Chapter 6: The Best Friend Who Sold Her Secret
Nia read the message three times.
Then she looked at her father.
“Dad, Jasmine says she knows something about Mom.””
Malcolm's expression changed.
“What exactly did she say?””
Nia handed him the phone.
He read the messages.
His jaw tightened.
“Don't respond yet.””
“Why?””
“Because we don't know what she wants.””
“She was my best friend.””
“I know.””
“She helped me through my pregnancy.””
Malcolm placed the phone on the table.
“That's why we need to be careful.””
Nia looked toward the sleeping baby.
Her voice became small.
“What if she really knows something?””
Malcolm didn't answer immediately.
He knew his daughter had already been through enough.
He also knew that her mother's memory was a wound that had never completely healed.
Finally, he said, “We'll hear what she has to say. But not alone.””
Nia nodded.
Angela joined them by video call again.
Malcolm explained the message.
Angela listened carefully.
“I can arrange a secure video meeting.””
Nia shook her head.
“I want to see her face.””
Angela nodded.
“Then we'll arrange a meeting in a controlled setting.””
Malcolm glanced at his daughter.
“Are you sure?””
Nia took a deep breath.
“Yes.””
An hour later, Jasmine Reed appeared on a large screen in the resort's private conference room.
She was twenty-eight, with long black braids and a familiar beauty mark near her left eyebrow.
She looked exhausted.
Her eyes were swollen.
She wore a cream sweater and gold hoop earrings.
The moment she saw Nia, she began crying.
“Nia.””
Nia sat across from the screen.
“Why?””
Jasmine covered her mouth.
“I'm sorry.””
“Why did you use my information?””
Jasmine shook her head.
“I didn't think it would go this far.””
Nia stared at her.
“You opened an account in my name.””
“I was told it was temporary.””
“You used my identity.””
“I know.””
“You helped someone steal money.””
Jasmine lowered her head.
“I know.””
Nia's voice trembled.
“Do you understand what that could have done to my life?””
Jasmine wiped her face.
“I didn't know they were going to put the money through your account.””
“Who told you to do it?””
Jasmine hesitated.
Then she looked toward Malcolm.
“Vanessa.””
Malcolm leaned forward.
“Explain.””
Jasmine took a breath.
“I work for a company called Whitmore Lifestyle Management. Vanessa hired me last year to handle personal scheduling, travel arrangements, and administrative work.””
Nia frowned.
“You never told me you worked for her.””
“I was embarrassed.””
“Why?””
“Because you hated everything she represented.””
Nia stared at her.
“That isn't a reason to lie to me.””
Jasmine nodded.
“I know.””
“Keep talking.””
Jasmine looked down.
“Vanessa said she needed a temporary financial profile for a private hospitality arrangement. She told me the account would be closed after the investment transaction.””
“Why my name?””
“Because she said you were connected to the Brooks family.””
Nia shook her head.
“But nobody knew I was going to the resort.””
Jasmine looked up.
“Vanessa knew.””
Nia froze.
“What?””
“She knew Malcolm Brooks had a daughter. She didn't know exactly when you would arrive, but she knew you were his daughter.””
Malcolm's eyes narrowed.
“Who told her?””
Jasmine hesitated.
“Richard.””
Malcolm leaned back.
Richard Whitmore had known about Nia.
That meant the incident in the lobby might not have been random.
Nia looked at Jasmine.
“Did Vanessa tell you to use my identity?””
Jasmine nodded.
“She said it was a way to make sure the money didn't appear connected to Richard's company.””
Nia looked sick.
“And you agreed?””
Jasmine started crying harder.
“My brother was in trouble.””
Nia remained silent.
Jasmine continued.
“He owed money to some people. Vanessa offered to pay his debt if I helped with the paperwork.””
Nia shook her head.
“You could have asked me for help.””
“I was ashamed.””
“You could have told me the truth.””
“I know.””
“You let me believe you were my friend.””
Jasmine pressed her hands against her face.
“I am your friend.””
Nia looked at her.
“No. A friend doesn't put a crime in your name and then wait for you to discover it.””
Jasmine began sobbing.
Malcolm remained quiet.
He wanted to end the call.
But Nia needed answers.
“Why did you message me about my mother?””
Jasmine's crying stopped.
She looked toward the camera.
“Because Vanessa showed me something.””
“What?””
“A file.””
“What file?””
Jasmine hesitated.
“Your mother's old financial records.””
Malcolm immediately sat forward.
“That's impossible.””
Jasmine looked at him.
“I'm telling the truth.””
“What records?””
“A trust document. It had your mother's name on it.””
Malcolm's expression changed.
Nia looked confused.
“My mother didn't have a trust.””
Malcolm turned toward his daughter.
“Your mother had an estate account.””
Nia blinked.
“You never told me that.””
“I didn't want you worrying about money when you were younger.””
“What happened to it?””
Malcolm looked down.
“After she passed, the account was transferred into a protected family trust.””
Nia's voice became quieter.
“How much was in it?””
Malcolm hesitated.
“Approximately $1.8 million.””
Nia stared at him.
“Dad?””
“I intended to tell you when you were older.””
“I'm twenty-seven.””
“I know.””
“Where is it now?””
Malcolm looked toward Angela.
Angela answered carefully.
“The trust remains active.””
Nia looked between them.
“Then why is Jasmine talking about it?””
Jasmine leaned toward the camera.
“Because Vanessa showed me a document claiming that your mother had assigned part of the trust to a company.””
Malcolm's face hardened.
“What company?””
Jasmine swallowed.
“Desert Crown Consulting.””
The room fell silent.
Nia looked at her father.
“That's Derek's company.””
Malcolm nodded slowly.
“Yes.””
Jasmine continued.
“Vanessa said the company had been receiving payments connected to the trust for years.””
Malcolm shook his head.
“That is impossible.””
Jasmine's voice trembled.
“She showed me a signature.””
“Whose?””
“Your mother's.””
Nia felt the room shift around her.
“My mother died eleven years ago.””
“I know.””
“Then how could she have signed anything?””
Jasmine looked directly at Nia.
“That's what I couldn't understand.””
Malcolm stood.
“Angela, end the call.””
Nia immediately turned.
“No!””
He stopped.
“Baby, we've heard enough.””
“Not yet.””
She faced the screen again.
“Jasmine, did you see the original document?””
“Yes.””
“Where is it?””
“In Vanessa's private office.””
“Can you get it?””
Jasmine looked frightened.
“I don't know.””
“Please.””
Jasmine closed her eyes.
“I can try.””
Malcolm stepped closer.
“Jasmine, if you're telling the truth, you need to cooperate with the investigation. Don't remove or alter any records.””
Jasmine nodded.
“I understand.””
Nia leaned forward.
“Why didn't you tell me before?””
Jasmine's lips trembled.
“Because Vanessa said she would ruin my family if I spoke.””
Nia stared at her.
“And what did she say about me?””
Jasmine looked down.
“She said you were supposed to be an easy name to use.””
Nia felt tears slide down her cheeks.
“An easy name?””
Jasmine nodded.
“She said nobody would suspect you because you didn't know anything about the business.””
Malcolm ended the call.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Nia quietly asked:
“Dad, did Mom know something about these people?””
Malcolm looked at her.
“I don't know.””
“You were married to her.””
“I know.””
“Did she ever mention Vanessa?””
Malcolm thought carefully.
Then his face changed.
“There was one woman.””
“Who?””
“Your mother told me someone from the Whitmore family had approached her about an investment.””
Nia leaned forward.
“When?””
“About a year before she died.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I thought it was unrelated.””
Malcolm walked toward the window.
“I thought it was just another business disagreement.””
Nia stood slowly, holding her sleeping baby.
“What if it wasn't?””
Malcolm turned.
“Then we'll find out.””
Across town, Vanessa Whitmore was pacing inside a private residence.
Richard sat at a dining table, staring at his laptop.
Derek was on speakerphone.
“Jasmine talked to them,” Derek said.
Vanessa stopped walking.
“What?””
“She spoke to Nia.””
Richard looked up.
“How do you know?””
“Someone at the hotel told me the compliance team arranged a video call.””
Vanessa grabbed her phone.
“That idiot!””
Richard closed his laptop.
“Calm down.””
“Don't tell me to calm down. She was supposed to keep her mouth shut.””
Derek's voice became tense.
“She knows about the trust.””
Richard stood.
“What trust?””
Vanessa looked at him.
“Don't pretend you don't know.””
Richard's expression darkened.
“I told you never to discuss that.””
Vanessa threw her phone onto the sofa.
“Well, it's too late now.””
Derek spoke again.
“There's another problem.””
Richard rubbed his forehead.
“What?””
“The original trust document is missing.””
Vanessa froze.
“Missing?””
“Yes. It was in the private office.””
“Who took it?””
“I don't know.””
Richard stared at Vanessa.
“You said you had secured everything.””
“I did!””
“Then where is it?””
Vanessa's voice rose.
“I don't know, Richard!””
A long silence followed.
Then Derek said something that made Richard's face lose all color.
“The document wasn't the only thing in that file.””
Richard slowly looked at him.
“What else?””
Derek swallowed.
“An original letter from Malcolm's wife.””
Vanessa closed her eyes.
Richard whispered:
“Does Malcolm know about the letter?””
Derek didn't answer.
Back at the resort, Malcolm was standing in the private conference room with Angela.
She had pulled up the old trust records.
“There is something unusual,” she said.
“What?””
“The trust was established after your wife's death, but the original beneficiary instructions were signed before she died.””
Malcolm nodded.
“Yes.””
“There's a handwritten amendment.””
He leaned closer.
“What does it say?””
Angela enlarged the document.
At the bottom was a short handwritten note.
Malcolm recognized the handwriting immediately.
It belonged to his late wife, Evelyn.
He had not seen it in eleven years.
He read the sentence silently.
Then he read it again.
His hand began to tremble.
Angela watched him.
“Mr. Brooks?””
Malcolm looked up.
“Who has access to the original document?””
“According to the records, only three people.””
“Who?””
“Yourself, the estate attorney, and one additional authorized representative.””
Malcolm frowned.
“Who?””
Angela turned the screen toward him.
The name appeared.
*RICHARD WHITMORE.*
Malcolm stared at it.
Then he whispered:
“Evelyn, what did you know?””
His phone rang.
It was the estate attorney.
Malcolm answered immediately.
“Hello?””
The attorney's voice sounded urgent.
“Malcolm, I've been trying to reach you.””
“What happened?””
“I found the original letter from Evelyn.””
Malcolm closed his eyes.
“Where?””
“In the archived estate files.””
“Read it to me.””
The attorney hesitated.
“Malcolm, I think you should see it yourself.””
“Why?””
A pause.
Then the attorney said:
“Because your wife didn't leave the trust to you.””
Malcolm's blood ran cold.
“What are you talking about?””
“The trust was established for Nia.””
“I know that.””
“No, Malcolm. You don't understand.””
The attorney took a breath.
“Your wife left a separate condition. And if the condition was violated, the entire estate was supposed to transfer to Nia immediately.””
Malcolm looked toward the conference room door.
Nia was standing there, holding her sleeping son.
She had heard enough to know something was wrong.
“Dad?””
Malcolm stared at his daughter.
The attorney continued.
“And Malcolm, according to the original letter, Evelyn believed someone in the Whitmore family was going to try to take it.””
Nia slowly approached.
“Dad, what is happening?””
Malcolm lowered the phone.
For the first time that afternoon, he looked afraid.
May you like
Because the next words from the attorney changed everything.
*“Malcolm, the condition was triggered eleven years ago. Someone has been hiding the transfer ever since.””*
