Chapter 13 - The Friend Who Knew EverythingMaya had been hiding the truth since the night Isa arrived in New York.
Isa stared through the window.
"Maya?"
Declan reached for the phone.
"No."
He stopped.
"Let her come."
Maya entered ten minutes later.
She looked terrified.
The missing pages were in her hands.
"I'm sorry."
Isa stared.
"Why?"
Maya placed them on the table.
"Because I lied to you."
The first page contained a list of payments.
The second contained names.
The third contained one photograph.
Maya's mother.
Isa looked up.
"What does your mother have to do with this?"
"She worked for your father."
Silence.
"She was the person who helped him disappear."
Isa felt betrayed.
"You knew?"
Maya nodded.
"Since college."
"How?"
"Because your mother contacted mine."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because she made me promise."
Maya's eyes filled.
"She said if you knew, you'd go looking."
Isa stepped closer.
"And now?"
"Now Victor knows."
Maya handed her the last page.
It contained a location.
The Vale family vault.
"Why bring this to me?"
"Because I found out who Victor really is."
Declan stared.
Maya looked at him.
"He's not just my mother's employer."
She swallowed.
"He's your father's brother."
Declan went still.
"My uncle died."
"That's what everyone was told."
Maya looked at Isa.
"Victor was disinherited after he tried to kill Richard."
Declan's face hardened.
"Why?"
"Because he wanted control of the Harrow accounts."
Isa stared.
"The money?"
"More than money."
Maya pointed to the final page.
"Political influence."
International accounts.
Private holdings.
Offshore trusts.
Enough power to control elections, companies, and governments.
The original ledger contained names.
People who would kill to keep those names hidden.
Declan looked at Isa.
"That's why your father was killed."
Isa nodded.
"And that's why you are in danger."
Maya took a breath.
"The wedding isn't just about the inheritance."
"What else?"
"The marriage ceremony completes the final encryption."
Isa stared.
"What?"
"The ledger can't be opened unless a Vale and a Harrow are legally married."
Declan understood.
"Then Victor can't access it without us."
"Exactly."
Isa looked at the clock.
Seven days.
Seven days until the wedding.
Seven days until every person connected to the ledger started hunting them.
That night, Isa and Declan sat on the balcony.
"I thought our biggest problem was you being my boss."
Declan smiled.
"So did I."
She rested her head against him.
"Do you still regret meeting me?"
"Never."
"What about sleeping with me?"
"That's definitely not a regret."
She laughed.
Then the smile faded.
"What happens after the wedding?"
"We find out whether we want this for real."
"And if we don't?"
"I'll let you go."
She looked at him.
"And if I don't want to?"
His eyes softened.
"Then I hope you'll stay."
The words settled between them.
No contract.
No billionaire.
No family.
Just two people who had met on a rooftop.
Isa leaned in.
Then her phone buzzed.
An unknown number.
A single photograph.
Her mother.
Alive.
Standing in front of a church.
Below it:
COME ALONE TOMORROW.
Isa's heart raced.
Declan saw the photo.
"You're not going."
"I have to."
"No."
"She's my mother."
"I'll come with you."
"The message says alone."
"Then we'll break the rule."
Isa looked at him.
"You promised not to control me."
"I promised not to control you."
He picked up his coat.
May you like
"I never promised not to protect you."
THE BILLIONAIRE SHE SLEPT WITH
