Chapter 4 - The Mistress's Bargain
While I was cleaning house at Sterling Global, Vanessa was discovering exactly what it meant to back the wrong horse.
When the FBI raided Adrian's penthouse, they froze his accounts. Suddenly, Vanessa found herself locked out of the luxurious life she had traded her soul for. Her designer credit cards were declined. The condo Adrian paid for was seized. Desperate, she tried to flee the state, only to be intercepted by federal marshals at the airport.
I received the call from Julian Parker, the brilliant, sharp-eyed federal prosecutor leading the case against Adrian. Julian had been a godsend—relentless, ethical, and surprisingly compassionate regarding what I had survived.
"Victoria," Julian’s deep voice crackled over the phone. "We have Vanessa in custody. She’s terrified. She’s asking to make a deal, but she’ll only speak to you."
An hour later, I sat in the cold, fluorescent-lit interrogation room of the federal building. Vanessa sat across the metal table, wearing a wrinkled silk blouse, her mascara smeared beneath her eyes. She looked nothing like the smug woman who had cornered me in the bridal suite just days ago.
"Victoria," she sobbed the moment I sat down. "Please. You have to help me. Adrian forced me into this! I was just following his orders. He threatened me!"
I stared at her, feeling absolutely nothing. No anger. No sorrow. Just a cold, calculating emptiness.
"Adrian didn't force you into my bridal suite to mock me," I replied evenly. "Adrian didn't force you to help him forge my father's signature on the asset transfer documents. You did that because you wanted my life. You wanted my wealth."
Vanessa choked on a sob. "I can give you evidence! I know where he hid the backup ledgers. The physical hard drives. He didn't trust the cloud, he kept them in a safety deposit box under my sister's name. I'll give them to you, but you have to promise I get immunity."
Julian, standing by the two-way mirror, stepped forward. "We don't offer full immunity to co-conspirators. But if the information leads to a conviction, the judge will take your cooperation into account."
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Vanessa looked at me, pleading with her eyes. "Victoria, please. We used to be friends."
I stood up, buttoning my suit jacket. "The woman who was your friend died the first time Adrian laid his hands on her, and you turned a blind eye so you could keep buying designer shoes." I turned to the door. "Take the deal, Vanessa. Because when I take the stand, I am going to bury both of you."
