Chapter 9 - THE WOMAN BRENDA REALLY WAS
Brenda Cole had spent three years preparing to become Andrew Whitmore’s wife.
She had studied everything.
His favorite restaurants.
His weaknesses.
His relationship with his mother.
His fear of appearing unsuccessful.
She knew when to flatter him.
When to become vulnerable.
When to make Mariana look cold.
What Brenda had never prepared for was losing access to money.
By the second day, her personal accounts had not been frozen.
But the corporate cards Andrew had given her no longer worked.
The apartment he leased for her was owned by a Whitmore subsidiary now under investigation.
Even the car in her garage belonged to the company.
For the first time, Brenda understood something Mariana had understood for years.
Luxury was not ownership.
Brenda was packing when Mariana entered the apartment with Evelyn.
Brenda stared at them.
“You can’t just come in here.”
Evelyn held up a document.
“The property owner can.”
Brenda looked at Mariana.
“You enjoy this?”
“No.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“I don’t care what you believe.”
Brenda zipped a suitcase.
“Andrew loved me.”
Mariana’s face did not change.
“Maybe.”
That answer angered Brenda more than denial would have.
“You think you’re better than me.”
“No.”
“You always did.”
Mariana stepped closer.
“I barely thought about you until you helped frame me.”
Brenda’s face flushed.
“I didn’t know Margaret planned to call the police.”
“You put the necklace in my suitcase.”
“She said it would scare you into leaving.”
“And the money?”
Brenda looked away.
Mariana watched her.
“The eight million dollars.”
Brenda sat on the edge of the bed.
“That wasn’t supposed to be mine.”
“Whose was it?”
Brenda hesitated.
“Margaret told me Briar Rose was temporary.”
“For what?”
“To move funds where you couldn’t reach them.”
Mariana folded her arms.
“Why would she trust you?”
Brenda laughed softly.
“She didn’t.”
“Then why use you?”
“Because if something went wrong, Andrew would blame me.”
Mariana already suspected that.
Brenda looked toward the window.
“Margaret never wanted me to marry Andrew.”
“She wanted me close enough to ruin your marriage.”
“Why?”
“She said once you were gone, Andrew would finally become dependent on the family again.”
Mariana frowned.
“Dependent on Margaret.”
Brenda nodded.
“And someone else.”
Mariana felt the same cold warning she had felt in the conference room.
“Thomas?”
Brenda’s eyes widened.
That reaction was enough.
“You know he’s alive.”
“I’ve never met him.”
“But Margaret talked about him.”
“Once.”
“What did she say?”
Brenda swallowed.
“She said Andrew was going to learn soon that his father never abandoned him.”
Mariana leaned forward.
“When?”
Brenda looked at her.
May you like
“When Andrew had nothing left.”
*
