Chapter 7: ## Chapter 7: The Man Who Came to Claim the Key
Victor Shaw entered the ballroom as: The Man Who Came to Claim the Key
Victor Shaw entered the ballroom as though he had been invited to give the final though he had been invited to give the final toast.
His charcoal suit fit perfectly. His polished shoes reflected the chandelier light, and his toast.
His charcoal suit fit perfectly. His polished shoes reflected the chandelier light, and his leather briefcase hung from one hand. He acknowledged the staring guests with a courteous nod before approaching leather briefcase hung from one hand. He acknowledged the staring guests with a courteous nod before approaching the altar.
Marcus Reed visibly relaxed.
“Victor,” Marcus said the altar.
Marcus Reed visibly relaxed.
“Victor,” Marcus said, “thank God you're here.””
Victor didn't look at him.
“Don't thank, “thank God you're here.””
Victor didn't look at him.
“Don't thank me yet.””
Then he faced Elijah.
“It's been years.””
El me yet.””
Then he faced Elijah.
“It's been years.””
Elijah stood beside Attorney Harris, his old brown coat buttoned crookedly, the small wrapped gift still resting in his handsijah stood beside Attorney Harris, his old brown coat buttoned crookedly, the small wrapped gift still resting in his hands.
“You weren't invited,” Elijah replied.
Victor glanced toward the altar table.
“Neither.
“You weren't invited,” Elijah replied.
Victor glanced toward the altar table.
“Neither was the truth, apparently. Yet here we are.””
Jordan stepped between them was the truth, apparently. Yet here we are.””
Jordan stepped between them.
“You know each other?””
Victor smiled at him.
“Quite well, actually. Your father and I built.
“You know each other?””
Victor smiled at him.
“Quite well, actually. Your father and I built a business together. Before he decided that sentiment mattered more than money.””
“We a business together. Before he decided that sentiment mattered more than money.””
“We built the business with your help,” Elijah said.
“Then you tried to turn it into something your mother would built the business with your help,” Elijah said.
“Then you tried to turn it into something your mother would have been ashamed of.””
Victor placed his briefcase on an empty chair.
“Your wife was have been ashamed of.””
Victor placed his briefcase on an empty chair.
“Your wife was a wonderful woman. Unfortunately, she confused generosity with good business.””
Elijah's jaw tightened.
“Don't speak a wonderful woman. Unfortunately, she confused generosity with good business.””
Elijah's jaw tightened.
“Don't speak about her that way.””
“Why not? She's the reason we're all standing here.”” Victor looked at Jordan.
“She left behind about her that way.””
“Why not? She's the reason we're all standing here.”” Victor looked at Jordan.
“She left behind documents that could have settled our disagreement years ago. Instead, your father kept everything locked documents that could have settled our disagreement years ago. Instead, your father kept everything locked away and pretended the dispute had disappeared.””
Attorney Harris moved closer to the table.
“Mr. Shaw, the away and pretended the dispute had disappeared.””
Attorney Harris moved closer to the table.
“Mr. Shaw, the documents you are referring to remain subject to legal review.””
Victor waved a dismiss documents you are referring to remain subject to legal review.””
Victor waved a dismissive hand.
“Of course they do. That's why I brought counsel.””
He opened his briefcase and removed a thickive hand.
“Of course they do. That's why I brought counsel.””
He opened his briefcase and removed a thick stack of papers.
Jordan stared at them.
“What are those?””
“A proposed settlement stack of papers.
Jordan stared at them.
“What are those?””
“A proposed settlement,” Victor replied.
“One your father refused to consider when he had the opportunity.””
Elijah shook his head.
“It,” Victor replied.
“One your father refused to consider when he had the opportunity.””
Elijah shook his head.
“It wasn't a settlement. You wanted control of the ballroom.””
“I wanted the business to survive wasn't a settlement. You wanted control of the ballroom.””
“I wanted the business to survive.””
“You wanted to sell it.””
“I wanted to expand it, restructure it, and make it profitable enough to survive.””
“You wanted to sell it.””
“I wanted to expand it, restructure it, and make it profitable enough to survive another generation.””
Victor turned to Jordan.
“Your father would another generation.””
Victor turned to Jordan.
“Your father would rather let this place become a monument to your mother's memory than admit that businesses require difficult rather let this place become a monument to your mother's memory than admit that businesses require difficult decisions.””
Jordan looked around the ballroom.
The gold chandeliers glittered overhead. White roses framed the altar. decisions.””
Jordan looked around the ballroom.
The gold chandeliers glittered overhead. White roses framed the altar. Guests who had arrived expecting a wedding were now watching a battle over a property most had Guests who had arrived expecting a wedding were now watching a battle over a property most had never realized was owned by the elderly man standing beside them.
“Why are you here today?”” Jordan asked.
never realized was owned by the elderly man standing beside them.
“Why are you here today?”” Jordan asked.
Victor's smile faded slightly.
“To prevent a misunderstanding from becoming a legal disaster.””
“That's not an answer.””
Victor's smile faded slightly.
“To prevent a misunderstanding from becoming a legal disaster.””
“That's not an answer.””
Victor studied him, perhaps surprised that the groom had stopped acceptingVictor studied him, perhaps surprised that the groom had stopped accepting easy explanations.
“Your mother left a deposit box containing records relating to our old partnership. Those easy explanations.
“Your mother left a deposit box containing records relating to our old partnership. Those records may affect the settlement of several disputed accounts. I have a legitimate interest in records may affect the settlement of several disputed accounts. I have a legitimate interest in resolving the matter.””
“Then why did you hire people to pretend to be my parents?””
Victor's eyes shifted toward resolving the matter.””
“Then why did you hire people to pretend to be my parents?””
Victor's eyes shifted toward Marcus.
Marcus immediately looked away.
“I didn't hire anyone to impersonate family members,” Victor said.
“I commissioned an independent inquiry Marcus.
Marcus immediately looked away.
“I didn't hire anyone to impersonate family members,” Victor said.
“I commissioned an independent inquiry into your father's plans for the property.””
“An inquiry that included paying Marcus twelve thousand dollars?””
Victor into your father's plans for the property.””
“An inquiry that included paying Marcus twelve thousand dollars?””
Victor paused.
Jordan saw it.
“You know about the payment.””
“I paused.
Jordan saw it.
“You know about the payment.””
“I know that people were paid to gather information. I don't know every detail of how they conducted themselves.””
Marcus know that people were paid to gather information. I don't know every detail of how they conducted themselves.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“You told us Jordan needed to believe the ballroom would eventually be his stepped forward.
“You told us Jordan needed to believe the ballroom would eventually be his.””
Victor's expression hardened.
“Be quiet.””
“You said the wedding was the perfect opportunity.””
“I.””
Victor's expression hardened.
“Be quiet.””
“You said the wedding was the perfect opportunity.””
“I said no such thing.””
“You told me that if his father appeared said no such thing.””
“You told me that if his father appeared, we'd make him look like an embarrassment. You said Jordan would choose, we'd make him look like an embarrassment. You said Jordan would choose the respectable family over the old man.””
The ballroom fell silent.
Jordan looked as though he had been struck.
Victor slowly the respectable family over the old man.””
The ballroom fell silent.
Jordan looked as though he had been struck.
Victor slowly turned toward Marcus.
“You are making serious accusations.””
Marcus gave turned toward Marcus.
“You are making serious accusations.””
Marcus gave a bitter laugh.
“You promised we'd be protected.””
“I promised nothing of a bitter laugh.
“You promised we'd be protected.””
“I promised nothing of the sort.””
“You paid us!””
“And now you are standing in the the sort.””
“You paid us!””
“And now you are standing in the middle of a wedding, admitting that you participated in a scheme to deceive a family. middle of a wedding, admitting that you participated in a scheme to deceive a family. I suggest you stop talking before you make your situation worse.””
Denise began crying again.
I suggest you stop talking before you make your situation worse.””
Denise began crying again.
“I told you this would happen,” she whispered to Marcus.
Jordan faced Victor“I told you this would happen,” she whispered to Marcus.
Jordan faced Victor.
“Did you know I would deny my father?””
Victor considered the question.
“I knew you were embarrassed.
“Did you know I would deny my father?””
Victor considered the question.
“I knew you were embarrassed by him.””
Jordan's expression tightened.
“How?””
“People by him.””
Jordan's expression tightened.
“How?””
“People talk, Jordan. You spoke to a number of business associates about talk, Jordan. You spoke to a number of business associates about your concern that your family's background might affect your professional reputation.””
Jordan remembered those your concern that your family's background might affect your professional reputation.””
Jordan remembered those conversations.
He remembered laughing along when colleagues joked about people who wore old conversations.
He remembered laughing along when colleagues joked about people who wore old clothes to expensive places. He remembered avoiding calls from Elijah when he was with clients. He remembered telling his fi clothes to expensive places.
He remembered avoiding calls from Elijah when he was with clients. He remembered telling his fiancée that his father preferred a quiet life and would probably not attend the wedding.
He had never imaginedancée that his father preferred a quiet life and would probably not attend the wedding.
He had never imagined that his private insecurities could become instruments in someone else's plan.
Victor continued.
“You wanted a certain image. Marcus that his private insecurities could become instruments in someone else's plan.
Victor continued.
“You wanted a certain image. Marcus and Denise provided one. I didn't force you to hire them.””
“No,” Jordan and Denise provided one. I didn't force you to hire them.””
“No,” Jordan replied.
“You just made sure I had every reason to be ashamed of the person replied.
“You just made sure I had every reason to be ashamed of the person I should have been proud of.””
Victor's smile disappeared.
“Don't confuse guilt with insight. I should have been proud of.””
Victor's smile disappeared.
“Don't confuse guilt with insight. You're an adult. You made your own choices.””
The words stung because they were true.
You're an adult. You made your own choices.””
The words stung because they were true.
Elijah looked at Jordan, but he didn't intervene.
Victor noticed the silence and turnedElijah looked at Jordan, but he didn't intervene.
Victor noticed the silence and turned back to the older man.
“Now, the key.””
Attorney Harris placed one back to the older man.
“Now, the key.””
Attorney Harris placed one hand over the brass key on the altar.
“It will not be released to you.””
Victor opened his hand over the brass key on the altar.
“It will not be released to you.””
Victor opened his briefcase again.
“Then perhaps this will change briefcase again.
“Then perhaps this will change your mind.””
He removed a document bearing the name of the company that had once managed the ballroom's your mind.””
He removed a document bearing the name of the company that had once managed the ballroom's commercial operations.
Elijah recognized the letterhead.
His shoulders stiffened.
“What is that?””
“A claim commercial operations.
Elijah recognized the letterhead.
His shoulders stiffened.
“What is that?””
“A claim concerning the outstanding obligations of the former partnership,” Victor answered.
“If the deposit concerning the outstanding obligations of the former partnership,” Victor answered.
“If the deposit box contains the records I believe it contains, I intend to pursue recovery through box contains the records I believe it contains, I intend to pursue recovery through the appropriate legal channels.””
“Those accounts were settled,” Elijah said.
“Some were.””
the appropriate legal channels.””
“Those accounts were settled,” Elijah said.
“Some were.””
“The partnership ended.””
“The partnership ended. The financial“The partnership ended.””
“The partnership ended. The financial obligations did not necessarily end with it.””
Attorney Harris took the document and examined the first obligations did not necessarily end with it.””
Attorney Harris took the document and examined the first page.
His expression remained controlled, but he read the same paragraph twice.
Jordan noticed page.
His expression remained controlled, but he read the same paragraph twice.
Jordan noticed.
“What does it say?””
Harris looked up.
“It asserts that certain assets connected to the ballroom were subject to a.
“What does it say?””
Harris looked up.
“It asserts that certain assets connected to the ballroom were subject to a disputed agreement. The claim has not been established as valid.””
Victor spread disputed agreement. The claim has not been established as valid.””
Victor spread his hands.
“Which is precisely why I want the box opened.””
Elijah shook his head.
“You his hands.
“Which is precisely why I want the box opened.””
Elijah shook his head.
“You don't want the truth. You want whatever you can use to take control.””
Victor leaned closer.
“You don't want the truth. You want whatever you can use to take control.””
Victor leaned closer.
“You should have thought about that before you allowed your wife to keep the records.””
El should have thought about that before you allowed your wife to keep the records.””
Elijah's fingers tightened around the little gift.
For a moment, the ballroom seemed to disappear fromijah's fingers tightened around the little gift.
For a moment, the ballroom seemed to disappear from his attention. He looked only at Victor, and the sadness in his face gave way to his attention. He looked only at Victor, and the sadness in his face gave way to an old, exhausted anger.
“My wife kept those records because she knew you would eventually an old, exhausted anger.
“My wife kept those records because she knew you would eventually come looking for them.””
Victor's smile vanished completely.
Jordan turned come looking for them.””
Victor's smile vanished completely.
Jordan turned toward his father.
“You knew he would come?””
“I knew he might.””
“Then why didn't you toward his father.
“You knew he would come?””
“I knew he might.””
“Then why didn't you tell me?””
Elijah looked at him.
“Because I hoped you would learn to stand beside me without needing to know tell me?””
Elijah looked at him.
“Because I hoped you would learn to stand beside me without needing to know what I owned.””
Jordan lowered his head.
Victor tapped the briefcase.
“Touching. what I owned.””
Jordan lowered his head.
Victor tapped the briefcase.
“Touching. But sentiment won't settle a legal dispute.””
Attorney Harris closed the briefcase and But sentiment won't settle a legal dispute.””
Attorney Harris closed the briefcase and slid it back toward Victor.
“Neither will intimidation.””
Victor's eyes narrowed.
“Then let's slid it back toward Victor.
“Neither will intimidation.””
Victor's eyes narrowed.
“Then let's stop wasting time. Open the deposit box. Let the records speak for themselves.””
Harris looked at Jordan stop wasting time. Open the deposit box. Let the records speak for themselves.””
Harris looked at Jordan.
“The decision about whether to proceed belongs to you and your father under your.
“The decision about whether to proceed belongs to you and your father under your mother's instructions.””
Jordan looked at Elijah.
For once, he didn't ask whether his father could save him mother's instructions.””
Jordan looked at Elijah.
For once, he didn't ask whether his father could save him from the consequences.
He simply said, “Let's open it.””
Victor's expression flickered.
“Excellent from the consequences.
He simply said, “Let's open it.””
Victor's expression flickered.
“Excellent,” he replied.
“Then perhaps we'll finally discover what your mother was so,” he replied.
“Then perhaps we'll finally discover what your mother was so determined to keep hidden.””
But as Attorney Harris picked up the brass key, he noticed a determined to keep hidden.””
But as Attorney Harris picked up the brass key, he noticed a small inscription along its edge.
He turned it toward the light.
Three words had small inscription along its edge.
He turned it toward the light.
Three words had been engraved there.
*NOT FOR VICTOR.*
Victor saw them.
And for the first time since entering the ballroom, been engraved there.
*NOT FOR VICTOR.*
Victor saw them.
May you like
And for the first time since entering the ballroom, he looked genuinely afraid.
he looked genuinely afraid.
