Chapter 2: The Man Who Had the Keys
"That's impossible.""
Marcus said it quietly.
But everyone heard him.
Daniel Cross was standing near the back of the ballroom, still wearing the charcoal suit he'd worn during our rehearsal dinner the previous evening.
He had been invited as a family friend.
He had helped Marcus's father establish the legal structure of the family business.
And six weeks earlier, he'd sat across from me in a private conference room, explaining every page of the prenuptial agreement Marcus and I were expected to sign.
I remembered the way he'd smiled.
"Nothing complicated, Nia. Just standard protection for both parties.""
Now his face had gone completely white.
Marcus turned around.
"Daniel.""
The attorney adjusted his cufflinks.
"Marcus, I think we should discuss this somewhere private.""
"No.""
Marcus stepped closer.
"You're going to explain why you were in my future wife's bridal suite.""
Daniel looked toward Bianca.
She stared at the floor.
"She asked me to retrieve some documents," he said.
"Which documents?""
"Nothing important.""
I laughed once.
It was a short, bitter sound.
"Nothing important? You entered my private suite on my wedding day.""
Daniel's expression tightened.
"Nia, please. This is becoming unnecessarily theatrical.""
I raised the microphone.
"Then let's make it simple. What were you looking for?""
He hesitated.
Simone approached the production booth and whispered something to the technician.
The next recording began.
The camera showed Bianca entering my bridal suite.
She placed her handbag on the sofa, walked directly to the desk, and opened the top drawer.
She knew exactly where to look.
Within seconds, she removed a thick blue folder.
Then Daniel entered.
He closed the door behind him.
"Did you find it?"" he asked.
Bianca held up the folder.
"Here.""
Daniel opened it.
He flipped through several pages before pulling out a document.
"Is this the original?""
"Yes.""
"And she hasn't signed it?""
Bianca shook her head.
"Not yet. Marcus is supposed to handle that after the ceremony.""
Daniel frowned.
"Then why are you doing this now?""
Bianca rolled her eyes.
"Because I know my brother. If he starts feeling guilty about what we're asking, he'll hesitate.""
Daniel lowered his voice.
"Once he signs, there's no going back.""
"Exactly.""
A guest near the front whispered something.
I couldn't hear the words.
I couldn't move.
The camera showed Bianca placing the document inside Daniel's briefcase.
Then she said something that made Marcus grab the back of a chair.
"After the honeymoon, we'll tell him the company needs the transfer finalized.""
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
"And if Nia asks questions?""
Bianca smiled.
"She won't. We'll make sure she's too busy dealing with her divorce.""
The recording stopped.
Silence swallowed the ballroom.
Marcus stared at Daniel.
"Divorce?""
Daniel opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
I looked at Bianca.
"Who was planning to divorce whom?""
She shook her head.
"That's not what I meant.""
"Then what did you mean?""
"You're twisting everything!""
I stepped closer.
"Bianca, you just watched yourself steal documents from my room.""
She pointed at Daniel.
"He was the one who wanted them!""
Daniel immediately protested.
"That's a lie.""
Bianca spun toward him.
"You told me the transfer would be legal!""
Marcus's face went rigid.
"What transfer?""
Neither answered.
I felt a strange sensation in my chest.
Not panic.
Not even anger.
Something colder.
I remembered the prenuptial agreement.
The thick document Daniel had brought to our second meeting.
I remembered asking why certain business assets were listed under my name.
He had explained that Marcus wanted to create a financial arrangement that would protect me.
I'd trusted him.
I'd trusted Marcus.
And I'd signed nothing because I'd asked for an independent attorney to review it.
Daniel had insisted that we could finish the paperwork after the wedding.
Now I understood why Bianca had been so desperate to get into my bridal suite.
She wasn't looking for a sentimental keepsake.
She was looking for the unsigned original.
Marcus turned toward me.
"Nia, did you know anything about this?""
I shook my head.
"No.""
He looked devastated.
"Neither did I.""
Bianca laughed.
It was an ugly, desperate sound.
"Of course you didn't, Marcus. You never pay attention to anything that happens in this family.""
He stepped toward her.
"What have you done?""
"Everything I've done has been for you!""
"By destroying Nia's wedding dress?""
"By protecting what's ours!""
Marcus stared at his sister.
"Our what?""
Bianca's voice rose.
"Our family! Our company! Our name!""
I looked at Richard.
He had moved away from Bianca's table.
His hands were shaking.
"Richard?""
He looked at me.
I asked the question nobody else seemed willing to ask.
"Did you know about the documents?""
His eyes filled with tears.
"No, Nia.""
Bianca slammed her hand against the table.
"Don't you dare!""
Richard ignored her.
"I knew she was angry about the wedding. I knew she didn't want you joining the family. But I didn't know about any of this.""
Bianca's face twisted.
"You knew exactly why I was doing it!""
Richard shook his head.
"You told me you wanted to stop the wedding. You never told me you were stealing legal documents.""
Marcus rubbed his forehead.
"Why would you need Nia's signature?""
Daniel finally spoke.
"Because Marcus was considering transferring controlling shares in the family company into a marital trust.""
Marcus looked at him.
"I never approved that.""
Daniel adjusted his tie.
"Your father discussed it with me.""
"My father died two years ago.""
"Yes. But there were arrangements—"
"Show me.""
Daniel went silent.
Marcus stepped closer.
"Show me the signed authorization.""
The attorney glanced toward the exit.
And suddenly, I understood why Bianca had been so desperate to stop the footage.
She hadn't simply wanted to embarrass me.
She had been trying to protect a secret involving money, ownership, and possibly Marcus's inheritance.
I looked at Simone.
"Is there another recording?""
She nodded.
"The last one.""
Bianca grabbed the edge of the table.
"Don't.""
I looked at her.
"What's on it?""
She didn't answer.
Richard did.
His voice was barely audible.
"It's about your father-in-law.""
Marcus turned sharply.
"My father?""
Richard nodded.
"Bianca told me he left something behind. Something she was afraid you would discover.""
Marcus stared at his brother-in-law.
"What did my father leave?""
Richard reached into his jacket.
He removed a folded envelope.
And when he placed it in my hand, I recognized the handwriting on the front.
It belonged to Marcus's father.
May you like
The message was only seven words long.
*For Nia. Open this after the truth.*
