Chapter 4 - The Charity Gala Was Never About Charity

Damian looked at Bianca.

“Did you know?”

“No.”

The answer came too fast.

He stared.

She corrected herself.

“I knew my father was worried about the foundation accounts.”

“That is not the same question.”

“No.”

“Did you know money was moving tonight?”

She looked at Charles.

Then back at Damian.

“I knew there was a transfer scheduled.”

“How much?”

“I did not know.”

“Did you know Julian was involved?”

“No.”

Charles whispered:

“Bianca.”

She turned on him.

“No.”

Her voice shook.

“You have spoken for me enough.”

Silence.

Damian watched her.

Bianca continued.

“Three months ago, Dad told me Victor was alive.”

“Yes.”

“He said Victor’s return could expose old foundation transactions.”

“Yes.”

“He told me Julian might come after you if Victor returned.”

Damian frowned.

“And you believed him.”

“Yes.”

“That is why you told my father I probably hated him.”

Tears filled her eyes.

“Yes.”

“Because you thought keeping him away protected me.”

“Yes.”

Damian nodded once.

“I understand.”

She looked surprised.

Then he added:

“I still hate that you did it.”

Her face fell.

“I know.”

Victor picked up the recent transfer.

“Julian needs the gala because donations create volume.”

Theodore nodded.

“Dozens of legitimate transfers.”

Damian looked at Charles.

“You knew.”

Charles answered:

“I suspected.”

“You hosted the gala anyway.”

“It was already announced.”

Damian laughed quietly.

“That is your defense?”

“No.”

Charles looked at Bianca.

“I wanted Julian to think nothing had changed.”

Victor stared.

“You were watching him.”

“Yes.”

“For whom?”

Charles hesitated.

Damian noticed.

“Who are you working with?”

Charles looked toward Theodore.

The archivist’s expression changed.

Theodore whispered:

“Charles.”

Damian looked between them.

“What?”

Theodore took off his glasses.

“I contacted him two months ago.”

Damian stared.

“You?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because the passport record appeared in a restricted archive request.”

Victor frowned.

“What request?”

“Someone searched for Michael Grant.”

Damian looked at his father.

“Who?”

Theodore answered:

“Julian Vale.”

Silence.

Victor’s face tightened.

“So he found me.”

“Almost.”

Charles continued.

“Theodore warned me.”

“And you warned Bianca.”

“Yes.”

Bianca stared.

“You told me Victor contacted you.”

“He did.”

“But that was not why you told me.”

“No.”

“You used me to reach Damian.”

Charles lowered his head.

“Yes.”

Damian looked at Theodore.

“You came to the gala because you knew Julian was searching for the passport.”

“Yes.”

“Why bring it physically?”

“Because the digital archive was compromised.”

“And you trusted a charity gala?”

“No.”

Theodore looked at me.

“I trusted the service entrance.”

Everyone turned toward me.

I blinked.

“You knew I worked here?”

Theodore smiled sadly.

“Your aunt worked at the National Archives.”

I froze.

“My aunt?”

“Margaret Bennett.”

I knew the name.

My father’s older sister.

Dead five years.

I stared.

“She knew you?”

Theodore nodded.

“She processed Victor’s protected identity file.”

Victor looked surprised.

Damian did too.

I swallowed.

“My aunt never told me.”

“She was not allowed to.”

Theodore continued.

“Before she died, she gave me one instruction.”

“What?”

“If Victor Vale’s identity was ever searched from inside the Vale network, do not use official channels.”

Damian’s eyes narrowed.

“Why?”

“Because she believed someone inside the company had access to sealed government metadata.”

Victor looked at Damian.

“Julian.”

Theodore shook his head.

“No.”

Silence.

Damian frowned.

“Then who?”

The archivist looked at the transfer sheet.

“Someone using Julian’s credentials.”

Charles went still.

Damian saw it.

“You know.”

Charles whispered:

“I know who can access them.”

“Who?”

“Vale’s chief financial officer.”

Damian’s face changed.

“Marcus Hale.”

Victor swore quietly.

Bianca looked confused.

Damian stared at the page.

Marcus had worked beside him for eight years.

Attended birthdays.

Board meetings.

His mother’s funeral.

Damian’s voice became cold.

“Marcus authorized tonight’s foundation transfer.”

Charles nodded.

“Using Julian’s credentials.”

“Why would he frame Julian?”

Victor answered:

“Because Julian is already guilty enough that nobody would question it.”

Damian looked toward the estate.

“Where is Marcus now?”

Bianca whispered:

“He left with Julian.”

Everyone froze.

Damian turned.

“When?”

“Before you came back.”

“Together?”

“Yes.”

Victor looked at Charles.

“That means Julian knows.”

“Knows what?”

“That Marcus has been using him.”

Damian’s phone rang.

Security.

He answered.

Listened.

His expression changed.

“What happened?”

Bianca asked.

Damian ended the call.

“Julian’s car was found at the river.”

Victor stepped forward.

“Julian?”

“Gone.”

“Marcus?”

“Gone.”

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Damian’s voice dropped.

“There is blood in the back seat.”