Chapter 1 - THE WOMAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN
Andre studied Camille's face.
“What happened?”
She closed the folder in her hands.
“Your mother.”
His jaw tightened.
“What did she say?”
“That I’m trying to become essential.”
Andre gave a humorless laugh.
“She says that whenever she feels threatened.”
Camille turned toward him.
“Threatened by what?”
Andre hesitated.
That hesitation hurt more than Camille expected.
“I don't know,” he finally said.
“Yes, you do.”
He looked away.
Camille stepped closer.
“Andre, your mother has spent three years making it clear that she doesn't want me in this family.”
“She'll get over it.”
“No.”
The word was quiet.
Andre looked at her.
“She won't.”
Camille opened the folder again.
Inside were copies of contracts, bank transfers, corporate filings, and handwritten notes.
Andre frowned.
“What is that?”
“Something I found.”
“Where?”
“Your foundation office.”
His expression changed.
“You went through the foundation files?”
“I was asked to review the charitable accounts after your CFO resigned.”
“That was confidential.”
“So was the information I found.”
Andre reached for the folder.
Camille didn't give it to him.
“There are payments leaving Callaway Meridian,” she said, “and they're being routed through three companies that don't appear to have employees.”
Andre stared at her.
“Shell companies?”
“I believe so.”
“Who owns them?”
“That’s the problem.”
“I'll call legal.”
“No.”
“Camille—”
“Your legal department signed two of the contracts.”
Andre froze.
She watched the realization spread across his face.
For years, Camille had been the quiet one.
She had sat beside him at charity dinners.
Smiled through insults.
Remembered birthdays.
Avoided arguments.
Everyone assumed she was simply a gentle woman who had married into money.
Nobody knew what she had been doing before she married Andre.
Nobody knew about the company she had quietly built.
Nobody knew that her father had left her a failing regional freight company six years earlier.
And nobody knew that Camille had turned that failing company into one of the fastest-growing private logistics firms in the South.
She had sold it eighteen months before marrying Andre.
She had walked away with enough money to disappear forever.
Instead, she chose Andre.
And she had never told him the full amount.
Not because she wanted to deceive him.
Because she wanted one relationship in her life that wasn't based on money.
Andre reached for her hand.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I wanted you to love me without knowing what I owned.”
His eyes softened.
“I would have.”
“Would you?”
“Yes.”
She smiled sadly.
“Then why did you just look frightened?”
He didn't answer.
A knock interrupted them.
The door opened.
Lorraine stood there.
Her gaze moved from Andre to the folder.
“What are you two discussing?”
Andre immediately stepped between them.
“Nothing.”
Lorraine smiled.
“Good.”
She looked at Camille.
“Because tonight is supposed to be about my son.”
Camille returned her smile.
“Of course.”
Lorraine left.
Andre waited until the door closed.
Then he whispered:
“She knows.”
Camille shook her head.
“No.”
“She saw the folder.”
“She saw a folder.”
Andre looked toward the door.
“You don't understand my mother.”
Camille's expression hardened.
“I understand her perfectly.”
May you like
She opened the folder again.
“And tonight, I think we're going to find out exactly how much she has been hiding.”
