Chapter 13 - VANESSA’S REVENGE
By 8:00 a.m., Naomi Carter was the villain of the internet.
Vanessa’s attorney released a statement claiming Naomi had infiltrated the Sterling-Cross household under false pretenses, illegally recorded private conversations, physically assaulted Vanessa, and participated in a “coordinated effort to blackmail prominent families.”
A twelve-second video clip from the gala showed Naomi holding Vanessa’s ankle.
It did not show the kick that came first.
The edited footage spread instantly.
HEADLINE:
MILLIONAIRE’S FIANCÉE ATTACKED BY HOUSEKEEPER AT CHARITY GALA
Another:
WHO IS NAOMI CARTER?
Another:
FORMER SECURITY CONTRACTOR POSED AS MAID INSIDE BILLIONAIRE’S HOME
Naomi sat at Marcus’s office drinking coffee.
“This is impressive,” she said.
Marcus stared at her.
“You’re being called an assassin on one network.”
“Promotion.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
He tossed his phone onto the desk.
“Vanessa’s trying to poison the jury pool before charges are announced.”
Naomi nodded.
“She’s also trying to make every piece of evidence look personal.”
“She says you hate wealthy women.”
Naomi almost choked on her coffee.
“That’s specific.”
“She says you became obsessed with her.”
“I cleaned her toilets.”
“Apparently that was obsession.”
Naomi smiled despite herself.
Then her phone buzzed.
A message from an unknown number.
You destroyed my life.
She stared.
Another arrived.
You think Julian cares about you?
Naomi’s expression flattened.
Marcus noticed.
“What?”
She showed him.
He sighed.
“Vanessa?”
“Probably.”
Third message.
Ask Julian why he approved your investigation.
Naomi stopped.
Marcus frowned.
“What does that mean?”
She looked at him.
“You said Julian didn’t know I was in the house.”
“He didn’t.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Another message.
He knew more than you think.
Naomi stood.
“I need to talk to him.”
Julian was at the hospital with Rachel, who had suffered a panic attack after Gordon’s arrest but was physically fine.
Naomi found him in the hallway.
He looked exhausted.
“Hey.”
She held up the phone.
His face changed.
“What?”
“You tell me.”
He read the messages.
“Vanessa.”
“Did you know Marcus had placed an investigator inside your house?”
“No.”
“Did you approve any investigation involving me?”
“No.”
“Did you know who I was before the gala?”
Julian hesitated.
Naomi noticed immediately.
“There.”
“What?”
“That hesitation.”
“I knew your name.”
“Since when?”
“The second week.”
Naomi’s eyes narrowed.
“How?”
“I saw a security access report. Your background check didn’t match a normal household employee.”
“You investigated me.”
“I googled you.”
“You found what?”
“Almost nothing.”
“That’s usually the point.”
Julian looked embarrassed.
“I asked Marcus if you were part of the audit.”
“And?”
“He told me to mind my business.”
Naomi almost smiled.
“That sounds like Marcus.”
Julian stepped closer.
“But I didn’t know what you were investigating.”
“Why didn’t you confront me?”
“Because I watched Vanessa treat you.”
Naomi’s face hardened.
“And you did nothing.”
The words landed.
Julian looked down.
“Yes.”
“You watched her humiliate employees.”
“Yes.”
“You watched her threaten people.”
“Yes.”
“And you still planned to marry her.”
Julian swallowed.
“I kept telling myself she was stressed.”
Naomi laughed once.
“People love that excuse.”
“I know.”
“No, you know now.”
He nodded.
“You’re right.”
That answer disarmed her more than an argument would have.
Julian continued.
“I failed people in my own house because confronting Vanessa would have forced me to confront what I already suspected.”
Naomi looked at him.
“That’s a hard thing to admit.”
“It should be.”
Before she could answer, a nurse rushed from Rachel’s room.
“Mr. Cross?”
Julian turned.
“What happened?”
“Your sister received a call.”
“From who?”
“We don’t know. But she became extremely upset.”
They hurried inside.
Rachel sat upright, staring at her phone.
“Rach?”
She looked at Julian.
“It was Vanessa.”
Naomi frowned.
“Directly?”
“No. Three-way call through her attorney’s office.”
“What did she say?”
Rachel’s face had gone pale.
“She said Mom’s death wasn’t an accident.”
Julian grabbed the bed rail.
“What?”
“She said Dad didn’t kill her.”
Naomi asked, “Who did?”
Rachel looked directly at her brother.
“She said Gordon did.”
Julian looked confused.
“But Gordon said—”
Rachel interrupted.
“And she said Gordon kept proof.”
Naomi’s stomach tightened.
“What proof?”
Rachel whispered:
May you like
“A recording of my mother’s last night alive.”
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