Chapter 2: The Man They Never Bothered to Know
Daniel stared at my father as though the man sitting across from him had suddenly become a stranger.
“Mr. Carter?”” he finally said.
My father raised an eyebrow.
“That's my name.””
“No, I mean…” Daniel looked at Thomas.
“You're telling me he's the owner?””
“Not quite,” Thomas replied politely.
“Mr. Carter is the majority shareholder of Carter Hospitality Group. The acquisition makes him the controlling owner of this property as well.””
Patricia recovered first.
She pushed her chair back and forced a laugh.
“Well, Robert, you certainly know how to make an entrance.””
My father folded his napkin.
“I wasn't trying to make one.””
“Oh, don't be modest. Why didn't you tell us?””
He looked at her.
“You never asked.””
The answer landed harder than an accusation.
Vanessa leaned forward.
“Wait. How much is the company worth?””
“Vanessa,” Daniel warned.
“What? I'm just asking.””
My father didn't answer.
Thomas stepped forward.
“If you'll excuse me, Mr. Carter, the attorneys are waiting for your confirmation.””
“Give us a few minutes, Thomas.””
“Of course, sir.””
He retreated toward the entrance.
Patricia immediately changed her tone.
“Robert, darling, we seem to have gotten off on the wrong foot.””
My father looked at her without smiling.
“Do we?””
“I hope you understand that I was only trying to keep the dinner organized.””
“You told the waiter not to put my meal on the family bill.””
“Well, yes, but—”
“You also said I should be grateful to have been invited.””
Patricia's lips tightened.
“I was joking.””
My father nodded slowly.
“Interesting. I didn't find it funny.””
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
“Dad, let's not turn this into something bigger than it is.””
I almost laughed.
“Dad?””
He turned toward me.
“What?””
“You've spent the entire evening calling my father Robert like he's an inconvenience. Now you're calling him Dad?””
Daniel's cheeks reddened.
“Claire, please.””
“No. Explain it to me.””
He lowered his voice.
“We're all family. We should be able to move past one awkward moment.””
“One awkward moment?””
I pointed toward my father's untouched dinner.
“Do you remember what you said when he gave you that watch?””
Daniel looked at the small velvet box beside his plate.
He had barely acknowledged it.
“I said thank you.””
“You said you'd look at it later.””
“I was busy.””
“You haven't opened it.””
Vanessa shifted in her chair.
“Can we please stop discussing the watch?””
My father reached for the box.
“It's all right. Daniel doesn't have to wear it.””
He opened the lid.
Inside was a beautiful silver watch with a dark blue face.
On the back, three lines had been engraved.
For Daniel.
Ten years of family.
Robert Carter.
My father's hands trembled slightly as he closed the box.
“I bought this with money I saved from my first hotel,” he said.
“I thought it would mean something to him.””
Daniel swallowed.
“It's a nice watch.””
“Thank you.””
My father placed it beside the envelope.
Patricia suddenly reached across the table.
“Robert, perhaps we should discuss the business opportunity. Daniel has always wanted to move into hospitality management.””
I turned toward her.
“What business opportunity?””
She smiled at Daniel.
“Your husband has been working very hard. He deserves a better position.””
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
“Mom, not now.””
“Why not? His company has been restructuring for months. This could be exactly what he needs.””
My father studied him.
“What company are you working for now, Daniel?””
“Carter Development.””
My father slowly put down his fork.
“Carter Development?””
“Yes.””
“Who owns it?””
Daniel hesitated.
“It's a private investment company.””
“That wasn't my question.””
Patricia intervened.
“Robert, surely you don't expect Daniel to discuss his employment history over dinner.””
My father ignored her.
Daniel finally answered.
“It's owned by a group of investors.””
My father nodded.
“Then perhaps you should explain why your name appears on a compensation report submitted to my acquisition team.””
Daniel went still.
I turned toward him.
“What compensation report?””
My father removed a second document from his briefcase.
He unfolded it carefully.
“Two weeks ago, my legal team reviewed the financial records of several companies connected to the properties we were acquiring.””
He slid the paper across the table.
“Carter Development was among them.””
Daniel glanced down.
His expression changed immediately.
Patricia reached for the paper, but my father placed his hand over it.
“Not so quickly.””
Daniel's voice dropped.
“Where did you get this?””
“From the company's records.””
“That information is confidential.””
“Not when it appears in the financial disclosures submitted to a potential buyer.””
I looked at the document.
There were several payments listed.
Monthly transfers.
Consulting fees.
An unexplained bonus.
And a name beside them.
*Daniel Carter — Executive Consulting Payments.*
I felt my pulse quicken.
“Daniel, what is this?””
He pushed the document away.
“It's complicated.””
“Then explain it.””
“Claire, this is business.””
“I'm your wife.””
He looked toward Patricia.
She immediately placed a hand on his arm.
“Don't let him intimidate you. Just because Robert has money doesn't mean he can interrogate you.””
My father remained calm.
“I haven't accused anyone of anything.””
Then he turned to me.
“Claire, there is something I need you to know.””
I leaned forward.
“What?””
He reached into his briefcase again.
This time, he removed a photograph.
It showed Daniel standing outside a luxury office building with a man I recognized.
Gregory Shaw.
Daniel's former business partner.
The same man Daniel had told me had disappeared after taking the company's money three years earlier.
I stared at the photograph.
“Why do you have this?””
My father looked at Daniel.
“Because Gregory Shaw contacted my legal team.””
Daniel stood so quickly that his chair scraped against the floor.
“He had no right to contact you.””
My father didn't move.
“He says he has evidence that money was transferred out of the company before he disappeared.””
Patricia's face hardened.
“That's ridiculous. Gregory is a criminal.””
“Perhaps,” my father replied.
“But he brought documents.””
Daniel grabbed his coat.
“We're leaving.””
I remained seated.
“Daniel, sit down.””
“Claire, now.””
“No.””
He looked at me as though he couldn't believe I had refused him.
My father slid the photograph toward me.
On the back, someone had written a date.
It was the date Daniel had told me he was working late.
And beneath the date were four words:
*Ask Claire about the account.*
My hands went cold.
“What account?””
Daniel looked at me.
For a moment, I saw something I had never seen in his eyes before.
Not anger.
Not embarrassment.
Fear.
May you like
And then my father said the words that changed everything.
“Claire, I believe someone has been using your name.””
