Chapter 12: The Christmas Party Was Only the Beginning
By the following morning, my legal team had secured an emergency protective order preventing Daniel and Patricia from accessing my daughter's trust or making decisions concerning my medical care.
The hospital also confirmed that Daniel had no authority to change my delivery arrangements.
I thought that would make me feel safer.
It didn't.
Because at 9:20 a.m., Marcus received a call from the company's independent auditor.
He listened without interrupting.
Then he slowly lowered his phone.
"What's happened?"" I asked.
He looked at Arthur.
"The auditor found another account.""
I closed my eyes.
"How much?""
"Thirty-one million dollars.""
I stared at him.
Arthur immediately sat down.
"Where is it held?""
Marcus opened his laptop.
"An investment company registered overseas. The funds came from several development projects, including the waterfront redevelopment.""
I looked at the screen.
"Who owns the company?""
"Patricia and Daniel are listed as beneficiaries.""
I shook my head.
"How long has it existed?""
"Five years.""
Five years.
Before my wedding.
Before Daniel became CEO.
Before I ever imagined that the man I loved was building a financial structure designed to keep me out.
Arthur opened his briefcase.
"That means the scheme began before the marriage.""
I looked at him.
"Then why did they wait until now?""
"Because the company has accumulated enough assets to make the transfer worthwhile.""
Marcus displayed a chart.
The money had moved through multiple subsidiaries.
Some payments were disguised as construction expenses.
Others appeared to be consulting fees.
A few were recorded as loans.
But there was one transaction that stood out.
A transfer of $6.2 million had been made from the overseas company to a private account in Daniel's name.
The date was six months earlier.
I recognized it immediately.
It was the month he had taken me to a luxury hotel for our anniversary.
He had told me he was planning a surprise investment for our future.
Apparently, the surprise was that he had stolen another six million dollars.
"Can we freeze it?"" I asked.
Marcus nodded.
"We've already requested emergency preservation measures through the relevant institutions. It may take time, but the evidence is strong.""
I looked at Arthur.
"What happens to Daniel now?""
Arthur closed his briefcase.
"That depends on the investigation. But the board will need to know immediately.""
At noon, I attended another emergency board meeting.
This time, Daniel wasn't there.
His suspension had been extended.
Patricia was also excluded from the premises.
The board members appeared uncomfortable when the new financial records were presented.
Robert Hayes leaned forward.
"Are we saying the company may have lost thirty-one million dollars?""
Marcus answered.
"We're saying thirty-one million dollars was transferred through an undisclosed network of companies. The final beneficial ownership appears connected to Daniel and Patricia.""
Another director shook his head.
"This is unbelievable.""
I looked around the table.
"Do you know what is most unbelievable to me?""
Everyone turned.
"For three years, I sat in this company's Christmas celebrations and listened to Daniel thank his employees for their loyalty. I watched him give speeches about integrity, family, and building something meaningful.""
I paused.
"All the while, he was using the company to fund a second household, transfer money to his sister, and prepare fraudulent documents against his pregnant wife.""
Nobody spoke.
I continued.
"I didn't come here to destroy this company. I came here because I helped build it. Hundreds of people work here. Their families depend on it.""
Robert nodded.
"Then what do you propose?""
I looked at Marcus.
He displayed a proposed restructuring plan.
"An independent financial administrator, an external audit of every subsidiary, and immediate suspension of all officers connected to the unauthorized transfers.""
Robert examined the document.
"And Daniel?""
I looked directly at him.
"His executive authority remains suspended until the investigation is complete.""
The vote was unanimous.
For the first time, Daniel's position was no longer protected by his father's legacy or his mother's influence.
The company would continue.
But not under his control.
At 3:45 p.m., Patricia appeared at the headquarters.
Security called Arthur.
He met her in the lobby.
I watched through the video feed from my office.
Patricia was furious.
She pointed toward the elevators.
"Tell them I need to see Nia.""
Arthur remained calm.
"Mrs. Whitmore, you're not authorized to enter the executive floor.""
"This is my son's company.""
"It isn't.""
She stepped closer.
"Don't you dare speak to me like that.""
Arthur adjusted his glasses.
"The company is under independent administration.""
Patricia's voice rose.
"I have been part of this family for forty years!""
"And you are welcome to discuss your concerns with your attorney.""
She looked around the lobby.
Several employees had stopped to watch.
Then she said something that made me sit forward.
"Nia has been manipulating Daniel from the beginning. She trapped him with her money and used the pregnancy to take control of everything!""
Arthur didn't respond.
Patricia continued.
"She's not even a real businesswoman. She's just a spoiled heiress playing with things she doesn't understand!""
I picked up the office phone.
"James?""
"Yes, ma'am?""
"Please escort Mrs. Whitmore from the premises.""
"Understood.""
The security guards approached.
Patricia tried to push past them.
"Don't touch me!""
Arthur stepped aside.
She turned toward the camera.
For a brief second, her eyes met mine.
Then she pointed directly at the screen.
"This isn't over, Nia!""
I picked up my phone.
"It is for you, Patricia.""
I ended the call.
That evening, I returned home.
I was exhausted.
The baby had been moving frequently, and Dr. Reynolds had advised me to reduce stress as much as possible.
I sat in the nursery.
The walls were painted a soft ivory.
A small wooden crib stood beneath the window.
Daniel had helped choose it.
I remembered him standing there months earlier, holding a tiny pair of pink shoes.
He had looked so happy.
Or perhaps I had simply wanted to believe he was.
I placed the shoes in a drawer.
Then I heard the doorbell.
James called through the intercom.
"Ma'am, there's a woman here asking to see you.""
"Who?""
"She says her name is Lauren Cole.""
I stood slowly.
"Let her in.""
A few minutes later, Lauren entered the living room.
She was holding Oliver.
Her eyes were red.
"I know I shouldn't have come without warning.""
I gestured toward the sofa.
"Sit down.""
She placed the baby carrier beside her.
"I need to tell you something.""
I waited.
Lauren took a folded document from her handbag.
"Daniel asked me to sign this.""
I opened it.
It was a statement claiming that I had knowingly approved the transfer of funds used for her medical expenses.
My name appeared repeatedly.
There were even paragraphs suggesting that I had personally agreed to the arrangement.
I looked up.
"Did you sign it?""
"No.""
"Why not?""
"Because I never spoke to you about any of this.""
I studied her face.
"Why bring it to me now?""
She looked down at Oliver.
"Because Daniel told me something last night.""
"What?""
"He said if I didn't sign, he'd make sure I lost custody of Oliver.""
I stared at her.
"Did he threaten you?""
She nodded.
"He said Patricia had already spoken to someone who could make me look like an unfit mother.""
I felt a chill move through me.
It was the same strategy they had used against me.
Lauren began crying.
"I thought I was special to him. I thought he would leave you. I thought he loved me.""
I looked at the sleeping baby.
"Lauren, I don't know what Daniel told you. But I know what he did.""
She wiped her cheeks.
"I'm sorry.""
I remained silent for a moment.
Then I asked:
"Do you have the original messages?""
She nodded.
"All of them.""
"Then give them to Arthur.""
She looked surprised.
"You're not going to destroy me?""
I shook my head.
"I'm not Patricia.""
Lauren lowered her eyes.
"I know.""
Before she left, she turned around.
"There's something else.""
I looked up.
"What?""
"Patricia told Daniel that Richard had another secret.""
My stomach tightened.
"What secret?""
Lauren glanced toward the nursery.
"She said Richard had a daughter before he married Patricia.""
I stared at her.
"That's impossible.""
"That's what I thought. But Daniel showed me a photograph.""
She took out her phone.
A picture appeared.
It showed Richard standing beside a young woman in front of an old country house.
The woman looked to be in her twenties.
She had dark hair, a narrow face, and the same distinctive eyes as Daniel.
I looked at the photograph.
"Who is she?""
Lauren swallowed.
"Her name is Amelia.""
I turned toward Arthur's office number and called him immediately.
He answered after two rings.
"Arthur, do you know someone named Amelia?""
There was a long silence.
Then he said:
"Where did you hear that name?""
"Lauren just showed me a photograph of Richard with a young woman. She says she may have been his daughter.""
Arthur exhaled slowly.
"That isn't a rumor.""
I gripped the phone.
"What do you mean?""
"Richard had a daughter before his marriage to Patricia. He never publicly acknowledged her because of an agreement made decades ago.""
I looked at Lauren.
"Where is she now?""
Arthur's answer was almost a whisper.
"That's the problem, Nia.""
"What problem?""
"Amelia has been missing for eleven years.""
I felt the room tilt.
Arthur continued.
"And according to Richard's private records, she was the original beneficiary of the Whitmore family estate before Daniel was born.""
I looked at the photograph again.
Then I noticed the date.
It was taken only weeks before Amelia disappeared.
On the back, written in Richard's handwriting, were seven words.
*If anything happens, find Amelia before Patricia does.*
I slowly lowered the phone.
Because suddenly, I understood.
Patricia hadn't simply been fighting to control Daniel's company.
May you like
She had spent decades protecting a secret.
And the woman who might have had the strongest legal claim to the Whitmore fortune had vanished long before I ever entered that family.
