Chapter 6 - THE WAR FOR HER NAME
By noon, Elena’s private battle had become international news.
Victor claimed Elena had concealed the existence of Alexander Voss’s legitimate first heir.
He claimed she had manipulated succession documents.
He claimed Voss Global had been operating under fraudulent ownership for more than a decade.
And most damaging of all, he produced documents carrying Adrian’s signature.
Adrian stared at the television.
“I never signed those.”
Elena believed him.
But belief did not stop markets from reacting.
Voss Global shares fell sharply.
Trading was temporarily halted.
Reporters surrounded headquarters.
Investors demanded answers.
Elena’s phone rang constantly.
She ignored almost everyone.
Then Damian appeared on television.
He stood beside Victor.
Elena’s expression hardened.
Damian looked exhausted.
But he was smiling.
A reporter shouted a question.
“Mr. Cross, did Elena Voss deliberately destroy your company to prevent you from exposing these documents?”
Damian looked directly into the camera.
“Yes.”
The room around Elena erupted.
Natalie cursed under her breath.
Marcus shook his head.
Adrian looked at Elena.
“They’re turning your actions against you.”
“I know.”
Damian continued speaking.
“Elena used her control over Voss Global to retaliate against me personally.”
He paused dramatically.
“Because I discovered the truth.”
Elena switched off the television.
Natalie approached.
“We need to respond.”
“No.”
“Elena, silence will look like guilt.”
“Then let them think I’m guilty.”
Natalie stared at her.
“What are you doing?”
Elena looked toward Adrian.
“Victor wants me defending my reputation.”
Adrian understood first.
“Because while you’re defending yourself, you’re not investigating him.”
“Exactly.”
Elena turned to Marcus.
“Find the original Monarch documents.”
“We have copies.”
“I want the physical originals.”
Marcus nodded.
“And find Catherine Mercer.”
Adrian stiffened.
“My mother died twelve years ago.”
Elena looked at him.
“Are you certain?”
Adrian stared at her.
“I attended her funeral.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
Silence.
Marcus began searching.
Three hours later, he returned with a strange result.
Catherine Mercer’s death certificate existed.
But the physician whose signature appeared on it had died six months before Catherine supposedly passed away.
Adrian stared at the document.
“That’s impossible.”
Marcus shook his head.
“Not impossible.”
Elena finished the thought.
“Fabricated.”
Adrian stood.
“My mother might be alive.”
Elena looked at him.
“And Victor may know where she is.”
A message suddenly appeared on Elena’s private phone.
No sender.
Only an address.
And one sentence.
IF YOU WANT THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR FATHER, COME ALONE.
Adrian read it over her shoulder.
“You’re not going.”
Elena put the phone into her pocket.
“Yes, I am.”
“It’s obviously a trap.”
“Probably.”
“Then why go?”
May you like
Elena looked at him.
“Because traps only work when you don’t know they’re traps.”
