“What do you want, Vanessa?” I asked, stopping near the elevators.

“I… I just wanted to say,” she stammered, her eyes darting to Margaret’s briefcase.

“I was only following Grant’s instructions.”

“He told me it was all legal.”

“Tell it to the judge, Vanessa,” Margaret said coldly.

“The emergency custody hearing is scheduled for tomorrow morning.”

Vanessa swallowed hard, her manicured fingers clutching her phone.

“The custody hearing,” she repeated.

“He wants the kids so he can access the trust’s family allowance,” she whispered.

“He told me that was the only way to keep the creditors away from the townhouses.”

“We know,” I said.

Vanessa looked at me, a desperate calculation in her eyes.

“If I… if I have information,” she began, her voice dropping to a whisper.

“Information about his financial plans for the children.”

“Would that help my situation?”

Margaret paused, her eyes narrowing.

“We are not in a position to offer you deals, Vanessa,” Margaret said.

“But the court always looks favorably on truthfulness.”

“Especially when it concerns the welfare of three infants.”

Vanessa wet her lips and nodded slowly.