Chapter 11
Marcus entered Juliana’s conference room and immediately tensed when he saw Daniel Cross.
“What is he doing here?”
Elena’s voice was steady. “Sit down.”
Once, Marcus would have demanded obedience.
This time, he sat.
Daniel laid out the evidence like a prosecutor building a case.
Patrick Valemont’s secret investigation.
Leonard’s insurance windfall.
North Bridge Capital.
Payments to Sienna.
Administrative overrides.
Then the recordings.
Marcus listened to Leonard’s voice—the man he’d trusted, the man he’d called family—calmly discussing how to destroy his marriage.
Once Marcus signs temporary control, North Bridge gets the assets and Sienna takes the blame.
Marcus’s face drained of color. “No.”
Elena looked at him. “That was my reaction too.”
Marcus walked to the window.
Leonard had tied his necktie the morning of Patrick’s funeral because Marcus’s hands shook too badly. Had coached him through his first board presentation. Had held him when Elena lost their second baby.
Now every memory felt contaminated.
“I’m going to see him,” Marcus said quietly.
“No.”
He turned.
“He destroyed my father’s company—”
“He wants you angry,” Elena interrupted.
“He destroyed our marriage.”
“No.”
The word stopped him.
Elena stood. “Leonard built the trap. Sienna helped. But you walked into that hotel room.”
Marcus lowered his eyes.
“If you blame Leonard for what you did to me, he still controls you.”
Silence stretched between them.
May you like
Finally, Marcus whispered, “What do you want me to do?”
Daniel answered. “Let him think he won.”
