Chapter 5 - THE ENGAGEMENT RING
Daniel returned home pretending nothing had happened.
Vanessa greeted him at the door.
She kissed his cheek.
“You're late.”
Daniel forced a smile.
“Business.”
Her eyes searched his face.
“Everything okay?”
“Perfect.”
Vanessa smiled.
“Good.”
She took his hand.
“I've planned something.”
“For tonight?”
“Yes.”
She led him toward the dining room.
Candles.
Champagne.
Flowers.
A violinist played quietly in the corner.
Daniel looked around.
“What is this?”
“Our wedding announcement.”
Daniel stared.
“We haven't announced anything.”
“I know.”
Vanessa smiled.
“But I thought we should.”
Daniel sat.
She poured champagne.
“To us.”
Daniel raised his glass.
“To us.”
They drank.
Vanessa leaned toward him.
“You've seemed distant lately.”
“Have I?”
“Yes.”
“Maybe I'm nervous.”
“About marrying me?”
Daniel smiled.
“Maybe.”
She touched his face.
“You have nothing to fear.”
Daniel almost laughed.
Those words were chilling now.
Vanessa reached into her purse.
“I have something for you.”
She placed a small velvet box on the table.
Daniel opened it.
Inside was a watch.
His father's watch.
Daniel's face changed.
“Where did you get this?”
Vanessa smiled.
“Your father gave it to me.”
Daniel stared.
“He never mentioned that.”
“He wanted me to have it.”
“When?”
“Before he died.”
Daniel's heart pounded.
“Why would he give you his watch?”
Vanessa's smile faded.
“Daniel, why are you questioning everything?”
“Because I want to understand.”
“You don't trust me.”
He looked directly at her.
“Should I?”
Silence.
Vanessa slowly stood.
“I think you're being influenced by someone.”
“Who?”
“Grace.”
Daniel's expression hardened.
“What did Grace do?”
“She manipulates you.”
“That's a serious accusation.”
“I've seen the way she looks at you.”
Daniel stared.
“She's my employee.”
“She wants more.”
“No.”
Vanessa's voice sharpened.
“She wants your money.”
Daniel stood.
“Enough.”
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“I love you.”
Daniel looked at her.
For the first time, he wondered whether she had ever loved him at all.
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
“Then answer one question.”
She waited.
“Who is Victoria Cross?”
The color drained from her face.
Daniel watched.
There it was.
The smallest reaction.
But it told him everything.
Vanessa stepped backward.
“Where did you hear that name?”
“Answer me.”
“I don't know anyone by that name.”
“Liar.”
She slapped him.
The room went silent.
Daniel touched his cheek.
Vanessa immediately covered her mouth.
“Oh my God.”
Daniel stared at her.
She began crying.
“I didn't mean to.”
He said nothing.
She rushed upstairs.
Daniel waited.
Then he called Marcus.
“Get the surveillance footage from tonight.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And Marcus?”
“Yes?”
“Don't let Vanessa leave the property.”
Five minutes later, Grace entered the room.
“Mr. Whitfield?”
Daniel turned.
She saw his face.
“What happened?”
“Vanessa hit me.”
Grace's eyes widened.
“She did what?”
Daniel looked at her.
“Tell me everything.”
Grace hesitated.
Then she whispered,
“She tried to bribe me.”
“When?”
“Yesterday.”
“What did she offer?”
“Fifty thousand dollars.”
Daniel stared.
“To do what?”
“To say you had been drinking heavily before the fall.”
Daniel's blood ran cold.
“Why?”
Grace shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Daniel understood.
The fake medical emergency.
The blood.
The fall.
Someone was preparing a story.
A story that Daniel was unstable.
Dangerous.
Unfit to control his company.
He walked toward the stairs.
“Where are you going?”
“To talk to my fiancée.”
Grace grabbed his arm.
“No.”
Daniel looked at her.
“She has something planned.”
Grace whispered,
“You don't know what she's capable of.”
Daniel turned.
“Neither does she know what I'm capable of.”
Upstairs, Vanessa's bedroom door was locked.
Daniel knocked.
“Vanessa.”
No answer.
He opened it.
The room was empty.
Window open.
Curtains moving in the wind.
On the bed was her engagement ring.
Beside it was a note.
May you like
Daniel picked it up.
You should have stayed sick.
