Chapter 6 - Victor Came for the Book, Not the Box

Victor Voss appeared at the bottom of the stairs.

No guards.

No coat.

Just a dark suit.

He looked at the open archive box.

Then at Julian.

“You disappoint me.”

Julian answered:

“I learned from you.”

Victor ignored him.

He looked at Luca.

“Give me the book.”

Luca frowned.

“The book?”

“Yes.”

“The box is here.”

“I know.”

Elena stared.

“What is in the book?”

Victor smiled faintly.

“That is the problem.”

Ruth stepped forward.

“There’s nothing else.”

Victor looked at her.

“You were always a bad liar.”

Luca opened The Count of Monte Cristo.

Front cover.

Back cover.

Pages.

Nothing.

Victor said:

“Your mother used that book for years.”

Luca looked at Elena.

She seemed confused.

“What are you talking about?”

Victor pointed.

“The spine.”

Ruth’s face changed.

Luca noticed.

“You know.”

She swallowed.

“Maybe.”

Victor’s smile disappeared.

Ruth took the book.

She ran one finger along the cloth spine.

Then pressed near the bottom.

A thin metal strip slid out.

Serena stared.

“What is that?”

Ruth unfolded it.

Microfilm.

Old.

Elena covered her mouth.

“I forgot.”

Luca looked at her.

“You forgot evidence inside the book?”

She almost laughed through tears.

“I hid many things while terrified.”

Victor stepped forward.

Julian moved between him and Ruth.

Victor stopped.

Luca asked:

“What is on it?”

Elena stared at the strip.

“The original ownership ledger.”

Victor’s face hardened.

Luca understood.

“The money.”

“Yes.”

“Who actually owned the companies.”

“Yes.”

“And?”

Elena looked at Victor.

“And who profited after I disappeared.”

Victor said:

“Old numbers.”

“Old crimes.”

“Old people.”

Luca looked at him.

“Still your name.”

Victor shrugged.

“Yes.”

Serena whispered:

“Dad.”

He turned.

“What?”

“You planned my marriage.”

“I encouraged a useful relationship.”

“You changed our family trust before we were engaged.”

“I prepared for possibilities.”

“You told me Elena was unstable.”

“She was dangerous.”

Elena laughed once.

“To your balance sheet.”

Victor ignored her.

Luca asked:

“Did you ever intend to tell Serena?”

“No.”

Serena flinched.

Victor continued.

“She was happier not knowing.”

Luca looked at her.

She looked back.

The same logic she had used on him.

It landed.

Hard.

Victor saw it.

“You understand.”

Serena shook her head.

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No.”

She stepped toward her father.

“I understand exactly why it was wrong.”

Silence.

Victor’s expression changed.

Serena continued.

“I did the same thing to Luca for six months.”

She removed the engagement ring.

Luca noticed.

She placed it on the archive table.

Not giving it back.

Not wearing it.

Victor stared.

“What are you doing?”

“Making one decision without you.”

Victor looked at Luca.

“You see what Elena does?”

Luca laughed.

“My mother didn’t remove that ring.”

Serena did.”

Victor’s eyes hardened.

Luca held up the microfilm.

“What happens if this is released?”

Victor answered:

“You destroy both families.”

Elena said:

“No.”

Victor looked at her.

“You destroy the version that made you rich.”

Luca asked:

“What happens to legitimate employees?”

Victor did not answer.

Julian did.

“Some companies survive.”

“Some don’t.”

“Thousands of people could be affected.”

Luca looked at him.

“So we audit before releasing everything.”

Victor smiled.

“Now you sound like me.”

Luca shook his head.

“No.”

“You hide first and explain later.”

“I investigate first and disclose what is true.”

Victor stared.

“Same thing.”

Elena whispered:

“No.”

“The difference is consent.”

Silence.

Luca looked at his mother.

Then Serena.

Then Julian.

Then Victor.

He handed the microfilm to Ruth.

“Make three copies.”

Victor moved.

Julian blocked him.

“Don’t.”

Victor stared at his son.

“You would choose him over me?”

Julian answered:

“No.”

Then looked at Serena.

“I’m choosing us over you.”

Victor’s face finally changed.

Not anger.

Fear.

Ruth walked toward the archive scanner.

Victor called after her.

“Ruth.”

She stopped.

He lowered his voice.

“You remember what happened to Antonio.”

Elena froze.

Luca turned.

“What does that mean?”

Victor looked at Elena.

Then Luca.

“Your father’s death was not natural.”

Silence.

Luca stared.

“My father died of a heart attack.”

Victor said:

“No.”

Elena went pale.

“What did you do?”

Victor answered:

“Nothing.”

Luca stepped closer.

“Then who?”

Victor looked at the open box.

“At the letter Antonio never sent.”

Julian frowned.

“What letter?”

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Victor smiled faintly.

“The one that explains why Antonio died five years ago.”