Chapter 1 #2
"Of course, Mr. Vale," William replies, trying to steady his tone. "But questions are to be expected in a situation like this."
Knox gives him a steely stare meant to silence even the boldest man. "You heard me. Get to the point."
What an absolute asshole. I've never heard anyone speak to William in such a rude manner. Can't Knox see we're in shock? And grieving?
"John owes Mr. Vale one hundred thousand dollars for a loan he borrowed to clear a debt on the restaurant."
"A hundred thousand dollars!" The words rip out of me like thunder. "When has the restaurant ever been in such debt?"
That restaurant has been in my family for over a hundred years.
It was never supposed to fall into debt.
My great-grandparents bought it back when you could still dream of owning a business on Park Avenue.
It’s the only thing of value we have left, and my mother’s only source of income, most of which goes to her heart treatment.
Instinctively, I look at her. Surely, she would have known. But she looks just as flabbergasted and clueless as me.
"It was last year," William supplies. "John put the place up as collateral a few years ago."
"Collateral?" Mom can barely speak. "He never said anything to me. I was aware he’d remortgaged the house but he never told me about the restaurant. I should have known about that.”
William’s expression softens, like he recognizes the sting of being kept in the dark. “Not necessarily. The restaurant is solely in John’s name, inherited from his parents. He wasn’t required to disclose anything to you.”
The ache of disappointment blooms beneath my ribs, another crack forming in a place I didn’t know could break any further.
I shouldn’t be surprised anymore, but somehow, I am. Dad trusted everyone except the people who loved him.
“I can’t believe he kept that from me,” Mom whispers, the hurt in her voice unmistakable.
"It seems he kept that and many other things quiet. John owed some... highly questionable people a lot of money and needed a lump sum to repay them."
Oh, Dad... How could you keep such a thing from us?
We knew about other loans and the mortgage arrears, but this is on a whole other level of bad.
And where the hell are we supposed to find a hundred thousand dollars to give Knox Vale?
But wait…there's more. We haven't started talking about the financial misconduct yet.
"Tell me about the misconduct. Now," I rattle out. "We can't be held responsible for that."
"This is a special case," Knox answers, looking far too pleased to deliver the blow. "One where every court of law on this planet would side with me."
"What makes it so special?" Mom speaks up.
"Evidence, Mrs. Monroe." Knox straightens and glares at us.
"Eight years ago, my family's company got caught up in one of the biggest wire fraud and embezzlement scandals of this century.
It almost ruined us. The only reason we survived was because the link to us was weak.
Days ago, new evidence surfaced. Evidence proving it was your husband who fucked us over. "
For a moment, I can't breathe. Neither can Mom.
Knox's gaze cuts to mine, and I swear the air shifts. "Five million dollars in investment funds were gone just like that. John used some elaborate hacking system so no one could detect him and moved the money to a private account under a shell company."
Mom's hand flies to her chest. "That can't be true. John would never—"
"He did, Greta," William interrupts gently, his expression tight with regret. "We've reviewed the records. The transactions were confirmed."
“But millions? Dad stole millions?” I choke out.
“He did. It seems he was hired to steal the money by people he had no business knowing. He also kept some to set up his own business and pay off debts.”
The room tilts. My head spins. I'm going to throw up.
God, I remember the scandal. Dad, like many others, left Vale Global because of it—they didn’t want to taint their good names. Back then, my father’s reputation carried real weight. When he set up his own firm, he had no trouble attracting high-end clients.
Then something happened, and he lost it all within two years. It made no sense, and there was never a solid explanation.
The years that followed dragged him deeper into debt, even after he managed to secure another job.
Hearing about his deep, dark secrets and association with highly questionable people explains a lot. God, everything makes sense now. Everything.
"Imagine fucking us over by millions and almost ruining a legacy, then running back to me years later to ask for a loan." Knox sneers with disgust.
I look at him, and his gaze slides over to me.
"What do you want from us?" I can't take another second of this suspense.
"Repayment."
"You know good and well we can't pay you anything." He knows. Men like him do their homework.
His lips curve. Not in amusement. Something darker. "I have an offer for you, Miss Monroe. Think of it as a lifeline in your... destitute state."
I blink. "What is it?"
"A way to settle your father's debt without involving lawyers, headlines, or federal court."
"Tell me." God, I hate the desperation in my tone.
Knox steeples his fingers, a slow smirk pulling at his mouth. "Your father left you the restaurant."
"He did?" I glance at William, who nods, but there's a look in his eyes that makes the fine hairs on the back of my neck rise.
"Your father set up an irrevocable trust so you would inherit the restaurant without any problems," William explains with a sigh.
"He also set up a monthly stipend from the restaurant's earnings for your mother to pay for her treatment and living expenses.
My guess is he did it to keep the property from his creditors.
The restaurant was the one thing they couldn't touch.
However, since Mr. Vale lent your father the money to clear the debt, he now has a financial interest in the property. "
“What exactly does that mean?” I prod.
“It means I can take you to court. The trust prevents the sale of the restaurant within six months of John’s death, but I could get an injunction to close it, then demand it be sold off to pay the debt,” Knox answers, his face stern.
“You can’t do that. We need the money from the restaurant,” I stutter.
“I know. And yes, I can do that.” His gaze sharpens. “Also, since we now have new evidence tying John to the embezzlement scandal, I’m within my rights as the incoming CEO of Vale Global to seize everything else you own to recoup my losses.”
My stomach drops. He says it so calmly, like dismantling my life is just another business transaction.
Mom gasps, clutching her chest. “We’ll have nothing left.”
“This is the solution to repaying the debt?” I cut in, grabbing the edge of my seat. “By scaring us?”
Knox glances at my white-knuckled hands and smirks.
“I don’t have to scare anybody, Miss Monroe.
If the truth hurts, it hurts. That’s not my problem.
But I don’t like wasting time. Apart from having to wait six months to demand the sale of the property, taking you to court will likely drag on for several months, maybe years, of legal proceedings. Unless you accept the alternative.”
“Which is?”
“To marry me.”
My lungs lock, and my heart stops beating so abruptly I wonder if it will ever start again. "What?"
"To get the restaurant, you must marry," William explains.
How is he only just telling me this now?
“Marriage? You've got to be kidding me."
William shakes his head. “Sadly, I’m not.
Your father’s attorneys are still handling the will and the probate filings.
I’m only here as trustee, and as your father’s friend, to explain what’s happening and the best options before they contact you.
It would be a breach of conduct for them to suggest marriage as a way to clear a debt.
While I don’t condone the idea myself, marrying Mr. Vale would, technically, be mutually beneficial to you both. ”
“But it’s marriage. Marriage, William.” The air squeezes out of my lungs like I’ve been punched. Marriage. Like it’s some neat solution on a spreadsheet instead of the wrecking ball it feels like in my chest.
“After six months, you'd own the restaurant in equal shares. At which time you could sell and divide the profits, buy each other out at market value, or keep it. You could also divorce and go your separate ways."
William is talking. His lips are moving. Everything he's saying is clear as crystal. I just can't get my mind to work.
Marriage.
Marriage to Knox Vale?
I don’t know him, and I already think he’s an asshole. Yes, my father wronged him and his company. Dad has disappointed and disgusted me to no end, but make no mistake—Knox Vale is the devil. A monster.
How the hell can I marry him?
But… what are my choices?
He just told me what would happen if I turned him down. We'd be left with nothing.
"This is serious," I mutter, more to myself than anyone else.
I glance at Mom just as a tear runs down her cheek.
Knox leans forward, resting his forearms on his knees, every inch the predator closing in.
"You went to Brown. I take that to mean you're a smart girl.
I'm sure you can figure this out." He stands.
"William will go through my terms and conditions with you.
You have three days to give me an answer, so don't keep me waiting. I'm not a patient man."
He gives me a final once-over, then heads toward the door, leaving it open as he saunters away.
His menace lingers in the air, filling me with a sharp, unmistakable dread.