Chapter 8 - Inside Nathan’s Office
Nathan’s executive assistant was Chloe Bennett.
Twenty-six.
Efficient.
Quiet.
Trusted.
She had worked for him three years.
Security logs showed her badge entering his office after hours.
Her computer accessed archived family documents.
Her account printed the bracelet correspondence.
When confronted, Chloe cried.
Victoria had paid her.
At first for calendar information.
Then for files.
Then for Nathan’s passwords.
“How much?” Brooks asked.
“Eighty thousand.”
Nathan looked sick.
Chloe whispered:
“My mother needed surgery.”
No one spoke.
Again.
Sympathetic reason.
Real harm.
Maya asked:
“Did Victoria tell you what she planned?”
“No.”
“Did you know she was trying to remove me?”
Chloe looked down.
“Yes.”
“Did that bother you?”
“Yes.”
“Did you stop?”
“No.”
Maya nodded.
That answer was enough.
Then Chloe revealed Victoria had been monitoring Nathan too.
His meetings.
His calls.
His private messages with Maya.
Why?
To know when he doubted his wife.
Then she would send a rumor.
A photo.
An anonymous complaint.
Every marital argument had timing.
Maya stared at the timeline.
Victoria was not merely lying.
She was managing emotional conditions.
When Nathan traveled, Maya was accused.
When Nathan returned stressed, another “discovery” appeared.
Stolen jewelry.
Missing cash.
A staff complaint.
Nathan looked at Maya.
“You were living inside a campaign.”
“Yes.”
“And I called it family drama.”
“Yes.”
He closed his eyes.
Then Chloe said something worse.
“Victoria asked me to change your prenup file.”
Nathan’s eyes opened.
“What?”
“She wanted to see whether Maya had any claim if you died.”
Maya went still.
Brooks leaned forward.
“Why?”
Chloe said:
“She said it was estate planning.”
“Did you send it?”
“Yes.”
The prenup showed Maya had no claim to Nathan’s premarital businesses.
But she did have a spousal residence interest and trust support if he died.
Victoria wanted that removed too.
Why?
If Nathan died before a divorce, Maya remained protected.
Victoria needed Maya gone from every path.
Nathan whispered:
“Was she planning to hurt me?”
No proof.
Yet.
Then Brooks found a file Victoria requested from Chloe.
Nathan’s medication list.
His allergies.
His travel routes.
Security schedules.
The room changed.
Maya looked at Nathan.
He looked pale.
Chloe started crying.
“She said it was for emergency planning.”
Brooks asked:
“Did you believe her?”
“No.”
“Then why send it?”
Silence.
Money.
Fear.
Momentum.
Then another search warrant.
Victoria’s laptop contained a folder:
PHASE TWO.
Inside:
Draft divorce petition.
Media statements about Maya’s “instability.”
Board memo questioning Nathan’s judgment.
And one final document.
If Nathan refused the estate sale, Victoria planned to force an incapacity review.
Medical affidavit already drafted.
Doctor:
Dr. Samuel Hart.
Nathan’s private physician.
Nathan stood.
“Call him.”
Brooks did.
No answer.
Then hospital records showed Dr. Hart had admitted himself to emergency care an hour earlier.
May you like
Reason:
Possible poisoning.
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