Chapter 7 - VICTORIA'S MASK SLIPS
The following morning,
morning sunlight poured through the massive bay windows of the living room.
The six-foot photograph of Victoria and Daniel still hung proudly above the fireplace,
catching the golden morning rays.
A loud pounding echoed against the front door.
Marcus walked over to the entryway and pulled the heavy oak door open.
Standing on the porch was Victoria’s mother,
Eleanor Vance,
looking disheveled and furious.
“Where is my daughter?” Eleanor demanded,
pushing her way past Marcus into the foyer.
“Where are her belongings? The police told me she was arrested because of your vindictive little stunt!”
Arthur stood up from his armchair,
leaning on his cane with quiet dignity.
“Your daughter is currently awaiting arraignment for grand larceny,
wire fraud,
and identity theft,
Eleanor,
” Arthur said coldly.
Eleanor scoffed,
waving her hand dismissively.
“Nonsense!” Eleanor snapped.
“Victoria is a refined woman of high society,
she wouldn't steal a paperclip.
”
“She was merely borrowing funds from her wealthy husband to support her entrepreneurial endeavors.
”
“Her wealthy husband?” I asked,
stepping down the stairs with my forensic audit folder in hand.
“Eleanor,
let’s talk about entrepreneurial endeavors.
”
“Did Victoria ever tell you about the five hundred thousand dollars she stole from the Sterling Family Foundation?”
“Or the luxury penthouse in Miami bought entirely with embezzled partnership capital?”
Eleanor blinked rapidly,
her aggressive posture faltering for a split second.
“That’s… that’s a malicious lie,
” Eleanor stammered.
“You are just jealous because Daniel never loved you,
he always preferred a woman of true class and sophistication.
”
Chloe let out a sharp,
cynical laugh.
“Class and sophistication?” Chloe mocked.
“Eleanor,
your daughter was photographed half-naked in my brother’s marital bed while his wife was cooking dinner downstairs.
”
“That isn’t class.
”
“That’s trashy soap-opera behavior.
”
Eleanor turned red with incandescent rage,
pointing a trembling finger at me.
“You ruined her!” Eleanor screamed.
“You should have kept your mouth shut,
taken the betrayal like a proper lady,
and let them handle it discreetly!”
“Instead,
you chose public humiliation.
”
“You chose destruction.
”
“Correct,
” I replied,
walking right up to Eleanor until we were standing eye to eye.
“When someone tries to burn down your house,
you don't offer them marshmallows.
”
“You hand them the gasoline and strike the match.
”
Eleanor gasped,
stepping backward as if struck by physical force.
Without another word,
May you like
she turned around and stormed out of the house,
slamming the heavy front door behind her.
