CHAPTER 5 THE WOMAN NAMED CHLOE
The phone stopped ringing.
But the name remained on the screen.
CHLOE.
Willow stared at it.
Derek stood frozen beside the hospital bed.
Neither spoke.
Outside the room, footsteps passed in the hallway.
A cart rolled by.
A nurse laughed quietly somewhere near the nurses' station.
Normal hospital sounds.
Normal life.
But inside Room 417, everything had changed.
Willow slowly looked up.
"Who is Chloe?"
Derek shoved the phone into his pocket.
"She's my secretary."
Willow's expression didn't change.
"Your secretary."
"Yes."
"The one who calls you before eight in the morning?"
"Sometimes."
"The one whose hotel room you paid for?"
Derek went pale.
Willow saw it.
She didn't need a confession.
She had already known.
Not consciously.
Not completely.
But somewhere deep inside herself, she had known for months.
Late nights.
Secret calls.
Passwords.
Perfume on his shirts.
Sudden business trips.
The emotional distance.
She had explained everything away because believing a lie was easier than accepting the truth.
"How long?" she asked.
Derek didn't answer.
"How long, Derek?"
"Willow, this isn't the time."
Her eyes hardened.
"You're right."
She pulled the blanket higher.
"This isn't the time."
Derek looked at her.
"Please."
"Leave."
"Let me explain."
"No."
"I made a mistake."
"You've used that word twice."
"I'm sorry."
"You're always sorry after you're caught."
Derek's face tightened.
"I never meant for you to find out like this."
Willow gave a quiet laugh.
"That's the first honest thing you've said."
Derek sat down.
"I was going to tell you."
"When?"
He looked away.
"Eventually."
"After Chloe had your child?"
His head snapped toward her.
Willow's voice was calm.
"She called you."
Derek said nothing.
"Is she pregnant?"
His silence answered.
Willow closed her eyes.
For several seconds, she simply breathed.
She had expected pain.
She hadn't expected emptiness.
There was no jealousy.
No rage.
Just a terrible realization.
She had spent years fighting for a marriage that had apparently ended long before she knew it.
"Derek."
"Yes?"
"Do you love her?"
He stared at the floor.
"I don't know."
"Do you love me?"
He looked up.
"Yes."
Willow nodded.
"Then why did you do it?"
"I was unhappy."
She looked at him.
"So you punished me?"
"No."
"You humiliated me."
"I know."
"You abandoned me."
"I know."
"You cheated on me."
"I know."
"You stole from me."
Derek's face changed.
"I didn't steal."
Willow looked toward the folder.
"The $750,000."
"I didn't steal that."
"Then where did it go?"
"I can't tell you."
"Why?"
"Because you wouldn't understand."
Willow stared at him.
"Try me."
Derek stood.
"Your father is involved."
The room became silent.
Willow's eyes narrowed.
"What does my father have to do with Northbridge?"
Derek realized too late that he had said too much.
"Nothing."
"You just said he was involved."
"I meant—"
"How did you know about my father?"
Derek stopped.
Willow slowly leaned back against the pillow.
"How did you know?"
Derek's mouth opened.
No words came.
Willow suddenly understood something.
"You knew who my father was."
Derek looked away.
"When?"
"Willow—"
"When?"
"About two years ago."
Her face went completely still.
Two years.
She remembered the exact period.
Derek had changed.
He had suddenly become interested in her investments.
He had started asking questions about her family.
He had begun talking about business expansion.
He had started calling her "smart" in a way that had never sounded like a compliment before.
"Two years ago," she whispered.
Derek nodded.
"How?"
"I found a letter."
"What letter?"
"It was in your study."
"My study?"
"Yes."
"Why were you in my study?"
"I was looking for something."
"What?"
Derek hesitated.
"Your financial statements."
Willow stared at him.
There it was.
The truth.
Not love.
Not curiosity.
Money.
"You went through my private documents."
"I was your husband."
"That doesn't give you the right."
"I was trying to understand our finances."
"You were trying to understand what I had."
Derek's jaw tightened.
"You hid your father from me."
"Because I wanted to."
"You lied to me."
"I didn't lie."
"You let me believe you came from an ordinary family."
"I never told you my father was ordinary."
"You knew what I thought."
"And you never asked."
Derek shook his head.
"You manipulated me."
Willow almost laughed.
"That's rich."
The door opened.
Richard entered.
He took one look at Derek.
"Time's up."
Derek stood.
"I need to talk to her."
"You've talked enough."
Richard stepped closer.
Derek looked at him.
"I made mistakes."
Richard's expression was ice.
"No."
Derek frowned.
"You made choices."
Derek swallowed.
"Mr. Ashford—"
"Don't call me that."
Derek froze.
Richard pointed toward the door.
"Leave."
Derek looked at Willow.
She didn't look at him.
He walked out.
The door closed behind him.
Willow stared at the ceiling.
Richard sat beside her.
"You knew."
Willow nodded.
"About Chloe?"
"Not everything."
"About your father?"
"Yes."
Richard sighed.
"I'm sorry."
She looked at him.
"For what?"
"For hiding too much."
"You were trying to protect me."
"I was trying to give you a normal life."
Willow smiled sadly.
"And I did have one."
Richard looked at her.
"Until Derek."
She nodded.
"I thought if I married someone who didn't know my last name mattered, I'd finally know whether he loved me."
Richard understood.
"And now?"
"Now I know."
A silence settled between them.
Then Jonathan entered again.
This time, he carried no folder.
He carried a laptop.
"Richard."
Richard looked up.
"What?"
"We found Elena Mercer."
Willow turned.
"Who is she?"
Jonathan opened the laptop.
A photograph appeared.
A woman in her early forties.
Dark hair.
Sharp eyes.
Elegant black suit.
Willow stared.
"I don't know her."
Richard looked at Jonathan.
"Tell us."
"Elena Mercer worked for Ashford Meridian eleven years ago."
Richard frowned.
"I don't remember her."
"You wouldn't."
Jonathan clicked.
"She was an internal compliance analyst."
Richard's expression changed.
"What happened to her?"
"She resigned."
"Why?"
Jonathan hesitated.
"She claimed she discovered financial irregularities."
"Where?"
"Inside one of the investment structures connected to Ashford Meridian."
Richard's eyes narrowed.
"Did I investigate?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"The investigation found nothing."
Richard leaned back.
"Who was leading it?"
Jonathan looked at him.
"You were."
Richard's expression hardened.
"Why didn't I remember her?"
"Because she was one of dozens of employees involved."
Jonathan clicked again.
"After leaving Ashford Meridian, Elena disappeared from the corporate world."
"Until Northbridge."
"Yes."
Willow looked at the screen.
"What does she have to do with Derek?"
Jonathan answered carefully.
"We don't know yet."
"Then why is her name on the company?"
"We don't think it is."
Richard looked at him.
"What?"
"The registered documents say Elena owns Northbridge."
Jonathan paused.
"But the corporate filing was made electronically using credentials that originated from Derek's office."
Willow's eyes widened.
"So Derek created the company."
"Possibly."
"Using her name."
"Possibly."
Richard's expression became darker.
"Find her."
Jonathan nodded.
"We're trying."
"Try harder."
Jonathan left.
Willow stared at the photograph.
Something about Elena's face bothered her.
Not because she recognized her.
Because she looked familiar.
"Have you ever seen her?" Richard asked.
"No."
"Are you sure?"
Willow studied the photograph again.
Then she shook her head.
"No."
Her phone buzzed on the table.
Willow reached for it.
An unknown number.
She answered.
"Hello?"
No response.
"Hello?"
A woman's voice finally came through.
"Willow Vale?"
Willow sat up.
"Yes."
"This is Elena Mercer."
Willow looked at Richard.
Richard immediately motioned for her to put the call on speaker.
She did.
"How did you get my number?"
"I've been trying to reach you."
"Why?"
"Because you're in danger."
Richard's face hardened.
"Who is this?"
Elena went silent.
Then she said,
"Richard Ashford."
Richard looked at Willow.
"How do you know my name?"
"I used to work for you."
Richard's eyes narrowed.
"Where are you?"
"I can't tell you."
"Why?"
"Because the people who took my company are still watching."
Willow's heart began beating faster.
"What people?"
Elena's voice dropped.
"Your husband isn't the person you should be afraid of."
Richard stood.
"Who should we be afraid of?"
Silence.
Then Elena said,
"Your father."
Richard froze.
Willow stared at him.
"What did you just say?"
Elena spoke quickly.
"Not because he betrayed you."
Richard's expression changed.
"Then why?"
"Because someone has been using his name."
Willow's breathing stopped.
"What does that mean?"
"It means the $750,000 wasn't stolen three years ago."
Richard looked at Jonathan's empty chair.
"It was moved."
"Moved where?"
Elena hesitated.
"Into a structure your father doesn't know exists."
Richard's face hardened.
"Who created it?"
Elena whispered,
"Someone inside Ashford Meridian."
The line went dead.
Willow stared at the phone.
Richard immediately called Jonathan.
"Get me every record connected to Northbridge Strategic Consulting."
Jonathan answered instantly.
"Already working on it."
"No."
Richard's voice was cold.
"I want everything."
"Understood."
"And Jonathan?"
"Yes?"
"Don't use the normal investigation team."
There was a pause.
"Why?"
Richard looked at Willow.
"Because if someone inside the company is involved, I don't know who I can trust."
He ended the call.
Willow stared at her father.
"Do you believe her?"
Richard didn't answer immediately.
Then he said,
"I believe she was afraid."
"That's not the same thing."
"No."
Richard looked at the hospital door.
"Which is why we're going to find out what she's afraid of."
Across town, Derek sat alone in his car.
He had parked three blocks from the hospital.
His phone buzzed again.
CHLOE: We need to talk. Now.
He ignored it.
Another message arrived.
CHLOE: I'm serious, Derek. I'm having this baby with or without you.
Derek closed his eyes.
He had once believed he could control everything.
His marriage.
His career.
His image.
His money.
His affair.
Now every part of his life was collapsing simultaneously.
Then his phone rang.
This time it wasn't Chloe.
It was his attorney.
Derek answered.
"Hello?"
The attorney's voice was tense.
"You need to come to the office."
"Why?"
"We received a notice."
"From who?"
"Ashford Meridian."
Derek gripped the steering wheel.
"What do they want?"
"The company has requested a complete forensic review of your consulting accounts."
Derek's heart began pounding.
"That's impossible."
"It gets worse."
"What?"
"They specifically requested records related to Northbridge Strategic Consulting."
Derek went completely still.
"Who told them about Northbridge?"
"We don't know."
Derek stared through the windshield.
Rainwater slid slowly down the glass.
Then he heard a woman's voice from behind him.
"Maybe I did."
Derek turned.
Chloe stood beside the driver's window.
She was crying.
Her blonde hair was wet.
Her hands were trembling.
"Derek."
He lowered the window.
"What are you doing here?"
She stared at him.
"You left me too."
Derek said nothing.
Chloe stepped closer.
"I'm pregnant."
"I know."
"And you were going to abandon me."
"I never said that."
"You didn't have to."
She wiped her face.
"You abandoned your wife."
Derek looked away.
"You think you won't abandon me?"
He didn't answer.
Chloe's expression changed.
"That's what I thought."
She turned.
"Wait."
She stopped.
Derek looked at her.
"What do you want?"
She looked back.
"The truth."
"About what?"
"Northbridge."
Derek's blood ran cold.
"How do you know that name?"
Chloe's eyes filled with tears.
"Because I saw the documents."
"What documents?"
"The ones you hid in the office."
Derek got out of the car.
"Chloe."
She stepped backward.
"You told me the money came from your wife's investment account."
Derek said nothing.
"You told me Northbridge was your company."
Silence.
"You lied to me too."
Derek's face tightened.
"I was trying to protect you."
"No."
Chloe shook her head.
"You were trying to protect yourself."
She reached into her handbag.
Then pulled out a small envelope.
Derek stared at it.
"What's that?"
Chloe held it toward him.
"I found this in your desk."
He didn't take it.
"What is it?"
"Read it."
Derek slowly took the envelope.
He opened it.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
His eyes moved across the page.
Then his face went white.
"What?"
Chloe stared at him.
"What does it say?"
Derek couldn't speak.
She grabbed the paper.
Read it.
Then looked at him.
"What is this?"
Derek finally whispered,
"I don't know."
Chloe shook her head.
"You're lying again."
"No."
"Then tell me why your name is on a document dated three years ago."
Derek stared at the signature.
It wasn't his.
But beneath it was a sentence that terrified him.
BENEFICIAL CONTROL TRANSFER — ASHFORD MERIDIAN PRIVATE TRUST
Derek looked up.
"What did I sign?"
Chloe stared at him.
"You tell me."
Neither of them noticed the black SUV parked across the street.
Inside, Jonathan Reed watched them through binoculars.
He lowered them.
His phone rang.
"Yes?"
Richard's voice came through.
"Did you find Derek?"
"Yes."
"And?"
Jonathan looked at Chloe.
"He's with the woman."
"Chloe?"
"Yes."
Richard was silent.
Then Jonathan added,
"But that's not the interesting part."
"What is?"
Jonathan looked down at the photograph he had just received.
A photograph of a document.
A document bearing Willow's forged signature.
And beneath it, another name.
A name Richard had not seen in twenty years.
Jonathan whispered,
"We found who was behind Northbridge."
Richard's voice became cold.
"Who?"
Jonathan looked through the windshield.
Then he said,
"Your former chief financial officer."
Richard froze.
"He's dead."
"I know."
"Then how is he signing documents?"
Jonathan didn't answer.
Because the evidence on his screen had already created a much more frightening possibility.
Someone had been using the identity of a dead man.
For three years.
And whoever was doing it had access to Ashford Meridian's most protected financial systems.
Jonathan looked toward Derek's car.
Then at the hospital.
Then back at the document.
"Richard," he said quietly.
"Yes?"
"I think this goes much deeper than Derek."
Richard closed his eyes.
For the first time, he understood that Derek Vale might not have been the architect of the betrayal.
He might have been only one piece of it.
And somewhere inside the empire Richard had spent forty years building, someone had been moving millions of dollars under a dead man's name.
Someone who knew exactly where Willow's money was.
Someone who knew exactly who her father was.
And someone who had been waiting three years for the perfect moment to make the money disappear.
The perfect moment had arrived.
Willow was in the hospital.
Derek was terrified.
And Richard Ashford was finally looking in the right direction.
May you like
But he was about to discover that the person closest to the truth was someone he had buried twenty years ago.
Or at least, someone he thought he had buried.
