Chapter 8 - Victoria’s Suspicion
The investigator was hired six months before gala.
His instructions:
Identify Audrey Vance’s family assets, inheritance interests, business connections, and relationship to Aster Vale Capital.
My stomach tightened.
“So she suspected.”
Henry nodded.
“Not full ownership.”
The investigator found:
My late father’s name associated with Monroe Family Trust.
My attorney Sophia Sterling.
Sophia appearing in corporate filings for several entities.
Aster Vale counsel overlapping with one trust-administration firm.
Enough for suspicion.
The report stated:
Possible indirect financial relationship between Audrey Vance family office and Aster Vale. Unable to confirm beneficial ownership.
Victoria knew I might not be poor.
She said nothing to Dominic.
Why?
Messages.
Victoria to Paige:
Audrey may be hiding more than she claims.
Paige:
Money?
Victoria:
Possibly.
Paige:
How much?
Victoria:
Enough that Dominic should have known.
Then:
Do not mention until I confirm.
Victoria wanted information first.
Then investigator reported no accessible public value.
Victoria became angrier.
A text to friend:
She sits in my house pretending humble while probably laughing.
That was projection.
I never laughed.
Then why still push me out?
Because if I had money, Victoria feared I had influence she could not control.
She wanted Dominic tied to someone transparent.
Paige’s family looked wealthy, but their finances were easier for Victoria to understand.
Then one week before gala, the investigator sent Victoria a photograph of Sophia entering Aster Vale’s downtown office.
Next morning, Victoria texted Dominic:
Ask Audrey who Sophia works for.
Dominic:
She’s Audrey’s lawyer.
Victoria:
Exactly.
Dominic ignored.
Then gala night, before staircase, Victoria confronted me privately.
I had forgotten one line because everything after overshadowed.
She said:
“What exactly did your father leave you?”
I laughed.
“That is none of your business.”
She stepped closer.
“Everything in this family is my business.”
“No.”
Then:
“Are you connected to Aster Vale?”
I stared.
Maybe my face answered.
She realized something.
Then I told her:
“Dominic and I are ending.”
That combination.
Her suspicion about my money.
My decision to leave.
Perhaps she feared I would use influence against company.
She said:
“You leave with nothing.”
I answered:
“I’m not afraid of you.”
Then shove.
Did she push because she feared exposure?
Maybe.
Prosecutor would not overstate.
But motive included control.
Then another discovery.
Victoria had called Aster Vale’s main office three times over prior month, pretending to represent Dominic.
She asked who ultimate principal was.
Staff refused.
She did not obtain.
Then she ordered Paige to access Dominic’s investor files.
Paige did.
Not illegal if company consultant had access? Some files restricted. Audit showed she accessed a secure folder outside role using Dominic credentials.
Inside:
Beneficial ownership schedule sealed for board/legal use.
Had she opened?
Server logs:
Yes.
Timestamp:
The morning of gala.
Paige may have discovered me before party.
Did she tell Victoria?
Texts deleted.
Recovered fragment:
Paige:
You were right.
Victoria:
How much?
Paige:
Call me.
Then no more.
So Paige knew.
At least likely.
Yet she still stood on staircase and watched.
Why?
Because by then she may have believed if Audrey left, Dominic could negotiate with her.
She did not understand Audrey controlled voting majority independent of marriage.
Then Paige turned witness.
Her proffer:
She admitted she had accessed restricted file at Dominic’s direction? Actually Dominic gave credentials for presentation prep, not specifically this file. She browsed beyond.
She saw Aster Vale ownership schedule.
It listed:
Ultimate controlling interest: Audrey Monroe Vance, through Monroe Aster Holdings.
She called Victoria.
Victoria said:
“Do not tell Dominic tonight.”
Why?
“Let me handle Audrey.”
Paige understood Victoria planned confrontation but denied expecting violence.
Then Paige admitted she lied by omission to police.
She saw Victoria grab me.
She saw shove.
She was afraid because her access violations and affair would surface.
She agreed to testify.
In exchange, prosecutors considered reduced charge/possibly immunity for false statement/access if full cooperation; corporate audit separately handled employment/contract.
May you like
The last person to learn the truth was Dominic.
His mistress knew I owned his company before he did.
