“Seriously?”
“Of course. We’re married now. Your problems are mine.”
Alexander hugged her.
“Val, you are incredible. I knew I made the right decision.”
If only he knew.
“How much do you need exactly?” she asked.
“Well… maybe fifty thousand. Enough to calm everything down.”
Fifty thousand out of nearly a million. He lied without even blinking.
“All right. Tomorrow I’ll transfer it to you.”
“Seriously? Just like that?”
“Alexander, I love you. I want you calm so you can focus on work.”
“You’re perfect,” he said, kissing her.
Perfect to scam, he must have been thinking.
That night, while Alexander slept, Valentina called Sophia.
“How did the meeting go?” Sophia asked.
“Better than I expected. They’ll cooperate. And Alexander? He’s desperate. He asked me for fifty thousand.”
“Fifty thousand out of almost a million. Exactly.”
“And tomorrow I’m going to give it to him.”
“Why?”
“To be the perfect wife. He has to trust me for the plan to work.”
“And the proof?”
“I’m already working on it. He keeps asking Dad for power of attorney. It’s only a matter of time before he tries something concrete.”
“Valentina, are you sure you know what you’re doing?”
“I do. Trust me.”
The next morning, Valentina went to the bank and transferred fifty thousand dollars into Alexander’s account. When he saw the transfer, he practically cried with relief.
“Valentina, thank you so much. You have no idea what a weight you just took off me.”
“I can imagine. Now you can focus on the work.”
“Exactly. By the way, about that power of attorney…”
“Alexander, my dad needs time. You understand that, right?”
“I understand. But Valentina, can I tell you something? I have ideas for expanding the family businesses, but I need access to some documents first so I can study them better.”
“What kind of documents?”
“Supplier contracts. Account statements. That sort of thing. Nothing unusual.”
“And what do you need them for?”
“To understand how everything works, so I can suggest improvements.”
Valentina pretended to think.
“That makes sense. I can ask my dad to let you see some of that.”
“Really? That would be perfect.”
“But Alexander, do you promise you’ll only use that information to study the business?”
“Of course. What else would I use it for?”
To rob us, she thought.
“All right. I’ll talk to him today.”
Alexander kissed her with renewed enthusiasm.
“You are the best wife in the world.”
If only he knew he was digging his own grave.
Valentina called Richard.
“Dad, Alexander is really interested in understanding the business better. He asked if you could let him look at some documents.”
“What kind of documents?”
“Contracts. Account statements. Things like that. He says he wants to suggest improvements.”
Richard was silent for a moment.
“Daughter, that is highly sensitive company information.”
“I know, Dad, but now he’s family, and he seems genuinely interested in helping.”
“Let me talk to him first. See what kind of ideas he actually has.”
“Of course.”
“Valentina, can I ask you something?”
“Go ahead.”
“Isn’t Alexander’s interest in the business getting a little too intense?”
Valentina faked surprise.
“How so?”
“He asks a lot of questions about values, accounts, suppliers. A little much for someone who barely started.”
“Dad, he just wants to impress you. Show you he’s committed.”
“Maybe. But I’m going to stay alert.”
“Of course. You’re right to be cautious.”
