Chapter 9 - When the Mask Slips in the Vineyard
The arrests of Julian Vance and Donald Sterling sent shockwaves through the California agricultural industry. News vans and reporters swarmed the exterior of the Anderson Harvest Group headquarters, broadcasting live reports of the massive forty-five-million-dollar land-fraud scandal.
Yet, Taylor knew the snake’s head was still loose.
That evening, Victor received an urgent phone call from Santa Barbara. It was Evelyn Anderson, his stepmother. Her voice was frantic, weeping, begging Victor to meet her at the family’s private estate in the Napa Valley vineyards to "explain everything" before she was ruined.
"It’s a trap," Taylor warned Victor as they stood by his car in the underground executive garage. "Vance was her partner. With Vance in custody, she knows the paper trail leads directly to her offshore accounts."
"I know," Victor said, his eyes filled with a mixture of sorrow and resolve. "My father loved her. He gave her everything. I need to look her in the eye and hear her confess why she helped destroy him."
"Then I’m coming with you," Taylor said, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Two hours later, their vehicle wound up the private, cobblestone driveway of the Anderson Estate—a sprawling Tuscan-style villa nestled among rolling hills of premium Cabernet vines.
The front doors were unlocked. The grand living room was dimly lit by the flickering flames of a stone fireplace.
Evelyn Anderson sat on a cream velvet sofa, holding a glass of wine. At fifty-two, she was an undeniably striking woman, dressed in an elegant black cashmere dress, her blonde hair perfectly coiffed, though her eyes were wild with nervous energy.
"Victor," Evelyn whispered, standing up as they entered. "Thank God you came. Julian was a monster. He forced me to sign those offshore papers. He threatened to ruin my reputation if I didn't cooperate!"
Victor stopped ten feet away, his expression carved from stone. "Save the performance, Evelyn. We audited the communication logs between your private phone and Vance’s encrypted server. You didn't just cooperate—you planned it. You introduced Vance to the private equity brokers in the Caymans."
Evelyn’s tearful facade vanished in an instant. The warmth in her face vanished, replaced by a cold, venomous sneer.
"Your father was a fool, Victor," Evelyn said, taking a slow sip of her wine. "He cared more about dirt, crops, and migrant workers than real wealth. He sat on billions in prime real estate and treated it like a family garden. Julian and I were going to take this company public and cash out for four hundred million dollars."
"And what about my father’s heart failure?" Victor asked, his voice shaking with restrained emotion. "Did Julian help you with that, too?"
Evelyn set her wine glass down on the marble table with a sharp clink.
"Your father started asking too many questions about the Apex accounts," she said coldly. "He was going to cut me out of the will completely. His heart simply... couldn't handle the strain of the truth."
May you like
From the shadows near the terrace doors, two men in dark suits stepped forward, their hands resting on concealed firearms.
"You should have stayed in your little cubicle, Miss Nelson," Evelyn said, turning her cruel gaze toward Taylor. "And Victor, you should have taken your inheritance and moved to Europe. Now, both of you are going to suffer a tragic car accident on the mountain pass on your way home."
Related Stories
