The Chef He Thought He Knew

For almost a full minute, I couldn't move.

The name on Daniel's photograph belonged to the woman who had represented me during the most painful period of my life.

Victoria Shaw.

She had sat beside me during my divorce proceedings, held my hand when I cried, and promised that everything I told her would remain confidential.

She knew about my business.

She knew about my finances.

She knew about my plans to have children.

And now she was advising Richard Reed on how to obtain influence over my daughter.

“Amara?”” Evelyn asked.

I handed her my phone.

She studied the photograph.

“Do you recognize this attorney?””

“Victoria Shaw. She represented me during my divorce.””

Evelyn's expression hardened.

“Was she aware of your confidential business information?””

“She had copies of everything. My financial statements, company registration, investment agreements, personal correspondence.””

“Did you sign any authorization allowing her to share those records with Richard Reed?””

“No.””

Evelyn placed the phone on her desk.

“Then we have a serious conflict-of-interest issue to investigate.””

Marcus spoke through the laptop.

“There's something else. I searched the corporate registry again. Victoria's law firm received payments from a company associated with Reed Capital.””

I looked at him.

“How much?””

“Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars over the past eighteen months.””

The room went silent.

Evelyn immediately wrote down the company name.

“Send me the records. We need to determine whether those payments were legitimate legal fees or something else.””

I stared at the photograph.

“Victoria knows everything about me.””

Evelyn looked directly at me.

“Then we need to assume she may have access to information you never intended Richard to see.””

The following morning, I visited Victoria's law office.

I hadn't told Evelyn I was going.

She had specifically advised me not to confront Victoria without preparation.

But I wanted to look the woman in the eyes.

Her receptionist recognized me immediately.

“Ms. Carter. It's been a long time.””

“I need to see Victoria.””

“Do you have an appointment?””

“No.””

She hesitated.

Then she picked up the telephone.

Five minutes later, Victoria appeared.

She wore a navy suit and carried a leather folder.

“Amara. What a surprise.””

I followed her into her office.

She closed the door.

“Please sit.””

I remained standing.

“Are you advising Richard Reed?””

Her expression barely changed.

“I'm not at liberty to discuss other clients.””

“Are you advising him on a custody strategy involving my daughter?””

Victoria placed her folder on the desk.

“Amara, I understand this is an emotional situation.””

“Don't.””

She looked up.

“Excuse me?””

“Don't pretend this is about my emotions. You represented me. You knew things about my marriage that nobody else knew.””

“I did.””

“You knew about my company.””

“Yes.””

“And now you're working with the man trying to take control of both?””

Victoria sighed.

“Richard Reed is a sophisticated businessman. His interests are legitimate.””

“Then why is he hiring my former divorce attorney to plan a custody case?””

“I cannot comment.””

I stepped closer.

“Did you give him my financial records?””

Victoria's jaw tightened.

“No.””

“Did you provide him with confidential information about my divorce?””

“I have never knowingly disclosed privileged information.””

“That's a carefully worded answer.””

Her expression changed.

“Amara, I suggest you discuss any concerns with your current counsel.””

“I am.””

“Then perhaps you should listen to her.””

I stared at Victoria.

For a moment, I remembered sitting in that same office three years earlier.

She had brought me tissues after Daniel left.

She had told me I deserved better.

Now I understood that knowing how to comfort someone and knowing how to protect them were two very different things.

I turned toward the door.

Before leaving, I asked one final question.

“Did you know Richard was planning to use Lily's inheritance to pressure Daniel?””

Victoria didn't answer.

But her silence was enough to tell me that she knew more than she was willing to admit.

That afternoon, Evelyn filed a formal complaint with the appropriate professional authorities and sent Victoria's firm a preservation notice.

We also requested the original agreement carrying my forged signature.

Victoria refused to release it voluntarily.

However, Daniel had something useful.

He had taken photographs of the entire document before Vanessa discovered him in her office.

He forwarded the images to Evelyn.

She enlarged the second page.

Then she stopped.

“Amara, look at the witness section.””

I leaned closer.

There were two names.

Daniel Carter.

And Victoria Shaw.

My stomach tightened.

“Victoria witnessed this?””

“According to the document, yes.””

Marcus appeared on the screen.

“There's a date beside her signature.””

Evelyn checked it.

“Three years ago.””

I stared.

Three years ago, Victoria had represented me in the final stages of my divorce.

She had been helping me negotiate the financial settlement while apparently witnessing an agreement involving my company.

“Can she legally do that?””

“Not if she was acting in a capacity that created an undisclosed conflict or breached her professional duties,” Evelyn replied.

“But we need the original document and the surrounding records.””

I sat down.

“What about the signature?””

“We'll have it examined.””

Evelyn closed the folder.

“Amara, there's another possibility we need to consider.””

“What?””

“Someone may have used a genuine signature from another document and transferred it onto this agreement.””

I remembered the hundreds of papers I had signed during the divorce.

Financial disclosures.

Settlement forms.

Company statements.

Someone could have copied my signature from any of them.

And Victoria had access to all of it.

That evening, Daniel arrived at my house.

I hadn't invited him.

Mrs. Collins opened the door and called me.

I stepped into the hallway.

“What are you doing here?””

Daniel looked exhausted.

“I need to tell you something about Vanessa.””

I folded my arms.

“Go ahead.””

He looked toward Lily's bedroom.

“Is she asleep?””

“Yes.””

“Good.””

He took a breath.

“Vanessa knew about the trust before I did.””

I frowned.

“How long?””

“Years. Richard told her about it when they started discussing marriage.””

“Why didn't she tell you?””

“She said it was a family matter.””

“And you believed her?””

“I wanted to.””

I shook my head.

“What does she want?””

Daniel looked down.

“Richard promised her that if the acquisition succeeded, she would become the director of the hospitality division.””

I stared at him.

“And what did he promise you?””

“A position in the company. Access to the family trust. A future with Lily.””

I almost laughed.

“You were both being offered positions in a business deal involving my daughter.””

Daniel nodded.

“I know how it sounds.””

“It sounds exactly like what it is.””

He rubbed his forehead.

“There's something else. Vanessa and Richard have been discussing a wedding.””

I stared.

“You're getting married?””

“No. We haven't announced anything.””

“But they're discussing it?””

“Yes.””

I looked at him for several seconds.

“Daniel, why are you telling me this?””

“Because I found out Vanessa was never planning to help me become a better father.””

“What do you mean?””

He looked toward the window.

“She wanted to be the person who controlled the trust. She told Richard that once Lily was living with us, she could help raise her.””

I felt my stomach turn.

“Us?””

“She meant me and her.””

I stepped back.

“Your daughter is not going to become a project for your girlfriend.””

“I know.””

“Then why are you here?””

Daniel reached into his coat and produced a small envelope.

“Because I want you to have this.””

Inside was a printed email.

It was from Vanessa to Richard.

The subject line read:

*Lily — Transition Plan.*

I began reading.

The email discussed moving Lily into a new school, changing her primary residence, and arranging for a private household manager.

There was even a proposed schedule for gradually reducing her time with me.

At the bottom, Vanessa had written:

Amara is emotionally attached to the restaurant and will eventually accept a financial settlement if the family makes the transition difficult enough.

I lowered the paper.

Daniel's face was pale.

“I didn't know about this.””

I looked at him.

“You helped them create the opportunity.””

“I know.””

“And now you want me to believe you're on my side?””

He swallowed.

“No. I want you to know what they're planning.””

I walked to the door and opened it.

“Then give everything to Evelyn.””

Daniel nodded.