Chapter 79 Betty
Although Rachel had only met Qiana briefly, she knew that Qiana had a good relationship with her mother-in-law, Heather, and was now a regular at the illegal business.
Her fingers tightened around her purse strap, turning slightly pale.
Why did she have to run into her?
If Qiana told Heather about seeing her at the law firm today, Heather would definitely become suspicious of her.
Despite the turmoil inside, Rachel maintained a polite smile, "Qiana! What a coincidence. What brings you to the law firm?"
"Just some trivial matters, not worth mentioning."
Qiana was in a business marriage with Neil Griffin, the head of the Griffin family. Although they had a son and a daughter, their relationship had always been strained. Neil's affairs had been making headlines for years.
Rachel had heard rumors about their impending divorce.
It made sense for Qiana to seek out Benjamin.
Qiana asked, "What about you? Why are you here?"
Rachel's smile didn't falter as she quickly devised an excuse, "Stargaze Gallery has a new project. There are some uncertainties with the operating contract, and since I know Mr. Wright, I asked him to review it for me."
She turned to Benjamin, "How's the contract coming along, Mr. Wright?"
Benjamin caught the plea in her smiling eyes and smirked slightly, his tone still cool.
"I've revised the intellectual property and breach of contract clauses. You'll need to discuss the management and maintenance responsibilities with your client."
Rachel's heart skipped a beat, her eyes flickering briefly with relief.
She nodded, "Alright, I'll check it later."
"If you're busy, I won't keep you," Qiana said with a smile, "When your mother-in-law feels better, have her bring you over for coffee and cards."
The news of Heather's illness after Radiant Beauty Spa's investigation had spread through Dawnlight City's elite circles.
Many had called to cancel their memberships the day after the spa closed.
Only long-time clients like Qiana worried that Heather might never recover.
"Sure," Rachel replied with a smile, "When Radiant Beauty Spa reopens, you must come by."
"Of course. Tell your mother-in-law to rest easy," Qiana said, "Take care. We'll catch up soon."
"Alright, take care, Qiana."
Rachel watched Qiana's figure disappear from view, finally relaxing a bit.
Benjamin, leaning against the doorframe, noted her genuine expression fading away. He raised an eyebrow and turned back inside, "She's gone. Come in."
Rachel followed him, carrying her purse and juice into his office.
"Thanks for that. Qiana is one of the clients in Radiant Beauty Spa's illegal business, one of Heather's regulars."
Benjamin paused in his paperwork, looking up at her without speaking.
He had taken on Qiana's divorce case over three months ago, and it was still in mediation.
She might be a key to uncovering Radiant Beauty Spa's illegal activities.
As a lawyer, Benjamin had professional ethics to uphold and couldn't exploit one case to benefit another. The Griffin family divorce case needed to be resolved quickly.
He nodded slightly, "No problem. Just doing my job. Want some coffee?"
"No, thanks."
Rachel waved her hand. Her sleep quality had been poor lately, and another cup of coffee would only worsen her insomnia. She hated the feeling of insomnia.
"I came today about the accounting books for Radiant Beauty Spa's illegal business," she said, showing him her phone's gallery. "I took these photos yesterday. Comparing them with previous ones, I noticed many discrepancies. I suspect they're falsified accounts."
Benjamin took the phone, frowning as he enlarged the photos. He pulled out several papers from his desk and meticulously compared them.
After a while, his frown deepened. He returned her phone and set the papers aside.
"Where did you get these records?"
"The same place as the previous ones," Rachel nodded towards the papers. "Looks like the tax audit made her more cautious."
Benjamin's fingers tapped lightly on the desk, his voice clear, "According to tax law, falsified records exceeding ten thousand dollars should be prosecuted."
"These records only have Heather's signature, without Radiant Beauty Spa's official stamp. Legally, they aren't sufficient evidence of falsified accounts."
It meant they wouldn't hold up in court and could be easily countered by the defense.
Rachel wasn't necessarily trying to use the falsified accounts as evidence, but wanted to know how to handle them.
"If she's integrating falsified accounts seamlessly, there should be invoices."
Rachel pondered, remembering the genuine records in Heather's study. If she could obtain those, the falsified accounts and invoices would be minor issues. But how to get them?
The previous times, Maeve had distracted Heather, but that excuse might not work again. Heather was sharp, and if she sensed something, it would take many lies and reasons to cover up.
"I'll find a way," Rachel said. "I'll organize the evidence I've collected and send it to you."
Benjamin nodded, considering for a moment, "Your divorce evidence is almost complete. When do you plan to file?"
Rachel hesitated, feeling a mix of pain and suffocation at the thought of facing Steven in court. But it would all dissipate eventually.
She smirked, looking at Benjamin, "The divorce evidence is ready, but—"
Benjamin's sharp eyes caught her suppressed emotions. He shifted his gaze, sipping his cold coffee, the bitterness lingering. He hadn't found coffee bitter before, but today it tasted different.
He frowned slightly, understanding her concerns, "My advice is to wait until you have solid evidence against Radiant Beauty Spa, sell your shares to Steven, then file for divorce."
Rachel understood his point.
If she filed for divorce now, Heather or the Martinez family would interfere. Only after exposing Radiant Beauty Spa's illegal activities would the divorce be less complicated. Moreover, once it got out that Benjamin was her attorney, it would be impossible to keep it a secret. He had already been involved in the last incident where Radiant Beauty Spa was reported for tax evasion.
If Heather found out, it would definitely alert her, making it difficult for Rachel to quietly sever ties with Radiant Beauty Spa.
Rachel wasn't about to let Nancy off easy.
Nancy had to be held accountable for attempted murder.
The large office fell silent for a moment. Benjamin found the black coffee increasingly bitter, perhaps because it had gone cold.
He set down the cup. "The current evidence is unfavorable for Steven. His lawyer will definitely push for negotiation and mediation."
"The more evidence you have, the stronger your position in the negotiations."
Divorce cases usually boiled down to two main issues: children and property.
In elite families, divorces were rare due to the intertwined interests and the importance of reputation. A public scandal would be detrimental from any angle.
The Martinez family was no exception.
Rachel rarely heard Benjamin speak so much at once. His calm, clear eyes seemed like spring rain, capable of cleansing everything.
And his smile was like a dazzling rainbow.
"I understand," she responded softly, then asked about the juice, "By the way, do you know where in Dawnlight City I can get a drink tested?"
Benjamin shifted his gaze to the red juice on the coffee table.
He had been wondering why she hadn't taken a sip since bringing it in.
"Where did it come from?"
"Nancy bought it. But I suspect she drugged it."
"Do you have proof?"
"Once it's tested, maybe I will."
Benjamin glanced at the clock, calculating. "Let's go. We still have time."
Rachel was puzzled. "Where to?"
"The Food and Drug Safety Assessment Center."
While she was still processing, Benjamin grabbed his coat and car keys, heading for the door. She heard him instruct Nathaniel to clear the coffee table as she grabbed the juice and followed him.
In the parking lot, she considered mentioning that she had driven herself, but Benjamin had already opened the passenger door. She swallowed her words, got in, and buckled up.
The Food and Drug Safety Assessment Center was located halfway up Sky Dome Mountain in the west of the city, built nine years ago. It was a large facility under the municipal government.
It was nearly a two-hour drive from the south side of the city.
Today's weather in the south was decent, with occasional sunshine breaking through the clouds despite the wind. The north, however, was gloomy, having just experienced a morning rain, and was four or five degrees Fahrenheit cooler.
Unlike the winding roads of Sunrise Peak, Sky Dome Mountain had straighter but steeper and longer slopes, surrounded by towering peaks.
On the way, Rachel asked Benjamin if he knew someone there.
He said no.
This left Rachel unsure how to respond, so she remained silent.
The car's heater was warm and comfortable. Rachel, having slept poorly the previous night, dozed off against the seat during the latter part of the drive.
She woke up as they neared the Food and Drug Safety Assessment Center.
When they arrived, it was after 5 p.m.
Through the windshield, Rachel saw someone waving at their car from the entrance.
As they got closer, she realized it was a young woman.
The girl was tall and attractive, with short hair and bright, friendly eyes.
Once the car stopped, Benjamin got out first.
Rachel unbuckled, grabbed her purse and the juice, and stepped out. The mountain wind was biting, making her shiver as she walked towards Benjamin.
She heard him asking the girl about her well-being.
"Everything's good," the girl replied casually, her gaze shifting to Rachel, "Is this my future sister-in-law?"
"Just a friend, Rachel," Benjamin said coolly, cutting her off, then introduced Rachel, "This is Betty."
"His twin sister," Betty Wilson added with a smile, pointing at him.
Benjamin remained silent.
In fact, Betty was three or four minutes younger than him.
Technically, Benjamin was the older twin in the Wright family.
This was a family secret. Rachel, knowing little about Benjamin, was unaware of this. She hadn't expected this woman to be his sister.
She smiled and hesitated slightly on the title, "Nice to meet you, Ms. Wilson."
"Just call me Betty, no need to be so formal. It's cold out here, let's go inside," Betty said.
The Food and Drug Safety Assessment Center didn't allow outside vehicles, so Betty led them to her office building.
"Benjamin told me you need this juice tested?" Betty asked.
Rachel nodded, handing over the juice, "Yes."
Betty opened the juice, sniffed it, and frowned slightly but said nothing.
In her office, she handed Rachel a form, "Fill out the basic information. You can skip the test items and purpose."
Rachel complied, filling out the form neatly.
Betty noticed her elegant, flowing handwriting, a sign of years of practice.
She signed her name, took a sample of the juice, labeled it, and said, "The test usually takes three to seven business days, plus time for the report and review, about two weeks."
She turned to Rachel, "I'll call Benjamin with the results, and he'll let you know."
"Thank you, Betty," Rachel smiled.
"No problem, happy to help."
"What about the cost?"
"Don't worry about it. We'll sort it out when the report is ready," Betty checked the time, "It's almost dinner. Why don't you join us at the cafeteria?"