Chapter 8: The Man Who Wanted My Father's Fortune
Richard Reed walked into Daniel's office as if he owned the building.
He didn't ask permission.
He didn't even look surprised to find Vanessa and me standing there.
He simply placed his leather briefcase on Daniel's desk and loosened his tie.
“Daniel,” he said, “you should have told me the meeting was starting.””
Daniel immediately stood.
“Richard, I thought you were coming later.””
Richard smiled.
“Plans change.””
His eyes moved toward the laptop.
“Did you play the recording?””
I answered before Daniel could.
“Yes.””
Richard nodded.
“Then perhaps we can stop pretending there are secrets left.””
Vanessa stepped forward.
“You lied to me.””
Richard looked at her.
“About what?””
“Everything. You told me my father left me an inheritance that Nia was refusing to share.””
“He did leave you an inheritance.””
“Then why did Daniel forge documents?””
Richard glanced at Daniel.
“That was an unfortunate shortcut.””
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
“An unfortunate shortcut?””
Richard removed his jacket and placed it over a chair.
“Your father was a stubborn man. He created a complicated estate arrangement that has wasted everyone's time for eleven years.””
“It's not your estate.””
“Your father and I built that company together.””
“And he removed you after discovering you were stealing from it.””
Richard's smile disappeared.
“Careful, Nia.””
I stepped closer.
“No. I've spent my entire life believing my father was an honest businessman who died unexpectedly. Now I discover that you were stealing from him, Daniel married me because of my inheritance, and someone has been forging my signature. You don't get to tell me to be careful.””
Richard looked at Daniel.
“She's more like Robert than I expected.””
Daniel said nothing.
Richard opened his briefcase.
Inside were several folders.
He removed one and placed it on the desk.
“This is a proposed settlement. You and Vanessa will receive your respective shares. The house will be transferred to a holding company, and the remaining assets will be liquidated.””
I didn't touch it.
“Why?””
“Because the estate needs proper management.””
“By you?””
“By people with experience.””
I laughed.
“You mean by the people who have been trying to steal it.””
Richard leaned back.
“You're pregnant, aren't you?””
The question caught me off guard.
Daniel looked down.
Richard continued.
“Congratulations. Robert would have been pleased.””
“Don't talk about my father.””
“I'm simply acknowledging the situation.””
He glanced at Vanessa.
“And you, my dear, need to stop making this difficult. Your mother spent years trying to secure something for you.””
Vanessa's eyes filled.
“Don't bring my mother into this.””
“Your mother understood how the world worked.””
“My mother died believing my father had abandoned her.””
Richard shrugged.
“People believe what they need to believe.””
Vanessa slapped the folder off the desk.
“Get out.””
Richard looked at her with genuine surprise.
Then he smiled.
“Still emotional. Just like your mother.””
Daniel moved between them.
“Richard, that's enough.””
Richard's eyes narrowed.
“You're forgetting who paid your debts.””
I looked at Daniel.
“What debts?””
Richard turned toward me.
“Oh, Daniel hasn't told you?””
Daniel's face went pale.
Richard continued.
“Your husband didn't build his business from nothing. I financed his first company, his office, his cars, and most of his lifestyle.””
I stared at Daniel.
“Is that true?””
He didn't answer.
Richard tapped the desk.
“Daniel owes me considerably more than money. He owes me his future.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“You used him.””
Richard laughed.
“He knew exactly what he was doing.””
I looked at Daniel.
“Did you know Richard was stealing from my father?””
His eyes met mine.
“I knew there were financial disputes.””
“That's not what I asked.””
He looked away.
Richard took another document from his briefcase.
“This is why we're here. The original trust agreement requires all three beneficiaries to acknowledge their identities before the assets can be released.””
I frowned.
“You said you had Sophie.””
Richard smiled.
“I do.””
He removed a photograph.
A young woman with dark hair stood outside a Boston apartment building.
She was holding a coffee cup and laughing at something someone had said.
On the back was a date from the previous month.
“Where is she?”” I asked.
Richard closed the folder.
“Safe.””
“Safe from whom?””
“From people who might confuse her about what she deserves.””
Vanessa moved closer.
“You haven't even told her who she is, have you?””
Richard looked at her.
“Some truths are better delivered carefully.””
I stepped toward the desk.
“You've been looking for her because you need her signature.””
Richard's expression hardened.
“Because the trust cannot be settled without her.””
“Then let us contact her.””
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because she is not ready.””
I laughed.
“You don't get to decide that.””
Richard leaned forward.
“Actually, Nia, I have been making decisions about this family for a very long time.””
He took out his phone and made a call.
A few seconds later, the office door opened again.
A woman walked in.
She was in her early thirties, wearing a gray coat and carrying a black handbag.
Her eyes moved around the room.
Then she saw Vanessa.
She stopped.
“Vanessa?””
Vanessa stared at her.
“Sophie?””
The woman looked between us.
“Why are you both here?””
Richard smiled.
“Because it's time you met your sisters.””
Sophie looked confused.
“My what?””
I took a step toward her.
“My name is Nia Carter.””
She stared at me.
Richard placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Robert Carter was your biological father.””
Sophie stepped backward.
“No.””
Vanessa began crying.
“I'm sorry. I know this is a lot.””
Sophie looked at her.
“Who are you?””
“Vanessa.””
Richard interrupted.
“Your half-sisters. Both of them are beneficiaries of the Carter family estate.””
Sophie stared at the folders.
“Why didn't anyone tell me?””
Richard sighed.
“Your father made some complicated decisions.””
Sophie turned to him.
“You said you were helping me find my birth family.””
“I am.””
“You told me Robert Carter was a distant relative.””
The silence that followed was deafening.
Richard looked at Daniel.
“Perhaps you should explain.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Sophie, the estate includes several properties and investment accounts. Your father created a trust for all three of you.””
“Then why am I only hearing about it now?””
“Because there are legal complications.””
Sophie looked at me.
“Are you two trying to take my money?””
I shook my head.
“No. We're trying to find out why someone has been using our names to steal it.””
Richard laughed softly.
“Listen to her. She thinks everyone is conspiring against her.””
I took out my phone.
“I'm contacting my lawyer.””
Richard's smile vanished.
He reached across the desk and grabbed the phone.
“Not yet.””
I pulled back.
“Don't touch me.””
Daniel moved toward us.
“Richard, let her go.””
For a second, I thought Daniel might actually defend me.
Then Richard released my phone and placed it on the desk.
“Fine. Call whoever you like.””
He turned toward Sophie.
“But before you do, you should know something.””
He removed another document.
“This is your mother's original medical record.””
Sophie frowned.
“What does that have to do with anything?””
Richard slid it across the desk.
“Your mother was paid to keep you away from Robert Carter.””
The room went silent.
Sophie picked up the paper.
Her hands began to shake.
“Paid by whom?””
Richard looked directly at me.
“By your father's first wife.””
I felt the blood drain from my face.
My mother.
My mother had paid someone to keep Sophie away from my father.
But my mother had been dead for years.
And according to the document, the payments had continued long after she died.
Sophie looked up.
“Who was sending the money?””
Richard answered calmly.
“Your mother received payments from an account controlled by Nia's family.””
I stared at the document.
At the bottom was a signature.
Not my father's.
Not Richard's.
It was my mother's.
May you like
And beside it was a date from eleven years ago.
Three months after my father died.
