Chapter 2: The Man Who Knew Everything
I had imagined a thousand versions of my future wedding.
In none of them did I stand in my living room watching my fiancé defend the woman who had stolen my grandmother's diamond.
Daniel removed his jacket and draped it over the back of a chair.
"Let's not make this emotional," he said.
I stared at him.
"Emotional?""
"Nia, please. Just listen.""
"Your housekeeper returned my ring without its diamond. She presented me with a document carrying a forged signature. And you just told her she wasn't supposed to bring it back until after our wedding.""
He exhaled.
"I didn't say that.""
"I heard you.""
Vanessa moved toward the kitchen.
Daniel caught her wrist.
"Stay here.""
That small gesture made something inside me crack.
He wasn't surprised to see her.
He wasn't even treating her like an employee.
He was protecting her.
"How long?"" I asked.
Daniel turned toward me.
"How long what?""
"How long have you two been working together?""
Vanessa looked down.
Daniel released her wrist.
"That's an unfair question.""
"Then give me a fair answer.""
He pulled out his phone and checked the screen.
I couldn't believe it.
My engagement was collapsing in front of me, and he was checking messages.
"Put the phone down," I said.
"Nia—"
"Put it down.""
He finally slipped it into his pocket.
"The ring needed some work. Vanessa thought she could help.""
"Help by removing a diamond worth nearly forty thousand dollars?""
"It wasn't worth that much.""
I blinked.
"What?""
He looked toward Vanessa.
She immediately shook her head.
"Daniel, don't.""
I turned to her.
"Don't what?""
Daniel stepped between us.
"Vanessa found a buyer for the original stone. Someone who was willing to pay more than the jeweler's valuation.""
The room seemed to tilt.
"A buyer?""
"It was a business arrangement.""
"My grandmother's ring is not a business arrangement.""
"I was going to replace it.""
"With what?""
He didn't answer.
I looked at the authorization form again.
There was a section near the bottom that I'd missed.
It listed the estimated value of the removed diamond.
$38,500.
Below that was a handwritten note.
Transfer completed.
I raised my eyes.
"Where is the money?""
Daniel's jaw tightened.
"That's complicated.""
"No. It's a simple question.""
He walked toward the fireplace.
"Some of it went toward wedding expenses.""
I felt the blood drain from my face.
"Which expenses?""
"The venue deposit. The photographer. A few other things.""
"Those were paid from our joint wedding account.""
"I know.""
"So why would you need the diamond money?""
He said nothing.
Vanessa finally spoke.
"Because Daniel was short on cash.""
I turned toward her.
"Why?""
She looked at him.
Daniel shook his head slightly.
But Vanessa continued.
"He had some financial problems. I was trying to help.""
"What financial problems?""
"Nothing that concerns you," Daniel snapped.
I stared at him.
"We're getting married in three weeks.""
"Exactly. Which is why this is a terrible time to start a fight.""
I let out a breath that sounded almost like a laugh.
"You're worried about the timing?""
He stepped closer.
"Nia, listen to me. I made a mistake. I should have told you. But I had every intention of making it right.""
"You sold my grandmother's diamond.""
"I borrowed against it.""
"You forged my signature.""
"I didn't forge anything.""
I held up the form.
"Then whose handwriting is this?""
His expression shifted.
For a moment, he looked genuinely uncomfortable.
Vanessa answered for him.
"Mine.""
I turned slowly.
"What?""
"I signed it.""
"Using my name?""
She nodded.
"I had your authorization.""
"No, you didn't.""
"You gave me permission to handle the ring.""
"To collect it. Not sell the diamond.""
Vanessa's voice became colder.
"You always trusted me to make decisions.""
I stared at her.
That was the strangest part.
She sounded offended.
As though stealing from me was something I'd somehow encouraged.
Daniel walked over and picked up the ring box.
"Enough. I'll get the diamond back.""
"When?""
"After the wedding.""
"No.""
He looked at me.
"What?""
"You're getting it back tomorrow.""
"That's impossible.""
"Then I'll call the police.""
Vanessa's face went pale.
Daniel's voice dropped.
"Don't threaten me.""
"I'm not threatening you.""
I took a step backward and reached for my phone.
"I'm telling you what happens next.""
He grabbed my wrist.
Not hard enough to hurt.
But hard enough to stop me.
"Nia, think carefully. You don't want to destroy everything we've built over one misunderstanding.""
I looked at his hand.
Then at his face.
"Let go.""
He released me.
I walked into the kitchen and called the jewelry store.
A woman answered after three rings.
"Harper & Lane, this is Melissa. How may I help you?""
"My name is Nia Carter. I left my grandmother's engagement ring for resizing. I need to speak with whoever handled the pickup.""
"Of course. May I have your order number?""
I read it from the authorization form.
There was a pause.
Then I heard keyboard typing.
"Oh," Melissa said.
My stomach tightened.
"What's wrong?""
"Your order was marked as a private transaction. The original diamond was removed and transferred to an independent buyer.""
"Who authorized that?""
"Your representative, Vanessa Reed.""
"Did she provide identification?""
"Yes. And a signed authorization.""
"My signature was forged.""
The woman stopped typing.
"I'm sorry?""
"I never authorized the sale. I want the buyer's information.""
"I'm afraid I can't release that over the phone.""
"Then tell me this. Was the diamond sold to a man named Daniel?""
Another pause.
"Ma'am, I shouldn't discuss confidential transaction details.""
That was answer enough.
I glanced through the kitchen doorway.
Daniel was speaking quietly to Vanessa.
Their heads were close together.
Then Melissa spoke again.
"There's something else you should know.""
"What?""
"The buyer didn't just purchase the diamond. He requested the original setting and the old appraisal certificate.""
"Why would he need those?""
"I don't know. But he specifically asked us not to contact you about the transaction.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"Who was the buyer?""
Melissa lowered her voice.
"The payment came from a company called Reed Holdings.""
Reed.
Vanessa Reed.
I ended the call.
For a moment, I couldn't breathe.
Then I opened my banking app and searched the wedding expenses.
There were several unfamiliar transfers.
Small amounts at first.
Then larger ones.
A payment to Reed Holdings.
Another to an account I didn't recognize.
And a final transfer made two days earlier.
$38,500.
I took screenshots of everything.
When I returned to the living room, Daniel was standing beside Vanessa with his arm around her shoulders.
They separated immediately.
But not quickly enough.
"How long have you been sleeping with her?"" I asked.
Vanessa's mouth fell open.
Daniel looked furious.
"That's none of your business.""
I stared at him.
"You're my fiancé.""
He rubbed his face.
"Nothing happened that you need to know about.""
"That's not an answer.""
Vanessa stepped forward.
"Daniel and I have a connection you wouldn't understand.""
I almost laughed.
"You're my employee.""
She lifted her chin.
"Not for much longer.""
Daniel shot her a warning look.
But she ignored it.
"Actually, Nia, there's something else you should know about the wedding.""
My stomach tightened.
"What?""
Vanessa reached into her handbag and pulled out a cream-colored envelope.
She placed it on the table.
"Daniel was planning to tell you after the ceremony.""
I opened it.
Inside was a printed copy of a marriage license application.
My name appeared at the top.
Daniel's name appeared beside it.
But there was a third document underneath.
A beneficiary designation.
May you like
And the name listed as the primary beneficiary wasn't mine.
It was Vanessa Reed.
