Chapter 4: The Man Behind the Folder
“It's Richard Cole, sir.””
The security supervisor's words landed harder than the shove that had sent me to the pavement.
My father stared at him.
“Richard Cole? My attorney?””
“Yes, sir.””
For a moment, the only movement outside the Ashbourne Grand came from the revolving hotel doors and the headlights sweeping across the valet driveway. Guests remained gathered beneath the bright exterior lights, pretending not to listen while missing nothing.
My father slowly turned toward Victoria.
“You told me you didn't know him.””
Victoria's face had gone pale.
“I said I didn't know what you were talking about.””
“You said the man was a stranger.””
“I was upset, Daniel. You were questioning me in front of everyone.””
“Richard Cole has represented me for twelve years.””
She pressed her fingertips against her forehead.
“I know who he is.””
“Then why lie?””
Victoria looked toward the red carpet, then toward the entrance. Her eyes settled on a couple standing nearby, and she forced a smile that looked painful even from where I stood.
“Perhaps we should discuss this somewhere private.””
My father didn't move.
“No more private conversations. No more stories that change depending on who's listening.””
Chloe grabbed her mother's arm.
“Mom, tell him what happened. Just explain it.””
Victoria jerked her arm free.
“Stop talking, Chloe.””
My stepsister recoiled.
I'd seen Victoria silence Chloe before, but never with that much desperation. Usually, my stepmother's cruelty was calculated. She corrected the way Chloe held her fork, criticized her friends, and reminded her that being beautiful wasn't enough to secure a comfortable future.
Tonight, something had broken through that polished control.
And she was frightened.
My father held out his phone to the security supervisor.
“Can you get Richard on the line?””
“Certainly, sir.””
“Now.””
The supervisor stepped several feet away and made the call.
Victoria immediately moved toward my father.
“Daniel, please listen to me. Richard and I were discussing paperwork. That's all.””
“What paperwork?””
“Estate documents.””
“Which documents?””
She pressed her lips together.
He nodded once, as if her silence confirmed something he hadn't wanted to believe.
“Did I authorize a new will?””
Victoria's eyes flicked toward the phone.
“You've been talking about updating your estate for months.””
“That wasn't my question.””
“I don't remember every conversation you've had with your lawyers.””
“Did I sign a new will?””
She swallowed.
“I thought you had.””
My father stared at her for several seconds.
Then he said, “You thought I signed a document I haven't seen?””
Victoria's shoulders rose.
“Richard said everything was being prepared.””
“Prepared isn't signed.””
“How was I supposed to know what he'd shown you?””
“Because you were standing beside him while he handed you a folder labeled with my name.””
She looked away.
I felt the cold air against my scraped palms. The handkerchief my father had wrapped around my right hand was already marked with a small red stain.
“Dad,” I said quietly.
He turned toward me immediately.
“I'm here, sweetheart.””
“Why would an attorney give her your will?””
His expression softened, but he didn't pretend to know the answer.
“I don't know yet.””
Victoria let out a frustrated breath.
“Because I asked him to bring the documents to the hotel. Daniel, you have an entire company to run. You forget things. I was helping.””
My father gave a humorless laugh.
“You arranged to receive my legal documents without telling me, and you pushed my daughter onto the pavement when she asked why she wasn't allowed inside. That's your definition of helping?””
“I did not push her because of any document!””
The words escaped her too quickly.
Everyone went still.
My father lowered his phone.
“I didn't say you did.””
Victoria stared at him.
Her mouth tightened.
For the first time, she understood that she'd answered a question nobody had asked.
Chloe took a step backward.
“Mom,” she whispered, “what does Ava have to do with Dad's will?””
Victoria looked at her sharply.
“Nothing.””
“Then why is her name on the second paper?””
“Because your father has always made everything about Ava.””
I felt those words strike an old, familiar place inside me.
My father had missed my high school awards ceremony because Victoria scheduled a family vacation that couldn't be moved. He had forgotten my eighteenth birthday dinner after she told him I didn't want a celebration. Every time I complained, she explained that I was jealous of Chloe, that I wanted attention, that I couldn't accept sharing my father.
And I'd believed, for years, that perhaps there was something wrong with me.
Now she was doing it again.
I straightened my shoulders.
“Stop using me as an excuse.””
Victoria turned toward me.
“You have no idea what you're talking about.””
“Then explain it.””
“You think because you share Daniel's last name, you understand what it takes to protect this family?””
“No. I think protecting a family means you don't hurt its members to keep them quiet.””
Her face twisted.
“You ungrateful little—”
“Victoria!”” my father barked.
She stopped.
He stepped closer, his voice low and controlled.
“You will not speak to her that way again.””
Victoria stared at him as though she no longer recognized the man standing before her.
The security supervisor returned.
“Mr. Bennett, I reached Mr. Cole's office. His assistant says he's still at the hotel.””
“Where?””
“The private conference floor.””
My father glanced toward the doors.
“Then we're going to speak to him.””
Victoria moved directly into his path.
“No.””
It was the first time she'd openly blocked him.
My father looked down at her hand, which she had planted against his chest.
“Move.””
“You cannot walk in there and accuse an attorney of misconduct because you misunderstood a video.””
“Then he can explain it.””
“Richard has confidential obligations.””
“I'm his client.””
She lowered her voice.
“Daniel, if you go upstairs, you will regret what you find.””
He stared at her.
The words sounded less like a warning than a plea.
My father gently removed her hand from his chest.
“I've regretted not asking questions for a long time.””
He turned to me.
“Can you stay here with the supervisor while I sort this out?””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“Ava—”
“I'm not letting you walk into another room while everybody decides what happens to me.””
He looked at my bandaged hand, then into my eyes.
Something in his face softened.
“You're right.””
Victoria's expression hardened.
“Daniel, don't be ridiculous. She doesn't belong in a confidential meeting.””
My father turned toward her.
“She's nineteen. Her name is on a document you were secretly passing to my attorney. If anyone has a reason to be there, it's her.””
He offered me his arm.
I took it.
As we approached the golden doors, Chloe suddenly called after us.
“Ava!””
I stopped.
My stepsister stood beside the valet stand, her silver dress sparkling under the lights. Her face had lost its usual smugness.
“Did you know?”” she asked.
“Know what?””
“About the money. The account you keep talking about.””
I stared at her.
“No.””
She looked down at her phone.
Then she looked at her mother.
Victoria's eyes widened.
“Chloe, put that away.””
Chloe clutched the phone to her chest.
“Mom, you said nobody would ever find out.””
My father's arm tightened beneath my hand.
“What wouldn't we find out?””
Chloe looked at him, terrified.
Then her phone vibrated.
She glanced at the screen.
A message appeared from a number saved under a single word.
*RICHARD.*
She read it silently, and the color drained from her face.
“Dad,” she whispered, “you need to see this.””
She turned the phone toward him.
May you like
The message contained six words.
*DO NOT LET AVA SEE THE ORIGINAL.*
