Chapter 4 - THE FUTURE JULIAN NEVER INTENDED TO SHARE
Vanessa arrived at six carrying white lilies and wearing the cream coat Arthur bought her for their anniversary.
She kissed his cheek while a camera hidden near the television recorded the room.
Detective Brooks and Michael watched from the consultation room next door.
Vanessa sat beside the bed.
“Julian said you wanted to discuss the company.”
“I wanted to make sure you were protected,” Arthur said.
Her shoulders relaxed.
“You don’t have to worry. Julian has prepared everything.”
Arthur let several seconds pass.
“Did he prepare the pills too?”
Vanessa’s hand stopped over his blanket.
“You’re confused.”
“No.”
“The doctors warned me this could happen.”
“The new doctors found the medication.”
Fear appeared in her eyes before anger covered it.
“You have no idea what they found.”
“You told me what I was given.”
Vanessa looked toward the door.
Arthur continued.
“I changed the trust.”
She turned back slowly.
“What?”
“You inherit nothing. Julian has no authority. The company shares are protected.”
The warmth vanished from her face.
“You cannot do that.”
“I did.”
“I am your wife.”
“You were my wife when you poisoned me.”
Vanessa stood.
“You were supposed to sign the authorization.”
“Why?”
“So the company wouldn’t fall apart.”
“Or so Julian could move the money before anyone audited Northline?”
She stared at him.
Arthur understood immediately.
Vanessa had not known the company name.
“What is Northline?” she asked.
“Ask Julian.”
Her voice became sharper.
“He told me the company was clean.”
“He lied.”
“No. He said your illness created temporary cash-flow pressure.”
“He has stolen millions.”
Vanessa’s face changed as she tried to rebuild the story she had trusted.
Arthur spoke carefully.
“He booked a one-way flight.”
“To Malibu?”
“Portugal.”
She shook her head.
“You’re trying to turn us against each other.”
“The ticket was for one passenger.”
Vanessa pressed both hands against the bedrail.
“He wouldn’t.”
“You believed he planned to share my fortune.”
“He loves me.”
“He prepared a company to receive my voting rights. You own none of it.”
For the first time, Arthur saw uncertainty deeper than fear of arrest.
Vanessa had destroyed her marriage for a future that had never existed.
She moved toward the window.
“Julian said we needed your estate to replace money he borrowed temporarily.”
“He said ‘borrowed’?”
“He was going to return it.”
“When?”
“After the sale.”
“What sale?”
Vanessa stopped.
Arthur had not known about a sale.
She realized her mistake.
Julian planned to use the emergency authorization to sell Vance Commercial’s distribution division to a private buyer. The transaction would provide enough cash to conceal the vendor losses and finance his escape.
Thousands of jobs would have been affected.
“You knew he planned to sell part of the company?” Arthur asked.
“He said the division was failing.”
“It is profitable.”
“He showed me reports.”
“Reports he created.”
Vanessa covered her mouth.
The door opened.
Julian stepped inside carrying a leather portfolio.
Vanessa looked at him as though he were the only person who could restore the life Arthur had just dismantled.
“Tell him,” she demanded.
Julian’s eyes moved from Vanessa to the monitor and then toward the television.
He noticed the camera lens.
“Vanessa,” he said quietly, “we should leave.”
“You booked a flight without me.”
His expression did not change.
May you like
Arthur saw the answer before Vanessa did.
Julian had never expected her to survive the investigation with him.
