicked.
Then the other responded.
Olivia smiled.
“You two are already arguing.”
A soft knock came from the open nursery door.
Daniel stood there wearing a navy suit, his tie still undone.
“You’re supposed to be resting.”
“I am resting.”
“You’ve reorganized the nursery four times this week.”
“Five.”
Daniel walked over and kissed her forehead.
He looked tired.
For the last month, he had been preparing for a major restructuring of Bennett Holdings. The company had been founded by his grandfather and controlled dozens of commercial properties, investment funds and private medical facilities.
The company was worth billions.
But the family’s most guarded asset was the Bennett Legacy Trust.
Unlike the business, the trust could not be controlled by the board.
It could only be accessed by two trustees.
Daniel was one.
Olivia was the other.
She had not wanted the responsibility.
Daniel’s late father had amended the trust shortly before his death, naming Olivia because he believed she was the only person in Daniel’s life who did not care about Bennett money.
Since then, only five people knew the full access structure.
Daniel.
Olivia.
Family attorney Samuel Price.
Trust administrator Evelyn Shaw.
And Victor Hale, the chief financial officer of Bennett Holdings.
Daniel glanced at the hospital bag.
“You packed the documents?”
Olivia nodded.
“Medical records, insurance papers and emergency contacts.”
“The trust documents too?”
She looked at him.
“Why would we need those at the hospital?”
“We won’t.”
Daniel adjusted his cuff.
“But Samuel wants us to confirm the new security arrangement this afternoon.”
Olivia frowned.
“You said the meeting was next week.”
“It was.”
He hesitated.
“Victor found an irregularity.”
“What kind of irregularity?”
“A withdrawal request.”
Olivia’s expression changed.
“How much?”
“Forty-eight million dollars.”
She stared at him.
“Someone tried to withdraw forty-eight million from the trust?”
“The request failed.”
“Who submitted it?”
Daniel looked toward the nursery door before lowering his voice.
“It used my authorization credentials.”
Olivia’s fingers tightened around the baby socks.
“But you didn’t submit it.”
“No.”
“Then someone has your code.”
“Not the complete code.”
Daniel sat beside her.
“The trust uses split authorization. My sequence is useless without yours.”
Olivia felt a cold uneasiness move through her.
“Who knew about the request?”
“Victor discovered it.”
“And Samuel?”
“I told him this morning.”
“What did he say?”
“That we should change both codes immediately.”
Olivia watched her husband carefully.
“Do you trust Victor?”
Daniel gave a quiet laugh.
“I’ve known him since university.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
The smile faded.
Daniel looked down at his wedding ring.
“I trust the system.”
Olivia placed her hand over his.
“Systems are built by people.”
Before Daniel could answer, his phone rang.
Victor Hale’s name appeared on the screen.
Daniel answered.
“Victor?”
Olivia watched his face tighten as he listened.
“What happened?”
A pause.
“No. Don’t contact the board yet.”
Another pause.
“I’m leaving now.”
Daniel ended the call.
“What is it?” Olivia asked.
“Someone tried again.”
“The trust?”
“Yes.”
“This morning?”
“Five minutes ago.”
Olivia’s heartbeat quickened.
Daniel stood.
“I have to go to the office.”
“You said you’d stay home today.”
“I’ll be back before lunch.”
“Daniel…”
He knelt in front of her.
“Lock the doors after I leave.”
Olivia stared at him.
“Are we in danger?”
“No.”
The answer came too quickly.
He kissed her cheek and stood.
“I’m going to solve this.”
Daniel left the nursery.
A few minutes later, Olivia heard his car disappear down the driveway.
She walked downstairs and activated the front-door lock.
The security panel displayed a green message.
HOUSE SECURED
Olivia tried to ignore the uneasiness growing inside her.
She returned to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water.
At 9:17 a.m., the front-door bell rang.
The security monitor displayed a blonde woman in a cream coat.
Vanessa Carter.
Olivia did not open the door.
She pressed the intercom button.
“Daniel isn’t home.”
Vanessa looked directly into the camera.
“I know.”
“What do you want?”
“To protect you.”
Olivia almost laughed.
Vanessa had never protected anyone except herself.
She had worked with Daniel for nine years, first as a corporate attorney and later as the company’s director of strategic acquisitions.
She was beautiful, intelligent and skilled at making cruelty sound professional.
She had also spent years convincing everyone that she and Daniel belonged together.
Even after his marriage.
“You need to leave,” Olivia said.
Vanessa lifted a large brown envelope.
“Someone stole Daniel’s trust credentials.”
Olivia’s hand froze over the intercom.
May you like
Vanessa continued.
“And I know who did it.”
