Chapter 5 - THE FIANCÉE WHO SOLD HIS SECRETS
Grant didn't shout when he saw Vanessa standing beside armed strangers.
That frightened me more than shouting would have.
He simply handed the phone to Victor.
“Lock down the estate.”
Victor spoke into his radio.
“Security breach. Underground level. Seal all access points.”
I looked at Grant.
“Your fiancée brought them here?”
“Apparently.”
“Why?”
His face was unreadable.
“That's what I intend to find out.”
A loud metallic crash echoed from below.
Eleanor flinched.
Grant moved toward the door.
I caught his sleeve.
“Wait.”
He looked down at my hand.
“You don't have to protect me,” I said. “But you need to protect your grandmother.”
“I will.”
“And my sister.”
“Already handled.”
He paused.
Then added quietly, “I'm sorry about tonight, Emily.”
I stared at him.
“For the dance?”
“For all of it.”
The apology was simple.
No excuses.
No attempt to turn himself into a hero.
For some reason, that made it harder to dismiss.
Before I could answer, Victor returned.
“Vanessa's men have been contained. She's demanding to speak with you.”
Grant gave a cold smile.
“Then let's not disappoint her.”
Twenty minutes later, Vanessa sat in the estate's security office.
Her diamond earrings glittered beneath fluorescent lights.
Two guards stood outside.
She crossed her legs as Grant entered.
“Darling,” she said. “You're making a terrible mistake.”
Grant remained standing.
“Who sent you?”
Vanessa laughed.
“Honestly, Grant. You're being dramatic.”
He placed his phone on the table.
The security footage began playing.
Her smile vanished.
“Who sent you?” he repeated.
She looked toward me.
Then her expression twisted.
“This is because of her?”
“No,” Grant said. “This is because you brought armed men into my home.”
Vanessa leaned back.
“You think you're untouchable because your last name is Whitmore.”
“Answer the question.”
“Your father wasn't untouchable either.”
Silence.
Grant's face hardened.
“What did you say?”
Vanessa smiled slowly.
“Oh, Grant. There are so many things you don't know about your precious father.”
Eleanor entered behind us.
Vanessa's smile faltered.
“You,” Eleanor said, “have been meeting with Charles Mercer.”
Vanessa went pale.
Grant looked at his grandmother.
“Who is Charles Mercer?”
Eleanor gripped the back of a chair.
“Your father's oldest business partner.”
“I've never heard of him.”
“Because Thomas spent twenty years trying to erase his name.”
Vanessa suddenly stood.
“This conversation is over.”
Grant blocked the door.
“Sit down.”
She hesitated.
Then lowered herself into the chair.
Eleanor approached the table.
“Charles Mercer ordered Daniel Brooks killed,” she said.
My heart slammed against my ribs.
Vanessa looked at me.
Then laughed bitterly.
“You think that's the worst thing he did?”
I stepped forward.
“What do you mean?”
She tilted her head.
“Ask your precious grandmother why your father was really at the Whitmore estate the night before he died.”
Eleanor went completely still.
Vanessa smiled.
“Go on, Eleanor.”
May you like
Then she delivered the words that changed everything.
“Tell Emily why Daniel Brooks was planning to take Grant away from this family.”
