Her manager sat in front of her, delighted that she was visiting him personally after such a long time. Ellen was in no such mood for pleasantries and questioned him severely.
“But where are all the funds? There is approximately six million that is gone. And who authorised all this? Because I certainly didn’t!” He showed her a signature on file, her signature, which gave Matt the Power of Attorney for her account and gave him total control over everything in her absence. She pointed out that in no uncertain terms did she sign it and that it was a case of fraud and forgery. On closer inspection, he saw that they did not match. He grew pale as she threatened him with exposure to the media and insisted that he find and reimburse all the missing money immediately. She said she would return the next day and expected a full report. In the meantime he was to close her account forthwith and transfer any remaining funds to an entirely new account to which only she had access. He was to personally oversee her account. She insisted that only she would authorise future transactions and then direct with him. He nodded and followed behind her and she stomped from his office.
“I shall also inform the police,” he said as she left.
“Do as you wish. I shall be back tomorrow. I shall speak to them then. Just find out exactly how much is missing and where it has all gone.”
She had no doubt that Matt had taken it all. She already knew the culprit, but let the bank and the police do their own investigation. At least she had stopped that account from haemorrhaging her money. She then went straight to her lawyers and started divorce proceedings against Matt, even though she couldn’t find out where he was. All the numbers she had for him were just ringing. There was no response. She wanted to find him to confront him. She would go after him guns blazing and take her revenge for everything he had done to her. She would chase him down until the last breath left her body. Now that things were underway and her mind was her own again she needed to speak to Dean and tell him everything that had happened. If there were one person in this world that she could trust, it would be him.
The numbers she had for his company for some reason diverted to Matt’s company, which confused her and she hung up, deciding she wanted to speak to Dean first.
She called his mobile and even that just rang, so she left a message and texted him. She had sent him a personal email to his private email address asking him to call her the moment he could. It was urgent. She hoped he would come back to her soon. She couldn’t understand why he hadn’t been looking for her or contacting her. They were normally in touch every few weeks and she had been out of everything for six months. Why was no one worried about her? Matt must have lied too well to everyone, that they all felt it ok for them not to speak to her directly. She would have to contact everyone and find out exactly what he had said.
She went down to his home in near Hamble, thinking all the way about what she was going to say to him, how she would start the conversation, where she would begin. He had to know everything, the good and the bad. She wouldn’t hide anything. On arriving, Ellen went straight to his office, but there was no one there. It was all closed and locked up, which was strange, as Margaret would normally always be in the office during working hours. She went to his house. Anne, the housekeeper, normally answered the door, but no matter how long she knocked, no one answered. She walked around the back and found that the gardens hadn’t been tended, and no staff was present. Maybe they had gone on holiday? Whatever was going on, she felt so out of touch with what was happening. She went to visit the neighbours who were just down the lane. They answered the door within minutes.
“Dean? Yes I believe he is in Spain. No-one has been at his house for a month or so.” They answered all her questions. She left at least knowing where Dean might be. She knew that whenever he was in Spain he would normally visit his own yacht, which he moored there for the summer. She would return to London and fly out there immediately. She tried his mobile again and it just rang. What on earth could he be doing for him to not pick up the phone?
Rushing back to London, Ellen was called on the phone by her bank manager. He told her that they had traced some of the missing money to Dean’s company, a very large transaction; in fact the largest was to him. Additional funds had gone to a doctor who had worked at a private clinic. She knew immediately what that was for as well as funds that were being transferred regularly to a Swiss bank account; which it turned out belonged to Matt. If Ellen had been angry before, she was very much more so now and she was very confused by the fact that Dean had received a large amount. Could he be involved? She doubted that completely but now she had another reason to speak with him urgently. She diverted directly to Heathrow and booked a flight to Spain on the way.
She chased up her lawyers regarding all avenues for the divorce. Her marriage to Matt could not be annulled as it had been consummated. The fact it was loveless, and she had been beaten, raped and tortured, were also not reasons for annulment, but she could use them for grounds for divorce.
He had done so much to try and ruin her, and he had almost succeeded, but she would show him she was made of stronger stuff. Her thoughts went back to her wedding night. The night that seemed like years ago. The night that she had dreamt of all her life. The special night where a man and woman truly join, that of marriage and on the marriage bed as man and wife; becoming more than boyfriend and girlfriend, more than even lovers but actually joined as one; until death them do part. That had been her dream anyway. No, now she wanted none of it. He had cruelly raped her that night and although the ordeal was over in minutes, her soul and mind were scarred for life. He had discarded her, his naïve bride. She had lain there on the bed like a used and broken ragdoll, too shocked and upset to comprehend what had just happened. He had gone to his own bedroom in the suite, his drunken shape staggering out of the room as he left. In the morning, he had already left. She had slowly dressed, and gone on to the balcony, and watched others that were happy on holiday. Couples laughing together and she knew that that would never be her. Her mind had played over the events of the wedding. Matt when he was on the lawn with the other woman. His odd behaviour and how he had kissed her. She still had no answers. He had shouted in a rage that she was his sister, but he had been drunk then and she thought he was trying to extricate himself from her questions. Ellen didn’t care anymore. She knew now what she had denied all along, before she had even met Matt, that Dean had always been the man for her. She would get Matt out of her life, once and for all. It had taken a man like Matt to awaken the passion within her, but the moment they had married he had killed it, and if anything, he made her passion stronger for Dean.
If the divorce was not granted, then it would be on his death, she would see to that. With everything that had happened to her, his death would be a perfect price for what he had put her through.
She wanted revenge. She wanted to murder Matt.
Chapter Twenty Two – Dean
The look on Dean’s face when she arrived was one of utter shock and surprise. She had boarded his yacht and spoken to one of his crew who gone to fetch him. He came out onto the main deck looking tired, his hair all tousled and a five o’clock shadow.
“Ellen! What a massive surprise! What on earth are you doing here?” He went over and gave her a brief hug. A hug that held none of the previous closeness of before. She had tried to hold on to him longer than he did and for a moment, there was awkwardness between them and he stepped back.
“What is going on mi amor?” The husky voice of the Contessa was suddenly behind them and they turned to see her wrapped only in a bed sheet looking absolutely splendid.
Ellen was rooted to the spot in shock and horror. She hadn’t even thought that Dean would be or could be with someone else. Looking at the beautiful creature before her she knew why she couldn’t reach him by phone earlier that day and why he hadn’t even checked up on her in the private clinic. He had been balls deep in this, admittedly stunning, Spanish ‘whore.’ He had moved on, and chances are he had
been involved with Matt all along. She turned sharply. Tears stinging at her eyes. The realisation that maybe he couldn’t be trusted weighing down on her. If she were totally honest with herself, now she knew she was dying inside. She loved him and he hadn’t even waited.
“One moment, Julia. I will be right there.” Julia shrugged and sat down on the comfortable seat by them.
“Me, I am not going anywhere.”
“Please Julia. I think I need a moment.”
“H'okay.” She stood up and petulantly went back inside, but not without looking at Ellen with distaste and some jealousy.
Ellen could barely control the tears, the anger and the sadness. She turned to him.
“How could you?” Dean was perplexed.
“How could I what?”
“After everything I have been through.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You, with her?” Dean smiled. She was jealous. She had thought she could just turn up and he would be there, her little lap dog, ready for her to tease and then leave again.
“Ellie, my dear, let us get one thing straight. You are a married woman. You went off and married someone else, despite all my declarations of love, I might add. You cannot just walk back in a few months later and start throwing a strop. It doesn’t work that way. I am single and I am entitled to a life. Even if that is without you.” She was so angry, she couldn’t even think of what to say.
“And speaking of which, does your husband know you are here? And why are you here?”
“You have no idea what had happened to me, do you?” She spat back at him, feeling hurt.
“No, why should I? You are your own person,” he paused and added, “married person.” He looked at her gently. “Are you here so that you can be more involved with my business? Is that it?”
“Your business? Why would I want that?”
“Because you are an investor in it.”
“No I am not.” She shook her head in disbelief.
“Yes you are. I have even received all the investment from you. Money, by the way, which is still safe and untouched. I don’t really need the funds. I intend to put them in a separate account. You should know you can’t buy me, me of all people, but I didn’t want to say no to you.”
“What are you talking about?” The Spanish woman was temporarily forgotten.
“A month or so ago, Matt came to me and said you wanted to invest. I said I didn’t need an investment and he said it was for you. So I said yes and made you part of the company. He said you wanted ten percent but I gave you a full partnership. It is you, after all.”
“Oh no!” Ellen sat down her legs suddenly going weak.
“What?”
“When was the last time you spoke to Margaret? Or your housekeeper?” He laughed.
“Oh about a month ago or so. I don’t need to keep tabs on everyone. They know where I am and things always tick by nicely when I go away. They will call me if they need anything. I am on an extended holiday.” Ellen started crying.
“When did you meet her?” He laughed for a moment and went to her and put his arm around her.
“About the same time. Oh, don’t worry Ellie, you will always be special to me.”
“Dean, it is not that. You have no idea.”
“Then what is all this about?”
“I am just so scared something has happened to you too.”
“Nothing has happened to me. I am fine. Look. Things are great. I am rested, happy, the business is great and...” He let his words trail off, as he thought about Julia with a smile.
“Dean, things may not be as you think they are, but you have to listen to me and you have to believe everything I tell you. You must not say anything until I have finished.”
Dean listened to everything she told him. At first he sat and listened, and as she continued he held her hand. He never said a word. His jaw was clenching, tighter and tighter, until he was so angry that he wanted to go after Matt. He was furious that he hadn’t realised what was going on. He knew he didn’t like the guy, right from the start. Right from the beginning he had known he was a bad egg. He had tried to like him because Ellen loved him. Now, he saw she had also been completely duped by him. Ellen sat stony faced. He called his staff to bring her a drink.
“Don’t worry Ellen. You are safe now. I won’t let him near you ever again and will help you through the divorce. My God Ellen, I am so sorry. I never realised. I never knew.”
“How could you know? It’s not your fault and I could so use a friend right now.”
“You can count on that Ellie. But first things first, let me wire the funds back into your account so you have some money to work with. After that, you can take it from there.”
“Thank you Dean.”
Tea was brought to them and Dean asked for his phone to be brought to him then on second thought, he excused himself and went inside, if only to let Julia know what was happening and why he was taking so long.
“Julia, darling.” She was lying on her side on the bed facing away from the door, and still wrapped in the sheet. She was languishing and waiting for him to come back to her arms. He kissed her on her shoulder. She moaned and turned over and kissed him on the lips. “I won’t be long. A friend of mine needs my help.”
“What kind of friend?” She asked suspiciously.
“Just a friend, mi querida.”
“I don’t like you talking to female friends...is she single?” She pouted. He laughed. What was it with these women today?
“No she is Mrs. Mellor. She married a contact of mine about six months ago.” He didn’t want to tell her the whole story, not yet, not when Ellen had just told him that she was filing for a divorce. Besides he didn’t want Julia getting all upset over nothing. He knew she had a passionate temper when aroused.
“Mrs. Mellor? She is the one that married Matt?” Dean’s heart stopped beating for a second when Julia unthinkingly mentioned Matt.
“Yes, you know him?” Now he eyed her suspiciously, but she didn’t notice.
“Oh yes. He and I go way back.” She said casually. “I knew him from a boy.” She suddenly became aware of what she had said realising that she had told him the one thing Matt had forbidden her to tell, but still not realising the implications it could have on her relationship with him.
“How exactly do you know him?” Dean started feeling angry.
“Oh, uh...uh...” She couldn’t find the words and wished she hadn’t said any thing, as she didn’t know how to answer his question. “This and that,” she finally said. She waved her hand around to try and convey nonchalance and lack of importance but Dean ignored it.
“What this and that?” He grabbed her wrist and his blue eyes pierced hers with his stare. He twisted her wrist just slightly. He could feel the anger rising up inside him and although he wouldn’t hurt her, he wanted to convey the importance of her answering the question.
“Ok. Ok. I have done a few jobs for him. That is all, but you are not a job. Not now.”
The moment the words escaped her lips, she knew then that the relationship was over. She had blown it. All the happiness she had with him disappeared like smoke on the air. He bellowed in anger and grabbed her. He pulled her up from the bed and to her feet. She put her hand out and grabbed the sheet, which had fallen onto the bed.
“What are you doing? she screamed as he dragged her to the door.
“I am throwing you off my yacht.”
“You, you can’t do that to me! I am The Contessa Julia de Varpasquez.”
“I don’t care if you are the bloody Queen of England. You are leaving my yacht-right now.”
“But my clothes!”
“You’ll get them back. You....” Dean couldn’t find the words and so he left the unspoken insults to hang in the air. He dragged her outside and passed a very curious Ellen.
“It was YOU!” Julia screamed as she was dragged naked passed Ellen. “It is all your fault. I was happy for once.”
<
br /> Dean threw her off the boat and on to the marina walkway where his yacht was berthed. He called his crew and instructed them to not allow her or anyone else aboard and asked that another throw her, her things. Julia was screaming in anger and rage up at the boat. Several other yacht owners looked up to watch the spectacle, but Julia didn’t care and neither did Dean. She just made herself look cheap. As though she had come on board for a night and her services were now finished against her will. It was not an uncommon sight in Europe.
“What’s happened? What is going on?” Ellen asked as Dean guided her inside so she wouldn’t be subjected to all the insults Julia was spitting at them.
“Oh, nothing to concern you. Just a little much needed house cleaning. Now, to call the office and the bank to sort the rest out.” Dean took the phone and dialled the office. He was perplexed when the call was diverted to Matt’s company. He hung up and turned to ask Ellen.
“Why would my company calls be diverted to Matt’s company?”
“I found the same. That’s why I came to see you.”
“Did you go to my offices?”
“Yes. They were closed.”
“Closed?”
“Yes and I went to your home.”
“What did Anne say?”
“Nothing. There was no one there.”
“What do you mean there was no one there?”
“Precisely that, that your house was empty. The neighbours said it had been for a month or so.”
“It doesn’t make sense. I will phone Veronique.”
“Who is that?”
“It’s Priscilla. Long story. I will explain later.” The phone just rang and so Dean texted her. “I hope she will get back to me soon so I know what is going on. I’m sure she would have said something to me.” He called the bank and asked to speak to his bank manager Mr. Larpen.
“Mr. Montalban Smythe, how lovely to hear from you. What can I do for you? I hope you are enjoying your new life in Spain.”
To Murder Matt Page 26
