Chapter 10: The Man My Mother Feared
The name stayed in my head long after Patricia stopped speaking.
Victor Hale.
I'd heard it before.
Not from Daniel. Not from Patricia.
From my mother.
I remembered a telephone conversation I'd overheard when I was twenty-six. She'd been standing in her study, speaking in a voice I'd never heard her use before.
“I told you never to contact my daughter,” she'd said.
Then she'd hung up and spent the rest of the evening sitting alone.
When I'd asked what happened, she'd smiled and told me it was an unpleasant business call.
I'd believed her.
Now I wondered whether that call had been about Victor.
“Who is he?”” I asked.
Patricia looked toward Daniel.
He shook his head.
“Mom, don't.””
She ignored him.
“Victor was your father's business partner. They worked together for years before the company collapsed.””
“What company?””
“Carter International.””
Evelyn opened her notebook.
“Was Victor involved in the original investment agreement with Margaret Carter?””
Patricia nodded.
“He helped arrange the financing.””
“Was he a shareholder?””
“No. He handled acquisitions and private investments.””
I looked at the bank transfer again.
One million, eight hundred thousand dollars.
Sent to Northbridge Ventures.
Approved using Ethan's credentials.
“Does Victor own Northbridge?””
Patricia hesitated.
“I don't know.””
I stared at her.
“You've spent years telling Daniel that your family was entitled to my mother's company. You helped prepare the disputed documents. You received hundreds of thousands of dollars from Daniel's business. And now you're telling me you don't know who owns the company receiving the money?””
Her eyes filled.
“I didn't know about the transfer.””
“Did you know about Northbridge?””
She looked away.
That was answer enough.
Evelyn closed her folder.
“We're leaving. Nia, don't discuss any further financial details with either of them until we've reviewed the bank records.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Wait. I need to talk to you.””
I picked up my handbag.
“About what?””
“Victor.””
I stopped.
Daniel looked genuinely frightened.
“He contacted me three months ago.””
My stomach tightened.
“What did he want?””
“He said he could help save my company.””
“How?””
“He knew about the old agreement between our families. He said there was a way to recover the ownership my father had lost.””
“And you believed him?””
“He showed me documents.””
“Fake documents?””
“I don't know.””
I stared at him.
“You never even checked?””
Daniel lowered his head.
“He said the company could be transferred into a new structure, then the debt would disappear.””
“Whose debt?””
“Mine.””
“And what would happen to my shares?””
He didn't answer.
I nodded.
“Thank you for finally telling the truth.””
“Nia, please. I was trying to fix things.””
“You were trying to fix your problems with my money.””
He reached toward me.
I stepped away.
Evelyn opened the front door.
We left without another word.
At 2:00 p.m., Evelyn arranged an emergency meeting with Carter Capital's board.
The conference room was already full when I entered.
Our directors looked uncomfortable.
Ethan's empty chair was particularly noticeable.
I placed the Northbridge transfer authorization on the table.
“I want everyone to understand why we're here.””
Our independent director, Mr. Reynolds, adjusted his glasses.
“Is this connected to the disputed loan guarantee?””
“Yes. We have evidence that someone used company credentials to authorize a transfer of $1.8 million to Northbridge Ventures.””
A murmur moved around the room.
The chief operating officer, Sarah Mitchell, leaned forward.
“Was the transfer completed?””
“Yes.””
“Who approved it?””
“Ethan Cole's credentials were used.””
Mr. Reynolds frowned.
“Ethan has been with us for five years. Are you certain?””
“I am certain that his credentials were used. Whether he acted alone is still under investigation.””
Sarah opened her laptop.
“There's something else you should know.””
She turned the screen toward us.
“Last month, Ethan requested a complete export of the company's shareholder records. He said it was needed for a regulatory review.””
I looked at her.
“Did you approve it?””
“No. I asked him to submit a formal request. He never did.””
Mr. Reynolds leaned back.
“Then we may have a coordinated attempt to interfere with corporate ownership.””
“That's what I believe.””
I opened my mother's letter.
“I also discovered that the original settlement agreement involving Richard Carter was altered after execution. The replacement document appears to have been used to support a false ownership claim.””
The room went silent.
Sarah stared at me.
“Does this involve Daniel?””
“Yes.””
“Your husband?””
“Yes.””
Nobody asked another question.
I continued.
“Effective immediately, I want all transactions involving Northbridge frozen where legally possible. All access credentials associated with the disputed transactions must be suspended. We will cooperate fully with the bank and law enforcement.””
Mr. Reynolds nodded.
“Agreed.””
Then Sarah spoke again.
“There's one more issue.””
She brought up an email.
It had been sent from Ethan's account to an external address.
The subject line read:
*Phase Two — Final Transfer.*
The email contained a spreadsheet listing several Carter Capital assets.
But one entry stood out.
*Carter House — Original Corporate Records Archive.*
I frowned.
“What is Carter House?””
Sarah looked at me.
“Your mother's old estate.””
My mother's estate had been sold after her death.
At least, that was what I'd been told.
“Why is it listed as a corporate asset?””
Sarah scrolled down.
“Because it was never transferred out of the company's ownership.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Who has access to the property?””
Sarah hesitated.
“According to the maintenance records, someone has been entering the estate regularly.””
“Who?””
She turned the screen.
The latest access authorization carried a name.
*Victor Hale.*
At 6:30 p.m., I received a call from an unknown number.
I answered.
“Hello?””
A man's voice replied.
“Nia Carter. I've been waiting for you to call.””
I recognized the voice immediately.
It was calm, polished, and almost unnervingly friendly.
“Victor Hale?””
He chuckled.
“Your mother always said you were intelligent.””
“Then you must understand why I'm not interested in talking to you.””
“On the contrary. I think we have a great deal to discuss.””
“Such as the $1.8 million transferred to Northbridge?””
A pause.
Then he laughed softly.
“Daniel has been careless.””
“Ethan has been careless too.””
“Ethan is an employee. Employees make mistakes.””
“Was it a mistake to use my signature?””
His voice became colder.
“Your mother made the same mistake you are making now.””
“Which is?””
“Believing that ownership is the same as control.””
I gripped the phone.
“Stay away from my company.””
“Your company?””
He laughed again.
“That's an interesting phrase, considering what your mother signed.””
I looked toward Evelyn, who was sitting across from me.
“Send me whatever document you believe gives you a claim.””
“I don't need to send you anything.””
“Then we're finished.””
Before I could end the call, Victor spoke again.
“Have you visited Carter House recently?””
My blood ran cold.
“Why?””
“Because there's something inside that building your mother wanted you to find.””
“What?””
“A second agreement.””
“Between whom?””
“Your mother and me.””
I stood.
“What agreement?””
Victor's voice dropped.
“The one that explains why Richard Carter was never supposed to own your company.””
The call ended.
I stared at my phone.
Evelyn immediately stood.
“What did he say?””
I looked at her.
“He wants me to go to my mother's old estate.””
She shook her head.
“Absolutely not without a legal team.””
I glanced toward the window.
Outside, the city lights were beginning to glow.
My mother had spent the final months of her life trying to keep Victor away from me.
And now he was inviting me into the one place where she'd kept her secrets.
I knew I shouldn't go.
But I also knew that whatever was hidden at Carter House might be the missing piece.
“Call the security company,” I said.
Evelyn frowned.
“Why?””
May you like
“Because we're going to Carter House tomorrow.””
And for the first time, I had a feeling Victor Hale was just as desperate to find something as I was.
