Chapter 2 - The Woman in WhiteVanessa Carlisle was drinking water when Adrian entered.
Not whiskey.
Not trembling.
Water.
Controlled people always drank water when they wanted to look innocent.
“Adrian.”
She placed the glass down.
“This has gone far enough.”
He closed the door.
“You’re right.”
She relaxed slightly.
“Finally.”
“The wedding is canceled.”
The glass stopped halfway toward the table.
“What?”
“The wedding.”
He looked directly at her.
“It’s over.”
Vanessa stared.
Then laughed.
“You are not ending an eighteen-month alliance because a housekeeper tripped.”
“Emily didn’t trip.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Lucy watched you.”
“A three-year-old.”
“The cameras were disconnected.”
“That proves nothing.”
“The documents from my library were in the hallway.”
Silence.
Adrian stepped closer.
“What were you looking for?”
Vanessa’s hands tightened.
“I wasn’t looking for anything.”
“What did Emily catch you doing?”
“She didn’t catch me doing anything.”
“Then why did she end up unconscious?”
“She fell.”
Adrian nodded slowly.
“Good.”
Vanessa frowned.
“Good?”
“I wanted to know whether you would tell me the truth when given the chance.”
“What are you talking about?”
Adrian turned toward the door.
“You failed.”
Her composure cracked.
“Adrian!”
He stopped.
“You’re making an enormous mistake.”
“That remains possible.”
“My father will destroy every banking relationship you have in Europe.”
“Then he can try.”
“You think Moretti Logistics survives without Carlisle Financial?”
Adrian looked back.
“Interesting.”
“What?”
“You just stopped denying that tonight was about business.”
Vanessa went pale.
Before she could answer, Michael entered.
He carried a sealed evidence bag.
Inside was a small black flash drive.
“Recovered from Ms. Carlisle’s bathroom.”
Vanessa shot to her feet.
“That isn’t mine.”
Michael almost smiled.
“It was inside your toilet trap.”
She stared.
“House plumbing has become very informative tonight.”
Adrian held out his hand.
Michael gave him the bag.
A strip of white tape was attached to the drive.
Handwritten letters:
LM-7
Lake Michigan Route 7.
One of Adrian’s most sensitive private shipping corridors.
Only three people knew its internal designation.
Adrian.
Michael.
And Arthur Carlisle.
Vanessa’s father.
Adrian looked at her.
“Your father sent you.”
“No.”
“Try again.”
She said nothing.
Then Adrian’s phone rang.
Hospital.
He answered immediately.
“Yes?”
A doctor spoke.
Emily was conscious.
Adrian did not look away from Vanessa.
“I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
He ended the call.
Vanessa stepped forward.
“You cannot trust that woman.”
“Why?”
“She’s staff.”
The sentence landed differently than Vanessa intended.
Adrian’s eyes hardened.
“That is not an answer.”
“She could say anything.”
“So could you.”
“I’m going to be your wife.”
“No.”
May you like
He opened the door.
“You were.”
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