Chapter 8
The federal subpoena arrived the next morning.
Valemont Enterprises was being investigated for falsified financial statements and questionable transactions dating back five years.
Leonard entered an emergency board meeting wearing the expression of a concerned statesman.
“With Marcus distracted by a personal crisis,” he said gravely, “I recommend temporary executive leave. For his sake and the company’s.”
Several directors murmured agreement.
Marcus stared at him. “You want me to step aside?”
“I want you to save your family while I protect what your father built.”
It sounded noble.
It was a trap.
Marcus signed the temporary transfer of authority.
The next morning, Leonard approved the sale of two critical logistics facilities to North Bridge Capital Partners—at twenty-three percent below independent valuation.
Daniel showed Elena the documents.
“That’s Leonard’s shell company,” he said.
Elena stared at the signatures. “He didn’t want to protect Marcus’s company.”
“No.”
“He wanted Marcus’s signature on the transfer.”
“Exactly.”
Then another headline appeared.
ELENA VALEMONT SUSPECTED OF CORPORATE THEFT
Internal audit logs showed her old credentials accessing restricted files she shouldn’t have been able to reach. A transfer of thirty-eight thousand dollars appeared in a dormant consulting account still registered in Elena’s name.
Federal investigators requested an interview.
Elena sat in a government conference room with Juliana beside her, staring at fabricated evidence that was elegant in its cruelty—not enough to prove guilt, just enough to manufacture suspicion.
That afternoon, her doctor took her blood pressure three times, then looked at her with an expression that made Elena’s chest tighten.
“Mrs. Valemont, this cannot continue.”
“I can handle stress.”
“This isn’t about strength. If your blood pressure keeps rising, we may have to deliver early.”
Elena began crying.
At thirty-two weeks, her daughter was too small.
Too fragile.
May you like
Too unready for the world Elena had brought her into.
Back at the townhouse, Elena stared at the tiny clothes she’d packed and whispered promises she wasn’t sure she could keep.
