CHAP 4: THE TRAP IS SET
The report from my security team arrived at midnight.
As I read through the encrypted files on my tablet, my blood ran cold. The connection was there, hidden behind layers of offshore accounts and shell companies. Charlotte Holloway hadn't met Daniel by accident at a charity gala two years ago. Her entire relationship with my son had been orchestrated.
Julian Vance was Charlotte’s silent partner. In fact, he was her former lover.
They had planned this from the very beginning. Julian wanted the Pacific Ember Properties portfolio, but my holding company was ironclad. He couldn't buy me out, and he couldn't force a hostile takeover. So, he used Charlotte to get close to Daniel. The plan was simple: get Charlotte married into the Romero family, secure a massive dowry and a seat on the board of Pacific Ember for Charlotte, and then slowly bleed the company from the inside out.
But they hadn't counted on one thing.
They hadn't counted on me showing up to the engagement party dressed in a simple navy dress, testing their character before they ever knew my name. My humility had shattered their timeline. Victoria's arrogance had forced my hand, causing me to reveal my identity and call in the Holloway debts before Charlotte could secure the marriage license.
Now, they were backed into a corner.
My phone buzzed. It was Daniel.
"Mom," his voice sounded tired, heavy with betrayal. "Charlotte just called me from a burner phone. She sounded panicked. She said her father is in the hospital after a panic attack, and she begged me to meet her at the Sausalito marina tonight. She said she has proof that someone is trying to ruin both our families."
"Daniel, listen to me very carefully," I said, my voice sharp. "Do not go there alone. It's a trap."
"A trap? Mom, what's going on?"
"Julian Vance is behind this. He’s been using Charlotte to target our company. They are desperate now because their plan failed. If you go there, they will try to force your hand—either through blackmail or physical coercion."
There was a long pause on the other end of the line. When Daniel spoke again, the pain was gone, replaced by the cold, calculating focus of a true Romero.
"What do we do?" he asked.
"We give them exactly what they want," I said, a dark smile forming on my face. "We go to the marina. But we don't go alone. And we bring the one thing Julian Vance doesn't think we have."
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"What's that?"
"The truth, recorded on every camera in this city."
