Chapter 9 - DEREK'S CONFESSION
Derek Pierce looked nothing like the man who had humiliated Noelle at the gala.
His suit was wrinkled.
His eyes were bloodshot.
And for the first time since Noelle had known him, he appeared afraid without trying to hide it.
They met inside a secure conference room arranged by federal investigators.
Noelle sat opposite him.
Gabriel stood behind her.
Derek noticed.
"Of course he's here."
"Noelle asked me to come," Gabriel said.
She hadn't.
But she didn't correct him.
Derek looked at her.
"I'm sorry."
Noelle felt nothing.
That surprised her.
"Which part?"
"All of it."
"That's convenient."
"I know."
He opened a folder.
Inside were records linking Henry Pierce to more than twenty shell corporations.
"My father started using Hearthline six months after we launched."
Noelle stared.
"You knew?"
"Eventually."
"When?"
Derek looked ashamed.
"The year before we broke up."
Her chest tightened.
"You let me take the blame."
"Yes."
Gabriel moved.
Noelle lifted one hand.
He stopped.
Barely.
Derek continued.
"My father told me if I confessed, he'd destroy you anyway. He had documents with your signatures. Access logs. Everything."
"You helped him create them."
"Yes."
Noelle swallowed.
"And Chloe?"
Derek laughed bitterly.
"She wasn't hired for donor relations."
"What?"
"My father hired her."
Noelle stared.
"Why?"
"To watch me."
Chloe had been Henry's employee before becoming Derek's mistress.
The revelation felt almost absurd.
"Did Chloe know about the money?"
"Some of it."
"Does she know you're testifying?"
"No."
Gabriel's phone buzzed.
He glanced down.
His expression changed.
"What?"
He turned the screen toward Noelle.
A live security feed from Derek's house.
Chloe was packing a suitcase.
Three men had entered through the garage.
Derek stood.
"Who are they?"
Gabriel looked at him.
"Not mine."
Derek reached for his phone.
Gabriel stopped him.
"If your father knows you're cooperating, he'll expect you to call her."
"But she's my wife."
Noelle watched Derek.
Despite everything, his fear looked real.
Gabriel called Marco.
"Get her out."
Twenty-seven minutes later, Marco found the house empty.
No Chloe.
No suitcase.
No men.
But they discovered a message written across the bedroom mirror in lipstick.
DEREK MADE HIS CHOICE.
Noelle stared at the photograph Marco sent.
Below the message was a second line.
NOW NOELLE MAKES HERS.
Gabriel immediately turned toward her.
"What does that mean?"
Noelle didn't know.
Then her phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
Chloe was crying.
"Noelle."
"Where are you?"
"I don't know."
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
A man's voice spoke in the background.
Chloe started sobbing.
Then she said something Noelle would never have expected.
"Henry doesn't want Gabriel."
May you like
A pause.
"He wants you."
