Chapter 17 - Vanessa’s Last Bargain
Daniel refused to meet Vanessa alone.
The conversation took place through reinforced glass.
A federal agent remained in the room.
Rachel sat beside Daniel.
Vanessa appeared thinner.
For the first time, she did not look confident.
But when she saw Daniel, the old expression returned.
“You look tired.”
Daniel said nothing.
“How are the babies?”
His jaw tightened.
“You don’t get to ask that.”
Vanessa leaned back.
“I knew you’d come.”
“You mentioned twelve million dollars.”
She smiled.
“There he is.”
Daniel looked at Rachel.
Then back at Vanessa.
“Where is it?”
“Why would I tell you?”
“Because your lawyer arranged this meeting.”
“My lawyer wants a deal.”
“I’m not the prosecutor.”
“No.”
Vanessa’s smile faded.
“But you can influence the company’s restitution position.”
Daniel stared at her.
“You attacked Elena.”
Vanessa looked away.
“You tried to frame me.”
Silence.
“You helped sabotage her vehicle.”
Vanessa’s eyes returned to him.
“That wasn’t supposed to happen the way it did.”
Daniel’s hands tightened under the table.
Rachel touched his sleeve.
Vanessa saw it.
“You always needed someone to keep you calm.”
Daniel ignored the insult.
“Where is the money?”
Vanessa leaned toward the glass.
“Ask Alan about Project Northstar.”
Daniel did not react.
“What is Northstar?”
“That’s all you get.”
“Then we’re done.”
He stood.
Vanessa’s confidence cracked.
“Daniel.”
He turned.
“For once in your life, stop walking away when things are uncomfortable.”
Daniel looked at his sister for a long moment.
“I spent years walking toward you.”
Vanessa said nothing.
“I gave you jobs.”
He stepped closer to the glass.
“Money.”
Another step.
“Chances.”
Her eyes flickered.
“I kept telling myself the next version of you would be different.”
Daniel’s voice remained steady.
“There is no next version.”
Vanessa stared at him.
“You’re my brother.”
“Yes.”
He nodded once.
“And Elena is my wife.”
His eyes hardened.
“Owen and Sophie are my children.”
He turned toward the door.
“You made your choice.”
Daniel left.
Vanessa began pounding on the glass behind him.
Rachel did not look back.
Project Northstar led investigators to a data folder on Alan’s hidden server.
Inside were shipping contracts that did not exist.
Fake routes.
Fake fuel invoices.
Fake equipment leases.
The false transactions totaled $12.4 million.
But unlike the earlier theft, most of that money had not left the country.
It had been placed into an acquisition fund.
Martin and Vanessa planned to use Daniel’s own stolen company money to purchase discounted Mercer Freight shares after the scandal crushed their value.
Rachel stared at the numbers.
“They were going to steal the company twice.”
Daniel understood.
First from the accounts.
Then from the shareholders.
Federal authorities froze the acquisition fund.
With one order, $10.9 million became recoverable.
For the first time, Mercer Freight had a path to survive almost entirely intact.
But Vanessa still had one final move.
Her defense team announced she would testify.
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And she intended to accuse Daniel of ordering the entire scheme.
*
