DANIEL: "And what happened?"
MARCUS: "The project collapsed."
Vanessa lowered her eyes.
MARCUS: "Several investors lost money. Documents went missing, payments were delayed, and Richard disappeared before anyone could get a clear explanation."
Daniel looked at Vanessa with growing disbelief.
DANIEL: "You were involved in a business with this man?"
VANESSA: "It was a long time ago."
DANIEL: "How long?"
VANESSA: "Almost six years."
Daniel slowly shook his head.
DANIEL: "Six years? And you never thought to mention any of this during our relationship?"
VANESSA: "I didn't want my past to affect our future."
DANIEL: "That's not your decision to make alone. You cannot build a relationship with someone while hiding important parts of your life."
Vanessa wiped away a tear.
VANESSA: "I know I made mistakes."
DANIEL: "Mistakes? Vanessa, we're talking about an entire business, missing money, and a man who is apparently still looking for you."
Marcus interrupted before she could respond.
MARCUS: "There's something else."
Daniel turned toward him.
DANIEL: "Of course there is. Go ahead."
MARCUS: "Richard believes Vanessa has something that belongs to him."
DANIEL: "What?"
MARCUS: "A collection of original documents connected to the investment project."
Daniel stared at Marcus.
DANIEL: "And where are these documents?"
Vanessa looked toward the wardrobe.
For a moment, she said nothing.
Then she slowly walked across the bedroom and opened one of the lower drawers. Beneath several folded pieces of clothing was a small brown envelope.
She removed it carefully and placed it on the bed.
VANESSA: "I've kept these for years."
Daniel looked at the envelope.
DANIEL: "You kept them here? In our house?"
VANESSA: "I didn't know what else to do with them."
MARCUS: "Those documents could explain what really happened to the investors' money."
Daniel looked at the envelope again.
DANIEL: "Then why didn't you give them to the authorities?"
Vanessa hesitated.
VANESSA: "Because I was afraid."
DANIEL: "Afraid of Richard?"
VANESSA: "Afraid of what would happen if everything became public."
Daniel took a step closer.
DANIEL: "What exactly is in that envelope?"
Vanessa opened it.
Inside were several folded papers, photocopies of financial records, and a small USB drive.
She placed everything on the bed.
VANESSA: "These are copies of the original agreements, some transaction records, and information about the company."
Daniel picked up one of the documents.
He did not understand every detail, but he could see that it contained names, dates, signatures, and financial figures.
At the bottom of the page was a signature that looked familiar.
He studied it carefully.
DANIEL: "Who signed this?"
VANESSA: "Richard."
DANIEL: "And yours?"
Vanessa pointed to another signature.
Daniel looked at her.
DANIEL: "You were a director?"
VANESSA: "Yes."
DANIEL: "So you weren't just helping him. You were officially involved."
VANESSA: "I was young, Daniel. I trusted him. He promised me that we were building something legitimate."
DANIEL: "And when everything collapsed?"
VANESSA: "He blamed me."
Daniel placed the document back on the bed.
DANIEL: "Why?"
VANESSA: "Because my name appeared on several of the company records. He told people that I had handled the financial side of the business. He made it look as though I had been responsible for everything."
MARCUS: "That wasn't true."
Daniel turned toward Marcus.
DANIEL: "How do you know?"
MARCUS: "Because I was there when some of those transactions happened. I worked with the company for a short period. I saw the way Richard operated."
DANIEL: "Then why didn't you come forward?"
Marcus looked uncomfortable.
MARCUS: "I did. But I didn't have enough evidence at the time."
Daniel folded his arms.
DANIEL: "And now you do?"
MARCUS: "That's what we're trying to establish."
Daniel looked at Vanessa.
DANIEL: "So let me understand this. You have been keeping these documents for six years, Richard is looking for you, and Marcus has been visiting you to discuss the matter. Is that correct?"
Vanessa nodded.
DANIEL: "How many times has he come here?"
VANESSA: "Daniel..."
DANIEL: "I asked you a question."
VANESSA: "Three times."
Daniel closed his eyes briefly.
DANIEL: "Three times?"
VANESSA: "Yes."
DANIEL: "And every time, you told me you were alone?"
VANESSA: "I didn't want you to worry."
DANIEL: "You keep saying that as though hiding the truth is a way of protecting someone."
Vanessa began crying.
VANESSA: "I was wrong. I understand that now."
Daniel walked toward the window.
He needed a moment to think.
He had spent three years believing that Vanessa had been completely honest with him. He knew she had experienced difficulties before they met, but he had never imagined that she was carrying a secret involving a failed business, missing money, and a man who might still be trying to reach her.
He remembered the conversations they had shared about their future.
He remembered asking her whether there was anything from her past that might affect their relationship.
She had looked directly into his eyes and told him that there was nothing.
Now those memories felt different.
DANIEL: "I need to ask you something, and I want you to answer honestly."
VANESSA: "Okay."
DANIEL: "Did you ever take money from that company?"
Vanessa immediately shook her head.
VANESSA: "No."
DANIEL: "Did you transfer money to another account?"
VANESSA: "No, Daniel."
DANIEL: "Did you know Richard was moving money without the investors' permission?"
Vanessa hesitated.
That hesitation was enough to make Daniel turn around.
DANIEL: "Why did you stop?"