Chapter 2 - The Name at the Bottom of the PageNina stared at the page as if staring long enough might change the words.
It wouldn't.
Neither would my explanation.
The handwritten note was dated eleven months earlier.
Alec had proposed to Nina four months after that.
The note contained only a few lines.
Target has no known financial liabilities. Stable employment. Clean credit. Family connection may present strategic value.
Nina looked up.
“Target?”
Nobody spoke.
Her voice became louder.
“Why does this say target?”
Alec moved toward her.
“Nina, listen to me.”
She pulled away.
“Don't touch me.”
The words landed harder than a shout.
Heloise looked furious.
“This is absurd.”
I kept my voice calm.
“The note was found in an internal file during the acquisition.”
Alec looked at me.
“Acquisition.”
He said the word carefully.
“You've had the company for ten months.”
“Yes.”
“And you waited until tonight?”
“I didn't know about the file until today.”
That part was true.
Stonebridge had been conducting a deeper compliance review after irregularities appeared in one of Meridian's legacy portfolios.
We weren't investigating Alec specifically.
His name simply kept appearing.
And once his name appeared, so did Heloise's.
Nina looked at me.
“What did he want from me?”
Alec finally answered.
“Nothing.”
Bridget laughed bitterly.
“That’s not true.”
Heloise snapped, “Bridget.”
“No.”
Bridget's voice shook.
“You've lied enough.”
She reached into her handbag and pulled out her phone.
“I have messages.”
Heloise stood.
“You wouldn't.”
“I already did.”
She turned the screen toward Nina.
There were dozens of messages.
Between Heloise and Alec.
Some were months old.
One sentence appeared repeatedly.
Keep Nina comfortable until the paperwork is signed.
Another said:
Do not tell her about the covenant.
Nina's hands started shaking.
“What covenant?”
Alec looked at his mother.
Heloise looked at Bridget.
Then she looked at me.
For the first time, I saw panic without the makeup covering it.
I took another document from the folder.
“This one.”
Nina read it.
Her brow furrowed.
“Spousal guarantee.”
She looked at Alec.
“What is this?”
He sat down slowly.
“It was for a credit facility.”
“Whose credit facility?”
“Mine.”
“How much?”
He didn't answer.
I did.
“Eight million four hundred thousand dollars.”
The entire table froze.
Nina looked at Alec like she had never seen him before.
“You have eight million dollars in debt?”
“It isn't personal debt.”
Her eyes widened.
“That is not an answer.”
“It was tied to investment losses.”
“How much of that would become my responsibility if I married you?”
Alec's silence answered.
Nina looked at the page again.
Her fingers trembled.
“You wanted me to sign this.”
“It would have been part of the wedding documents.”
“What wedding documents?”
“Alec.”
I stopped him.
“Let her hear the full sentence.”
He looked at me.
“You don't get to decide.”
“No.”
I leaned closer.
“But Nina does.”
A long silence followed.
Then Heloise spoke.
“You're manipulating my son.”
I almost smiled.
“Your son signed documents.”
“He was under pressure.”
“Then why was he preparing additional documents in Nina's name?”
Heloise's face changed.
Nina saw it.
Her eyes snapped toward Alec.
“Additional documents?”
He whispered, “I was going to tell you.”
“When?”
He looked down.
“When it was too late?”
He had no answer.
Nina took off her engagement ring.
She placed it on the table.
The diamond made a tiny sound against the wood.
Alec stared at it.
“No.”
“I need space.”
“Nina.”
She stood.
Heloise grabbed her wrist.
“You will not embarrass this family.”
Nina looked at her mother's future in-law.
Then at the fingers holding her.
“Let go.”
Heloise did.
Nina turned toward me.
“Can we leave?”
I nodded.
We walked toward the elevator.
Behind us, I heard Alec say my name.
I ignored him.
The elevator doors opened.
Just before Nina stepped inside, her phone rang.
Unknown number.
She almost declined it.
Then she answered.
“Hello?”
Nobody spoke.
A faint breathing sound came through the receiver.
Nina frowned.
“Who is this?”
A distorted voice answered.
“Ask your sister what happened nine years ago.”
Then the call ended.
Nina stared at the phone.
I felt cold move through my chest.
Nine years.
I knew exactly what that referred to.
The year my life had changed.
The year I had nearly gone bankrupt.
The year someone had stolen my first major client.
The year I had learned that my oldest business partner had disappeared with six hundred thousand dollars.
And the year I had first heard the name Wentworth.
Nina looked at me.
“You know who that was.”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
I pressed the elevator button.
“Someone who knows my past.”
The doors closed.
May you like
And for the first time that night, I realized the threat wasn't coming from Alec.
Someone had been waiting nine years to reopen an old wound.
Related Stories
