Chapter 6 - The Fiancée's Dangerous Proposal
Vanessa Cole had never been a woman who accepted losing gracefully.
She had grown up watching her mother beg wealthy men for invitations, favors, and second chances. By twenty-six, Vanessa had learned that beauty opened doors, but money decided which doors stayed open.
Alex Whitmore represented the kind of security she had always wanted.
Elena Ashford represented something even better.
A threat that could be turned into an opportunity.
“The engagement was arranged by our families,” Vanessa explained, folding her arms. “The announcement was supposed to happen tonight. Alex has been rather distracted lately.”
Elena looked at him.
“Is that true?”
Alex exhaled.
“My father and Vanessa's father signed a preliminary agreement. It was a business arrangement, not a marriage contract.”
“Preliminary?” Vanessa repeated sharply. “You promised me.”
“I promised to discuss it.”
“You said we would be married before Christmas.”
Elena noticed the desperation beneath Vanessa's anger. It wasn't simply jealousy. Vanessa seemed frightened of losing something much more important than Alex.
“What happens if the engagement is canceled?” Elena asked.
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“Nothing you need to worry about.”
“Then you won't mind explaining.”
For a moment, Vanessa said nothing.
Then she leaned toward Elena.
“My father owes Whitmore Holdings a fortune. If Alex marries me, the debt disappears. If he doesn't, my family loses everything.”
Alex stared at her.
“You never told me that.”
“You never asked.”
“You told me your father wanted us together because he admired my family.”
“He does admire your family. He also knows what your father can do to people who disappoint him.”
Elena watched the exchange carefully.
The Whitmores were using marriage to control the Coles. The Coles were using marriage to escape debt. And Alex, who had treated people like disposable entertainment, was finally discovering what it felt like to be treated like property.
“Vanessa,” Elena said, “if you want financial help, ask for it honestly. Don't pretend a forced marriage is love.”
Vanessa's eyes flashed.
“You don't know anything about love.”
“Perhaps not. But I know the difference between a contract and a promise.”
Vanessa turned to Alex.
“If you walk away from me, my father will destroy your company.”
Alex gave a humorless laugh.
“My father owns the company. He can destroy it himself.”
Then he walked to the door.
Vanessa's voice followed him.
“You'll regret this!”
Alex stopped.
“No. I regret making a joke out of a woman I didn't know. I regret believing money made me important. But I won't regret refusing to marry someone I don't love.”
He left.
Elena followed, but Vanessa remained in the office, staring at the closed door.
Then her expression changed.
She pulled a phone from her purse and called an unknown number.
“He's chosen her,” Vanessa whispered. “Exactly as you predicted.”
A man's voice answered.
“Good.”
“What do you mean, good?”
“Let them get close.”
Vanessa looked toward the windows.
“Why?”
The man chuckled softly.
“Because Elena Ashford is about to discover that Alex's mother wasn't murdered to protect a business secret.”
He paused.
May you like
“She was murdered to protect a child.”
And when he named that child, Vanessa's hand began to shake.
