Chapter 3 - THE CORPORATE VEILBy the time Jonathan reached his office, his chief of staff, Elias Thorne, was waiting. Elias was a man who handled the "delicate" aspects of the Harrison estate.
“Sir, we found the records,” Elias said, laying a tablet on the mahogany desk. “Victoria Chen didn't just 'fall' into poverty. Seven years ago, she was working for a subsidiary of Harrison-Ashford Holdings. She discovered a systemic data theft involving your wife’s family trust—the Ashford side.”
Jonathan froze. Victoria Ashford—his wife—was the daughter of the most powerful real estate family in the Pacific Northwest. Their marriage was a strategic merger of billions.
“Explain,” Jonathan ordered.
“Your wife’s father, Sterling Ashford, was laundering funds through the medical internship program,” Elias whispered. “Victoria Chen caught them. She didn't just save you from that car fire, sir. She was already being hunted by the Ashford security team because of what she knew.”
Jonathan’s blood ran cold. His own wife’s family had been hunting the woman who saved his life?
“Why didn't she tell me?”
“Because they threatened Tommy,” Elias replied. “The records show she went into hiding to keep him alive. She’s been working under the table for seven years to stay off the grid.”
Jonathan looked at the photograph of his wife, Victoria Ashford, smiling gracefully on his desk. She had always seemed like an ice queen—but he had never imagined she was the architect of a woman’s ruin.
“Jonathan,” his wife’s voice suddenly cut through the room.
May you like
He spun around. Victoria Ashford stood in the doorway, impeccably dressed, her eyes cold.
“I see you’ve met the boy,” she said, her voice devoid of emotion. “It’s such a small city, isn't it? Such a shame that Victoria Chen hasn't learned to stay buried.”
