The Flowers I Never Gave Her

For several seconds, I couldn't hear anything except the ringing in my ears.

Naomi Carter.

My girlfriend's name was printed on a legal document claiming she would inherit my father's company if I refused to sign the acquisition agreement.

I read the sentence again.

Then a third time.

It didn't change.

"Mr. Bennett," I said slowly, "tell me you're looking at a mistake.""

"I wish I could, Ethan.""

"My mother died eight years ago. She couldn't have witnessed anything three months before her death.""

"That's not the only problem. Your father's signature appears to be genuine.""

I gripped the edge of the conference table.

"You're saying my father signed this?""

"I'm saying the signature is consistent with the documents we have on file. But the authorization itself raises serious legal questions.""

Victoria stood silently beside me.

I lowered my voice.

"Send me everything.""

"I'll have the full file ready. And Ethan, don't confront Naomi until we've reviewed the original documents.""

I ended the call.

Victoria pulled a chair closer.

"Is something wrong?""

I slid the paper toward her.

She read it carefully.

Then she looked up.

"Naomi Carter?""

"Yes.""

"That's interesting.""

"What's interesting about it?""

Victoria hesitated.

"Naomi wasn't just a research consultant. She was listed as a potential beneficiary in several internal planning documents.""

I stared at her.

"How long have you known?""

"I only discovered it during the financial investigation. I assumed she was connected to Adrian through his family.""

"His family?""

Victoria nodded.

"Adrian's father founded Sterling Industrial Group. His mother was involved in several medical research foundations. The Mitchell family has been trying to acquire your father's patents for years.""

I walked toward the window.

My father had always refused to sell.

He used to say that some inventions were worth more than their market price because of what they could accomplish.

I remembered sitting beside him in the factory when I was seventeen.

He had placed a small metal component in my hand.

"Never let someone convince you that something is worthless just because they don't understand its value.""

I had laughed.

"What if they offer a lot of money?""

"Then make sure you know what they're really buying.""

Now I wondered whether my father had known something I didn't.

My phone vibrated.

Naomi.

*Please answer me. We need to talk before tomorrow.*

I stared at the message.

Then I called her.

She answered after the first ring.

"Ethan?""

"Why is your name on a document giving you ownership of my father's company?""

Silence.

"Where did you see that?""

"That's not an answer.""

"Ethan, I can explain.""

"Then explain.""

She took a breath.

"Adrian told me there was an old estate arrangement. Your father supposedly wanted the company to continue supporting medical research.""

"My father never met you.""

"He knew about the research.""

"Naomi, my father died before I even started dating you.""

"I know.""

"Then how could he leave you his company?""

Her voice cracked.

"Because there were discussions about the patent.""

"With whom?""

"Adrian's family.""

I closed my eyes.

"How long have you known about this?""

She didn't answer.

"Naomi?""

"Almost two years.""

Two years.

She had known about the arrangement before she graduated.

Before Adrian kissed her in front of me.

Before I sold the company.

"Did you know they were using my company's money?""

"I knew there was funding.""

"That's not what I asked.""

"I didn't know the details.""

"Did you know my name was being removed from the ownership structure?""

She whispered, "Ethan, please.""

I gripped the phone.

"Did you know?""

Finally, she answered.

"Adrian said it was temporary.""

I laughed bitterly.

"Temporary?""

"He said once the acquisition was completed, everything would be reorganized.""

"And you were supposed to inherit the company?""

Another silence.

"Naomi?""

"I wasn't supposed to inherit it personally.""

"Your name is on the document.""

"I was meant to oversee the research division.""

I felt something inside me break.

"So you knew.""

"I didn't understand what it meant.""

"You have a doctorate in biomedical research. You signed legal agreements. You knew enough to understand what you were doing.""

"That's unfair.""

"No. What's unfair is that I sold the company my father built while you were secretly helping someone take control of it.""

She started crying.

"Ethan, I never wanted to hurt you.""

I looked at the photograph of my father on the wall.

"Then why didn't you tell me?""

She had no answer.

After a few seconds, I ended the call.

The next morning, I arrived at Reed Engineering at eight.

The factory had been sold on paper, but the physical transfer hadn't happened yet. Mr. Bennett had arranged an emergency meeting with the acquisition team.

Walking through the old reception area felt like stepping into a memory.

My father's name was still engraved above the entrance.

REED ENGINEERING — ESTABLISHED 1989.

I ran my fingers over the letters.

A receptionist approached.

"Mr. Reed? They're waiting for you.""

I entered the conference room.

Daniel Price was already seated at the far end of the table.

He looked older.

His hair had turned almost completely gray, but his smile was the same one he used to give me when I was a boy.

"Ethan," he said, standing.

"It's been a while.""

I didn't shake his hand.

"Why is your name on a document authorizing the transfer of my father's company?""

Daniel's smile disappeared.

"That's a complicated matter.""

"Try explaining it simply.""

He closed the folder in front of him.

"Your father made arrangements before he died.""

"My father never told me.""

"Not everything was meant for you to know.""

I pulled out the document.

"Did my mother sign this?""

Daniel looked down.

"Yes.""

"She was dead when this was supposedly signed.""

His face changed.

For the first time, I saw genuine discomfort.

"I didn't know the date had been altered.""

I leaned forward.

"Who altered it?""

He rubbed his forehead.

"Ethan, you need to understand. Your father was trying to protect the company.""

"From whom?""

Daniel looked toward the glass wall.

Then he said something I never expected.

"From you.""

I stared at him.

"What?""

"Your father didn't think you were ready to manage the business. He was concerned you would sell it too quickly.""

I laughed without humor.

"I spent ten years working in that factory.""

"And he loved you. But he worried you were too trusting.""

The words landed harder than he intended.

"Is that why you helped Adrian?""

Daniel stood.

"I helped preserve the company's future.""

"By falsifying my mother's signature?""

"I didn't falsify anything.""

"Then who did?""

He picked up his briefcase.

"I think this meeting is over.""

I stepped in front of him.

"Sit down, Daniel.""

His eyes narrowed.

"Don't forget who I am.""

"I haven't forgotten. That's the problem.""

He looked at me for several seconds.

Then he leaned closer.

"Your father left more behind than a company, Ethan. Something you should have found years ago.""

"What are you talking about?""

But he was already walking out.

At the door, he stopped.

"Ask your mother what happened during the last month of her life.""

I stared at him.

"My mother is dead.""

Daniel turned.

"Exactly.""

Then he left.

I stood alone in the conference room, staring at the document.

My father.

My mother.

Daniel.

Naomi.

Everyone seemed to know a different version of my family's history.

And I was the only person who hadn't been invited to hear it.

My phone vibrated.

A message from Mr. Bennett.

*Ethan, I've located the original estate file. There's a sealed letter from your father addressed specifically to you. It was never included in the documents transferred to you after his death.*

I read the message twice.

Then another message arrived.

*The letter is dated three days before he died.*

And beneath it was a photograph.

My father's handwriting.