Chapter 3 - The Woman Behind the Blue Envelope
The next day, Adrian deliberately arrived home early.
Marissa was in the kitchen.
She was making tea.
He leaned against the doorway.
"Marissa."
She looked up.
"Yes?"
"Can I ask you something personal?"
Her expression immediately became guarded.
"About Owen?"
"No."
She waited.
"About Daniel."
The color drained from her face.
Adrian regretted asking.
"I don't want to make you uncomfortable."
"You already know his name."
"I saw it in your employment file."
Marissa slowly set down the mug.
"How much do you know?"
"Almost nothing."
She looked away.
"That's probably for the best."
"Why?"
"Because people who knew Daniel before he died didn't like talking about him."
Adrian noticed her choice of words.
"Before he died?"
She looked back at him.
"His body was never found."
Adrian said nothing.
"Sorry," Marissa continued. "I shouldn't have said that."
"Did you believe he was dead?"
"For four years."
"Now?"
She looked toward the window.
"I don't know what to believe."
Adrian's pulse quickened.
"Why did Walter Hale come to your apartment?"
Marissa's fingers tightened around the mug.
"He said he was worried."
"Worried about what?"
She didn't answer.
Adrian didn't push.
Instead he said, "If someone is threatening you, I can help."
Marissa gave a bitter little smile.
"Mr. Whitmore, people with money always think they can solve things."
Adrian almost laughed.
"I've recently learned that's not true."
Her expression softened.
"You overheard me asking my mother for money."
He froze.
"I didn't mean to."
"I know."
"Marissa—"
"I was embarrassed."
"You shouldn't be."
"You don't understand."
"Then explain it."
She looked at him for a long moment.
"My husband died—or disappeared—when Owen was only a few months old."
Her voice trembled.
"I had no savings. Daniel handled everything. Bills. Insurance. The mortgage. Everything."
"What happened?"
"One night he called me."
Adrian listened.
"He said, 'If anything happens to me, don't trust anyone from the Whitmore family.'"
Adrian's heart stopped.
"What?"
Marissa reached beneath her blouse and pulled out a thin chain.
The silver watch.
"My husband gave me this the night before he disappeared."
Adrian recognized it immediately.
"My grandfather owned that."
Marissa looked surprised.
"Your grandfather?"
"Yes."
She touched the watch.
"Daniel told me it belonged to a man who once believed in him."
"Did he name the man?"
"No."
Adrian's mind raced.
Then Marissa opened her purse.
She took out the blue envelope.
"I've never opened it."
"Why not?"
"Because Daniel told me not to."
"What did he say?"
"Only this: 'If Adrian Whitmore ever comes looking for you, give him the envelope.'"
Adrian stared at her.
"My name?"
She nodded.
"Why would Daniel know me?"
"He said you were the only Whitmore he trusted."
Adrian felt something inside him break.
His father had spent four years hiding this man's existence.
Daniel had apparently trusted Adrian.
And Marissa had been waiting for him to discover the truth.
She held out the envelope.
Adrian didn't take it.
"Open it yourself."
Marissa shook her head.
"He said you should."
"Then let's do it together."
Her fingers trembled as she broke the seal.
Inside were three things.
A handwritten letter.
A small USB drive.
And an old company access card.
Adrian picked up the letter.
The handwriting was unmistakably masculine.
He read the first line.
Adrian, if you're reading this, your grandfather was right about your father.
Adrian's breath caught.
He continued.
Four years ago, I discovered that money was being stolen from Whitmore Infrastructure through shell companies. I believed Richard Whitmore was responsible. I was wrong about one thing. He wasn't working alone.
Adrian looked at Marissa.
She whispered, "Keep reading."
Someone inside the family office helped him. Someone who had access to every account. Someone who could make millions disappear without leaving obvious evidence.
Adrian's mind immediately went to Walter Hale.
Then Caroline.
Then his father's closest business partner.
The letter continued.
I copied the evidence. If I disappear, the USB contains everything. But there is one person you must find before you trust anyone else.
Adrian read the final line.
Your mother.
He stopped.
"My mother?"
Marissa stared at him.
Adrian's mother had died when he was fourteen.
Cancer.
At least, that's what he'd always been told.
Then something fell from inside the envelope.
A photograph.
Adrian picked it up.
It showed his mother standing beside Daniel.
And she was holding a newborn baby.
On the back was a date.
Four years before Adrian's mother supposedly died.
Adrian stared at the infant.
There was a hospital bracelet.
The name had been scratched out.
But one word remained visible.
Whitmore.
Adrian's hands began to shake.
"What is this?"
Marissa whispered:
"I think that's the reason your father wanted Daniel gone."
Before Adrian could answer, the front door slammed open.
Someone shouted from the foyer.
"Mr. Whitmore!"
Adrian turned.
Walter Hale stood there.
His face was pale.
And behind him stood two police officers.
Walter looked directly at the blue envelope.
Then at Adrian.
"Don't open the USB."
Adrian stared at him.
"Why?"
May you like
Walter swallowed.
"Because once you see what's on it, there will be no going back."
