CHAPTER 2 â THE WOMAN BEHIND THE MASK
The next morning, every financial news channel showed the same headline.
WHITMORE GLOBAL FACES OWNERSHIP CRISIS AFTER SECRET INVESTIGATION
Andrew stared at the television screen.
His name was everywhere.
But not the way he wanted.
Reporters were asking questions.
Investors were panicking.
The board demanded answers.
And beside him...
Brenda was no longer smiling.
"What are we going to do?"
Andrew ignored her.
His mind was somewhere else.
Mariana.
How long had she been hiding this?
How many times had she watched him take credit for her work?
He drove to the Escalante headquarters.
For the first time in years...
he had to ask permission to enter a building.
The receptionist looked at him calmly.
"Do you have an appointment?"
Andrew froze.
"Do you know who I am?"
The receptionist smiled politely.
"Yes."
A pause.
"That is why I asked."
Those words hurt more than he expected.
Minutes later, the elevator doors opened.
And Mariana walked out.
Not in a simple dress.
Not carrying an old handbag.
Not standing behind him.
She wore a powerful black suit.
Her hair was perfectly styled.
Every person in the building respected her.
Andrew stared.
Because he finally saw the woman everyone else already knew.
"Mariana..."
She looked at him.
No anger.
No tears.
Just disappointment.
"What do you want, Andrew?"
His voice lowered.
"You lied to me."
She smiled slightly.
May you like
"No."
"You simply never asked the right questions."
