Chapter 5 - The Architect of Steel
Arthur stared at the receipt for a long, agonizing minute.
The silence in the nursery was deafening.
Maya stood completely still, watching the powerful billionaire process the information.
“Where did you get this?” Arthur finally asked, his voice entirely devoid of emotion.
“It fell out of Victor's coat yesterday when he was leaving the dining room,” Maya explained.
Arthur walked over to the grand piano and traced his finger along the dusty keys.
“Three years,” he whispered. “For three years, I blamed myself. I bought that car. I chose that route.”
“Mr. Penhaligon—”
“He murdered them,” Arthur said, turning to look at Maya.
His eyes weren't sad anymore. They were terrifying.
“He cut the brakes to gain control of her shares. And he just had Mrs. Gordon steal the police report so I couldn't reopen the investigation.”
Maya took a deep breath.
“There's more, sir.”
Arthur walked toward her. “Tell me.”
Maya told him everything Catherine had revealed the night before.
She told him about the hospital, the rain, and Elise's final words.
When she finished, Arthur sank into the rocking chair in the corner of the room, burying his face in his hands.
He didn't make a sound, but Maya could see his shoulders shaking.
She didn't know what the rules were for a maid comforting a billionaire, but she didn't care.
Maya knelt beside the chair and placed a gentle hand on his knee.
“She wanted you to know,” Maya said softly. “She fought to stay awake just to warn you.”
Arthur took a deep, shuddering breath and sat up.
“He's going to pay,” Arthur stated.
“If Mrs. Gordon took the file to Victor, he knows we might be onto him,” Maya warned.
“He doesn't know about you,” Arthur said, his business instincts taking over. “He thinks Mrs. Gordon was just tying up loose ends.”
Arthur stood up, the broken widower vanishing, replaced by the ruthless CEO the magazines wrote about.
“We need proof,” Arthur said. “A three-year-old receipt isn't enough for a conviction, and the police chief is in Victor's pocket.”
“How do we get proof?”
“Victor keeps a private ledger in his home office. He uses it to blackmail board members. If he paid the mechanic off, it will be in there.”
“You want to break into his house?” Maya asked, her eyes widening.
“No,” Arthur said, looking down at her. “He's throwing a charity gala this weekend at his estate. I'm going to attend. And I'm taking you with me.”
“Me? Why?”
“Because Victor knows my security team. He doesn't know you. You're going to slip into his office while I keep him distracted.”
Maya swallowed hard.
She thought of Catherine, of the danger.
May you like
But then she looked at the dusty crib.
“Okay,” Maya said. “I'll do it.”
