Chapter 5 - The Twenty-Two Percent

The original statement was four pages.

Damien read every word.

Nobody interrupted him.

I watched his face.

Anger first.

Then disbelief.

Then something quieter.

Grief.

Alessandro Vale had discovered that Victor was moving money out of the family company.

Small amounts.

Then larger ones.

Shell companies.

False consulting contracts.

Properties purchased under other names.

Marcus Vane had protected the transfers.

Thomas Bell had processed some of them.

Clara Rossi had discovered them.

That was why Alessandro created the private trust.

Twenty-two percent of Vale Holdings.

Locked away.

For Damien.

Untouchable by Victor.

Damien reached the final paragraph.

He read it aloud.

“If Victor learns the trust exists, Damien becomes the obstacle.”

Silence.

Maria closed her eyes.

Damien continued reading.

“If I die, protect my son before you protect my name.”

He stopped.

His voice failed.

Nobody moved.

Maria whispered:

“That is why I left.”

Damien looked at her.

“You left because of the shares?”

“No.”

“I left because Victor knew you were the beneficiary.”

Damien frowned.

“How?”

Clara answered.

“I told him.”

Elena stared at her mother.

Maria did not look surprised.

Damien did.

“You told Victor?”

Clara nodded.

“The night Alessandro died.”

“Why?”

“Because Victor already knew I was trustee.”

“He came to my house.”

“He had a photograph of Elena sleeping.”

Elena froze.

Clara looked at her daughter.

“You were eleven.”

Elena’s face changed.

Clara continued.

“He told me I could protect my child or protect yours.”

Damien said nothing.

Clara looked at him.

“I chose mine.”

The honesty hurt more than another lie.

Damien looked down.

“You gave him the trust information.”

“Yes.”

“But not the shares.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because Alessandro had structured it so I could not transfer them alone.”

Bell nodded.

“There were two trustees.”

Damien looked at him.

“Who was the second?”

Bell pointed toward Mr. Stern.

Everyone turned.

The old jeweler stared.

“What?”

Bell looked confused.

“You didn’t know?”

Mr. Stern shook his head.

“I designed jewelry.”

Bell opened another document.

Isaac Stern.

Contingent trustee.

Mr. Stern adjusted his glasses.

He read it.

Then looked at Maria.

“Alessandro never told me.”

Maria gave a faint smile.

“That was probably why he chose you.”

Damien looked at the jeweler.

“You’ve been protecting twenty-two percent of my company without knowing it.”

Mr. Stern sighed.

“I preferred diamonds.”

For the first time that night, Damien laughed.

Only once.

Then it was gone.

Julian reviewed the trust.

“Clara could not move the shares without Stern.”

“And Stern could not move them without Clara.”

Bell nodded.

“That was the point.”

Damien looked at Elena.

“Then why the marriage?”

Elena closed her eyes.

Clara answered.

“Because the trust had another condition.”

Damien’s expression hardened.

“What condition?”

Bell turned to the last page.

“If Damien dies without legal heirs, the shares return to the Vale family holding structure.”

Damien stared.

Clara continued.

“If Damien married Elena…”

Elena whispered:

“Stop.”

Clara looked at her daughter.

“…and they had a child, the trust would remain inside their household even if something happened to him.”

Damien stood slowly.

Elena began crying.

“I did not know that when we started dating.”

Damien looked at her.

“When did you know?”

“Last year.”

“Before I proposed.”

“Yes.”

“And you stayed.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Elena stepped forward.

“Because I loved you before I knew about any trust.”

Damien’s face did not change.

“But you knew my mother was alive.”

“Yes.”

“You knew your mother had been connected to my father’s death.”

“I knew she had signed papers.”

“You knew my engagement ring was my mother’s.”

“Yes.”

Elena’s voice broke.

“But I didn’t know Victor killed your father.”

Maria looked at her.

“I never told you that.”

Elena nodded.

“You only told me you were afraid of him.”

Damien stared.

“You met my mother.”

“Once.”

“Where?”

“In Florence.”

“Why?”

Elena looked at Clara.

“Because I found a box in my mother’s office.”

Clara went pale.

Elena continued.

“Letters.”

“Bank records.”

“A photograph of Maria.”

“And a train ticket.”

“I followed the address.”

Damien’s voice softened slightly.

“What did my mother tell you?”

Elena looked at Maria.

“That if I loved you, I should tell you the truth before you put a ring on my hand.”

Damien’s face changed.

Elena’s tears fell.

“I didn’t.”

“No.”

“I was afraid if I told you, you would leave me.”

Damien looked at the diamond on the table.

“And now?”

Elena took one breath.

“Now I think you should.”

Silence.

She removed a thin gold bracelet.

Placed it beside the ring.

Damien frowned.

“What is that?”

Elena turned it over.

A number was engraved inside.

214.

Same as the brass key.

Maria stared.

Clara whispered:

“Elena.”

Elena looked at Damien.

“My mother gave me this when I turned eighteen.”

“I thought it was a date.”

“It isn’t.”

Julian picked up the brass key.

“Box 214.”

Elena nodded.

“There are two keys.”

Damien looked at Clara.

“You had one.”

Elena shook her head.

“No.”

“She had both.”

Everyone stared.

Elena looked toward the bracelet.

“She hid the second inside this.”

Mr. Stern examined the clasp.

He pressed it with his thumbnail.

A tiny metal key slid free.

Damien looked at it.

“Why two keys?”

Julian answered.

“Because whatever is in box 214 requires two people to open it.”

Damien looked at Clara.

“Who were those two people supposed to be?”

Clara’s voice was almost a whisper.

May you like

[COMPLETED] “GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY DRESS! YOU’RE NOTHING BUT AN OLD SEAM...

[COMPLETED] At the Mafia Boss's Engagement Party, I Served His Hungry So...

[COMPLETED] The Mafia Boss’s Fiancée Tried to Dismiss His Father’s Loyal...

“Maria.”

“And me.”