Chapter 5 - THE WOMAN WHO WANTED THE ASHCROFT NAME
Victoria Bowmont entered the Ashcroft family office wearing a white coat and an expression of perfect innocence.
Nathaniel was waiting.
Clare stood beside him.
So did an independent attorney.
Victoria stopped.
“Oh.”
She looked at Clare.
“How unexpectedly dramatic.”
Nathaniel didn't smile.
“We need to discuss the pharmaceutical assistance records.”
Victoria raised an eyebrow.
“Which records?”
“Margaret Whitmore.”
For the first time, Victoria's composure slipped.
Only slightly.
But Clare saw it.
Victoria set down her handbag.
“That name doesn't mean anything to me.”
Clare stepped forward.
“Then why did you access my mother's file eleven times?”
Victoria's eyes hardened.
“Because it was flagged for review.”
“By whom?”
“Compliance.”
“Which compliance officer?”
Victoria looked toward Nathaniel.
“Are you really allowing her to interrogate me?”
Nathaniel's voice remained calm.
“She deserves an explanation.”
Victoria laughed.
“Clare is a distraction, Nathaniel.”
“No.”
“She doesn't understand what our families have built.”
“Neither do you, apparently.”
Victoria's expression changed.
The attorney placed several documents on the table.
“Ms. Bowmont, investigators are examining the authorization trail. You're free to provide a statement through counsel.”
Victoria stared at the documents.
Then smiled.
“You think this is about one hospital bill?”
Clare felt cold.
“What is it about?”
Victoria stepped closer.
“Your mother discovered something she wasn't supposed to find.”
Silence.
Clare's heart hammered.
“What?”
“An internal research program.”
Nathaniel looked sharply at her.
“Victoria, what program?”
She hesitated.
Then laughed softly.
“You really don't know.”
Nathaniel's jaw tightened.
“Tell me.”
Victoria looked toward Clare.
“Your mother wasn't merely a patient.”
Clare felt the room tilt.
“What are you saying?”
“She had worked as a consultant for a research ethics committee.”
Clare stared.
Her mother had occasionally reviewed educational materials for patient advocacy groups.
But she'd never mentioned Ashcroft Holdings.
Victoria continued.
“She raised concerns about how vulnerable patients were recruited into a private treatment initiative.”
Nathaniel stepped forward.
“What initiative?”
Victoria's smile disappeared.
Then she whispered a name.
“Project Meridian.”
Nathaniel went still.
Clare noticed immediately.
“You recognize it?”
He looked devastated.
“My father told me Meridian was shut down years ago.”
Victoria gave a bitter laugh.
“It wasn't.”
Clare swallowed.
“Then what happened?”
Victoria looked toward the door.
Then said something that made Nathaniel's blood run cold.
“Your father moved the entire program into a company registered under Clare Whitmore's name.”
Clare stared at her.
“That is impossible.”
May you like
Victoria smiled.
“Then explain why your signature appears on the ownership documents.”
