Chapter 6 - THE SECRET IN TESSA'S NAME
Richard's face remained on every screen.
Tessa stared.
“My father?”
Richard smiled.
“You don't remember him?”
“I don't know you.”
“You don't need to know me.”
He paused.
“You need to remember him.”
A photograph appeared.
Tessa stopped breathing.
It was her father.
Standing beside Damon Vale's father.
She had never seen that photograph.
“How did you get that?”
Richard laughed.
“Your father worked on the original Alder Crown construction.”
Tessa shook her head.
“My father was an accountant.”
“That is what he told you.”
The screen changed.
Documents appeared.
Engineering reports.
Bank transfers.
Photographs.
Tessa's father appeared repeatedly.
Not as an accountant.
As an engineer.
Her knees weakened.
Damon caught her.
“You okay?”
“No.”
Richard continued.
“Your father discovered the vault.”
Clara stepped forward.
“And he helped build it.”
Richard nodded.
“He also discovered what was inside.”
Damon's expression hardened.
“Stop.”
Richard smiled.
“Why? She deserves the truth.”
Tessa looked at Damon.
“Did you know?”
“No.”
“You're lying.”
“I swear.”
Richard interrupted.
“Your father didn't die naturally.”
Tessa froze.
Her father had died when she was sixteen.
Heart failure, according to the family.
“Richard.”
“He was murdered.”
Tessa couldn't breathe.
Damon stepped toward the screen.
“What do you want?”
“Control.”
“Of Vale Holdings?”
“Of everything.”
Richard's voice became colder.
“Your father found evidence that your grandfather and my father were involved in illegal construction contracts.”
Damon stared.
“My grandfather?”
“Yes.”
“That's impossible.”
“Nothing is impossible when enough money is involved.”
The screens went black.
Then one message appeared.
TESSA MONROE. COME TO THE ROOFTOP. ALONE.
Damon immediately shook his head.
“No.”
Tessa looked at him.
“He wants me.”
“He wants leverage.”
“He has my father's truth.”
“We'll get it another way.”
Adrian stepped forward.
“No.”
Everyone looked at him.
“He won't talk unless she goes.”
Damon glared.
“You're not helping.”
Adrian ignored him.
“Tessa needs to go.”
“No.”
Tessa interrupted.
“I will.”
Damon turned.
“Tessa.”
“I need answers.”
“I'll get them.”
“You've spent six years looking for your brother and didn't find him.”
That hurt.
She regretted saying it.
But she continued.
“I can't spend another six years wondering about my father.”
Damon stared at her.
Finally he said,
“Then I'm coming.”
“No.”
“Tessa.”
“If Richard expects me alone, he'll have cameras.”
Adrian nodded.
“Exactly.”
Tessa looked at him.
“You have a plan?”
“I always have a plan.”
Damon muttered,
“That has never been reassuring.”
They split up.
Tessa went to the rooftop.
Damon and Adrian took the service stairs.
Clara stayed below with security.
The rooftop doors opened.
Richard stood near the edge.
Chicago stretched behind him.
“You came.”
Tessa walked forward.
“What happened to my father?”
Richard looked at her.
“He found the ledger.”
“And?”
“He tried to expose everyone.”
“Who killed him?”
Richard's expression changed.
“Not who you think.”
“Then tell me.”
“Your father trusted the wrong man.”
Tessa swallowed.
“Who?”
Richard smiled.
“Damon's father.”
She felt sick.
“My father was murdered because of him?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did Damon never tell me?”
“He didn't know.”
That stopped her.
Richard continued.
“Damon was nineteen.”
Tessa stared.
“You're saying his father kept it from him?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because your father discovered something else.”
“What?”
Richard stepped closer.
“The Alder Crown wasn't built to be a hotel.”
Tessa's blood ran cold.
“What was it built for?”
“A private archive.”
“Of what?”
Richard smiled.
“People.”
“What does that mean?”
“Every powerful family in Chicago had secrets.”
He gestured toward the city.
“Your father created a system to store them.”
Tessa understood.
Blackmail.
Evidence.
Leverage.
The vault wasn't financial.
It contained secrets.
Richard whispered,
“And your father left something specifically for you.”
He handed her a small envelope.
Her name was written on it.
Tessa stared.
“Where did you get this?”
“From the vault.”
She opened it.
Inside was a handwritten note.
Her father's handwriting.
Tessa, if you are reading this, trust the man who tells you the truth even when it destroys him.
She looked up.
Richard was smiling.
“Now ask yourself.”
He pointed toward the rooftop door.
“Which man has lied to you the most?”
The door opened.
Damon stood there.
Tessa looked at him.
Richard disappeared over the opposite stairwell.
Damon ran forward.
“Tessa.”
She held up the note.
“Did you know?”
“No.”
“Did you know my father?”
“Yes.”
She stared.
“How well?”
Damon's face tightened.
“He saved my life.”
Tessa's voice broke.
“And you never told me.”
“I tried.”
“When?”
“After Meridian.”
“You tried?”
“I wrote you a letter.”
“Where is it?”
Damon looked away.
“I never sent it.”
“Why?”
“Because I was afraid you'd hate me.”
May you like
Tessa whispered,
“You should have given me the choice.”
