Chapter 12: The Call From Vanessa
Nobody told Simone to answer.
Nobody had to.
The phone ringing was enough.
Everyone watched her.
The bride.
The mother.
The groom.
The brother who had spent the entire day being blamed.
The investigator waiting for answers.
Vanessa’s name stayed on the screen.
Marcus looked at Simone.
“Answer it.””
She shook her head.
“No.””
“Why?””
“She’ll make things worse.””
Rebecca stepped forward.
“Actually, I need her to answer.””
Simone looked at her.
“You can’t force me.””
“No.””
Rebecca remained calm.
“But if Vanessa is connected to the account activity, this conversation may be important.””
Simone stared at the phone.
Then slowly answered.
“Hello?””
Vanessa’s voice came through.
“Simone.””
Everyone could hear the tension.
“You finally answered.””
Simone looked away.
“Why are you calling?””
A short laugh.
“Because you’re ignoring my messages.””
“I was busy.””
“Busy?””
Vanessa’s tone changed.
“Simone, do you have any idea what you’ve done?””
Marcus looked at me.
I looked back.
Everyone heard it.
Not confusion.
Not surprise.
Fear.
Simone lowered her voice.
“What are you talking about?””
Vanessa sighed.
“You froze the account.””
Silence.
Simone looked shocked.
“How did you know?””
Vanessa didn’t answer.
That was the answer.
Rebecca stepped closer.
“Vanessa Brooks, this call is being documented.””
A pause.
Then Vanessa said:
“Who is that?””
“My name is Rebecca Ellis.””
The line went quiet.
Marcus stared at Simone.
“She knows the investigator?””
Simone didn’t answer.
Vanessa’s voice became nervous.
“Simone, where are you?””
“I’m at the wedding.””
Another pause.
Then Vanessa whispered:
“Oh no.””
Marcus stepped closer to the phone.
“Who are you?””
Vanessa hesitated.
“I’m her friend.””
“No.””
His voice was cold.
“You’re the person she gave money to.””
Silence.
That was enough.
Marcus closed his eyes.
Rebecca wrote something down.
Simone whispered:
“Vanessa, where is the money?””
The question surprised everyone.
Because Simone finally asked it too.
Vanessa didn’t answer.
“Vanessa.””
A shaky breath.
“Some of it is gone.””
Marcus looked furious.
“How much?””
“I don’t know.””
“You don’t know?””
“I invested it.””
The same word.
But now it came from someone else.
Marcus looked at Simone.
Then the phone.
“Both of you?””
Nobody spoke.
Vanessa rushed to explain.
“It wasn’t supposed to happen like this.””
Simone’s eyes filled with tears.
“You promised me.””
Vanessa’s voice softened.
“I thought I could make it work.””
I almost laughed.
Another person.
Another promise.
Another plan.
Another disaster.
Marcus looked exhausted.
“How much money was involved?””
Simone didn’t answer.
Vanessa didn’t answer.
Rebecca did.
She checked the file.
“Based on the records, approximately eighty thousand dollars.””
The number hit everyone.
Evelyn sat down.
Marcus looked at Simone.
“Eighty thousand?””
Simone whispered:
“I was going to replace it.””
He looked away.
Like hearing it again physically hurt.
Vanessa suddenly spoke.
“Simone, you need to listen to me.””
Everyone focused.
“What?””
“You cannot tell them everything.””
The room froze.
Marcus grabbed the phone.
“What did you say?””
Vanessa went silent.
He repeated:
“What did you mean by everything?””
No answer.
Rebecca stepped closer.
“Vanessa Brooks, answer the question.””
Vanessa’s breathing became faster.
Then she said:
“There’s something Simone hasn’t told you.””
Simone’s face went white.
“Vanessa, stop.””
Marcus turned toward her.
“What haven’t you told me?””
Nobody moved.
Vanessa continued.
“The money wasn’t the only thing she used.””
Marcus stared.
“What does that mean?””
Simone looked like she was breaking apart.
Vanessa whispered:
“She used something else to secure the investment.””
Rebecca looked up sharply.
“Secure it with what?””
Silence.
Then Vanessa said the words that made Simone collapse into the chair.
“With the thing she was most afraid of losing.””
Marcus looked confused.
“What thing?””
Vanessa didn’t answer.
Simone covered her face.
Because she knew.
Rebecca looked at her.
“Simone.””
Slowly, Simone lowered her hands.
And for the first time that night…
She looked completely defeated.
May you like
Marcus whispered:
“What did you use?””
