Page 3 of Beautiful Lies

"Mrs. Monroe." His deep voice is rough and edged with cold authority. The kind of voice that gives orders and expects obedience. "I'm sorry for your loss." The words sound wrong in his mouth, like he's speaking a foreign language, except we understand him perfectly, along with his complete absence of compassion.

"Please, have a seat, Mr. Vale." William waves toward the leather chairs opposite Mom and me.

While William settles into the winged chair behind his desk, Knox takes the one directly across from me.

He looks at me again. Just a glance, but for that split second, it feels like he's catalogued every detail about me.

Ice travels down my spine, and my instincts scream at me to look away. So, I do.

William clears his throat, the sound loud in this cavernous office. "I'm afraid this meeting concerns unfinished business between your father and Vale Global."

My pulse skips.Unfinished business?The phrase sits like a stone in my stomach. "What sort of business?"

"Serious matters regarding financial misconduct." His gaze flickers to Knox. "Along with an outstanding debt to Mr. Vale."

"What?" I gasp, air freezing in my lungs.

"I'm afraid the matter is rather grave."

A tremor ripples through me. God, I was right.

Shit.Iwas right. Thisismore bad news.

Mom's breath hitches. "I don't understand. My husband stopped working with Vale Global eight years ago."

William nods slowly, like he expected that reaction. "He did. But it doesn't matter."

Knox leans back, resting an elbow on the arm of his chair. "Let's not dance around, William." His voice cuts through the air, low and clipped, laced with impatience. I'm almost glad he's done with the fake condolences and showing his true self now. "My time is valuable. Get to the point."

"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 thepoint."

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 questionablepeople a lot of money and needed a lump sum to repay them."

Oh, Dad... How could you keep such a thing from us?