The Janitor’s Phone Held the Secret That Could Destroy a Powerful Family

Maya could barely hear herself breathe.

“Guardianship?”” she repeated.

Marcus nodded grimly.

“The document states that Daniel appointed a temporary guardian for you in the event that your mother became unable to care for you.””

Maya stared at the paper.

“Who?””

Marcus didn't answer.

Victor reached for the document.

Marcus held it away from him.

“I'm reading.””

“You've read enough.””

“No,” Marcus replied.

“I haven't.””

He examined the signature block, then the date.

His expression shifted.

“This was signed three days before Daniel died.””

Maya looked at Samuel.

“Did you know about this?””

Samuel shook his head slowly.

“No. I've never seen that document.””

Victor gave a dismissive laugh.

“Because you weren't supposed to.””

Samuel's face tightened.

“Who was named?””

Marcus turned the paper around.

At the bottom, beneath Daniel's signature, was a typed name.

*VICTOR WHITMORE.*

Maya stared at it.

Victor folded his arms.

“There. Now you know.””

She shook her head.

“You were supposed to be my guardian?””

“Temporarily, according to the document.””

“Why?””

“Because Daniel trusted me.””

Samuel let out a bitter laugh.

“Daniel trusted a lot of people who didn't deserve it.””

Victor ignored him.

“Your mother vanished before the arrangements could be finalized. Without her cooperation, the document became difficult to enforce.””

Maya's hands curled into fists.

“So you knew I existed.””

Victor didn't answer.

“You knew my mother had a child.””

“Yes.””

“You knew where I was?””

“Not for most of your childhood.””

Maya stepped closer.

“But you knew about me.””

Victor's eyes hardened.

“I knew there was a little girl whose existence could have complicated a great many things.””

The words landed with brutal clarity.

Maya wasn't a person to him.

She was a complication.

“And what happened to Daniel?”” she asked.

Victor looked away.

“He died in an accident.””

“That's what you said. What kind of accident?””

“A car accident.””

“Was anyone else in the car?””

Victor remained silent.

Marcus looked up from the document.

“Victor, answer her.””

Victor rounded on him.

“Why? So you can stand here pretending you're innocent? You were there when the lawyers came.

You signed the statements. You helped close the files.””

Marcus's face drained of color.

Maya turned toward him.

“You signed something?””

Marcus looked down.

“Yes.””

“What did you sign?””

“A statement confirming that Daniel's affairs had been transferred to the proper legal representatives.””

“Did you know about me?””

Marcus closed his eyes briefly.

“I knew Denise had a child. I didn't know where she had gone.””

“Did you know she was afraid?””

His silence was answer enough.

Maya took a step back.

“You all knew pieces of my life. And nobody thought I deserved to know any of them.””

Marcus's voice broke slightly.

“I was younger then. I was afraid of losing everything I'd worked for.””

“So you protected your job.””

“Yes,” he said.

“And I've regretted it ever since.””

The admission silenced Maya.

It wasn't an excuse.

At least he wasn't pretending it was.

Victor, however, seemed almost relieved.

“You see? Nobody is perfect. We all made decisions under difficult circumstances.””

Samuel moved toward him.

“Don't you dare put yourself in the same category as a frightened young employee.””

Victor's expression turned vicious.

“You want to discuss fear? Tell her what happened after Daniel's funeral.””

Samuel stopped moving.

Victor continued.

“Tell her why you disappeared from the Whitmore property. Tell her why Denise refused to speak to you again.””

Maya looked at Samuel.

“What is he talking about?””

Samuel pressed his lips together.

For several seconds, the only sound was the soft rush of the pool's filtration system.

Then he spoke.

“After Daniel died, I found out that somebody had removed documents from his private office. Documents concerning you.””

“What documents?””

“I never saw all of them. But I found a letter addressed to your mother.””

“Where is it?””

“I don't have it anymore.””

“Who took it?””

Samuel glanced at Victor.

“I believe he knows.””

Victor threw his hands up.

“This is absurd. You have no proof of anything.””

Samuel's voice remained calm.

“I don't need proof to remember what you said to me that morning.””

Victor's face went pale.

Samuel stepped closer.

“You stood in the service corridor outside Daniel's office. You told me that if I ever mentioned the little girl again, I'd never work in this city.””

Maya stared at Victor.

“Did you threaten him?””

Victor scoffed.

“I gave an employee a warning about confidential information.””

“You threatened an elderly man because he knew about me?””

“I was protecting the family.””

Samuel shook his head.

“You were protecting yourself.””

Victor pointed at the guards.

“Get him out of here.””

Neither guard moved.

Marcus turned toward them.

“No one is being removed until we understand what's happening.””

Victor's jaw tightened.

“Then you're both fired.””

Marcus didn't blink.

“You don't have that authority.””

“I have the board behind me.””

“Then call them.””

Victor hesitated.

It lasted less than a second, but Maya saw it.

Marcus saw it too.

The executive took out his phone.

“Actually, I'll call them.””

He selected a contact and placed the call on speaker.

A man's voice answered.

“Marcus? This had better be important.””

“It is. I'm standing with Maya Carter, Samuel, and Victor Whitmore. We've found a guardianship document signed by Daniel three days before his death.””

Silence.

Then the voice said, “Destroy it.””

Maya's heart lurched.

Marcus stared at his phone.

“Excuse me?””

“You heard me. That document should never have resurfaced.””

“Why?””

“Because the person named in the document wasn't the person Daniel intended to protect.””

Victor looked furious now.

“End the call, Marcus.””

But Marcus raised his hand.

“No. I want to know what that means.””

The man on the phone took a breath.

“Daniel amended his instructions the night before he died. The amendment was witnessed and filed. Whatever that old document says, it is no longer relevant.””

Maya stepped closer to the phone.

“Who was the amendment meant to protect?””

The voice fell silent.

“Who was it meant to protect?”” she repeated.

At last, the man answered.

“You need to speak to your mother.””

Maya felt her knees weaken.

“My mother doesn't answer my calls.””

“Then you should make her understand that we have run out of time.””

Marcus frowned.

“What time?””

The man ignored him.

“Maya, listen carefully. Your mother has kept something from you for twenty-two years. Something that could change the ownership of Whitmore Holdings.””

Victor lunged toward the phone.

“Hang up!””

The call abruptly disconnected.

Maya stood motionless, staring at the dark screen.

Then Samuel's old phone began to ring.

He checked the number.

His face changed.

“It's Denise,” he whispered.

Maya grabbed his arm.

“Answer it!””

Samuel accepted the call and put it on speaker.

A woman's trembling voice filled the space between them.