Chapter 3 - THE LAND BENEATH THE EMPIRE
The penthouse was not a hotel suite.
It was a privately held residence inside the resort tower.
My grandmother had left it to me.
Julian knew I used it.
He apparently never bothered to learn why he could not sell it.
Miriam showed me the transfer request.
My signature sat at the bottom.
It looked almost perfect.
Almost.
“I didn’t sign this.”
“We know.”
The notary was one of Julian’s golf partners.
Dad’s face went hard.
“That changes this.”
“How?”
“This is no longer just adultery and corporate arrogance.”
Miriam answered for him.
“It may be fraud.”
At 1:05 a.m., Vanessa discovered the same problem.
She had ordered the staff to bring champagne to “her new penthouse.”
The night manager arrived instead.
“Ms. Cross, I need the emerald pendant.”
She laughed.
“Excuse me?”
“It is listed in the Laurent family collection.”
Julian stepped between them.
“Get out.”
The manager did not move.
“Sir, the collection custodian has requested its return.”
Vanessa touched the emerald.
“Julian gave it to me.”
“It was not his to give.”
For the first time, she looked at Julian differently.
Not lovingly.
Calculating.
“You said it belonged to your family.”
Julian lowered his voice.
“It does.”
The manager glanced at his screen.
“No, sir.”
Then he said my full legal name.
Elena Laurent Vale.
Vanessa’s hand slowly fell from the necklace.
May you like
She had never known Laurent was anything more than my middle name.
