Chapter 11: The Deal My Stepmother Offered Me
Vanessa was waiting in the dining room when we arrived.
The table had been cleared except for three glasses of water and a thick legal folder.
She wore a black dress and had her hair tied back.
There was no wineglass tonight.
No false smile.
No performance of being the perfect stepmother.
She looked directly at me.
"Sit down, Maya.""
I remained standing.
"What do you want?""
Vanessa gestured toward the chair.
"Let's not make this difficult.""
Brielle stood beside me.
Dad remained near the doorway.
Vanessa opened the folder.
"Vantage is prepared to resolve this matter privately.""
I glanced at the document.
"By paying me ten thousand dollars?""
She smiled.
"Fifteen.""
I laughed.
"That's generous.""
"Considering the circumstances, yes.""
"What circumstances?""
Vanessa leaned back.
"The company has substantial legal rights to the Aurora technology. Your father signed the original agreement. You have no commercial registration in your name, and your so-called evidence is incomplete.""
Dad stepped forward.
"The agreement was obtained through deception.""
Vanessa turned toward him.
"Daniel, please. You don't want to start that conversation.""
He stopped.
I noticed his expression.
She was still able to frighten him.
But I wasn't.
"What happens if I refuse?"" I asked.
Vanessa closed the folder.
"Then the company proceeds with its legal action.""
"And the money from Mom's trust?""
"That was a separate matter.""
"Was it?""
She looked at me.
"You're young. You don't understand how businesses work.""
I leaned forward.
"Then explain why you used my mother's trust to fund a company that copied my invention.""
Vanessa's jaw tightened.
"Because your mother left behind an asset that nobody knew how to commercialize.""
"It wasn't yours.""
"Your mother was dying, Maya. Someone had to make decisions.""
Dad slammed his hand against the table.
"Don't you dare use Elizabeth's illness as an excuse.""
Vanessa stood.
"Where were you when the company was collapsing? Where were you when the bills needed paying? I was the one keeping everything together.""
"By stealing?""
"By making difficult decisions!""
Brielle stepped forward.
"Mom, stop.""
Vanessa turned toward her.
"You stay out of this.""
"No.""
Brielle's voice trembled, but she didn't back down.
"You told me Maya had agreed to let me use the robot. You told me the money was legally ours. You told me nobody would get hurt.""
Vanessa stared at her.
"And you believed me.""
Brielle swallowed.
"I wanted to.""
Vanessa's expression hardened.
"Then perhaps you should have kept your mouth shut.""
Brielle looked down.
I moved closer to her.
Vanessa noticed.
"Don't pretend you're suddenly sisters again. Maya has never wanted you to succeed.""
I shook my head.
"This isn't about Brielle succeeding. It's about you using both of us.""
Vanessa picked up the legal folder.
"Enough. Sign the settlement, Maya.""
I looked at the last page.
There was a clause transferring all rights to the Aurora Framework and every derivative invention.
It also required me to withdraw my claims against Vantage.
But something else caught my attention.
A separate paragraph stated that I acknowledged the original development work had been performed under the supervision of Vanessa Carter.
I looked up.
"You want me to sign a statement saying you helped create A.R.I.A.?""
"That is an accurate description of the working relationship.""
"You never touched the software.""
"I funded the company.""
"With stolen money.""
Her face turned red.
"Sign it.""
I pushed the document away.
"No.""
Vanessa's voice dropped.
"Then your father will have to answer for his signature.""
Dad stepped forward.
"I'll take responsibility.""
She smiled coldly.
"Good. Because I've already prepared a statement explaining that you knowingly transferred the technology to Vantage.""
I looked at him.
"What?""
Vanessa removed another document.
It contained a declaration bearing my father's name.
The statement claimed that he had knowingly authorized the transfer of my invention and the use of my mother's trust funds.
Dad stared at it.
"I never signed that.""
Vanessa shrugged.
"Perhaps you forgot.""
"I didn't sign it.""
She placed the paper on the table.
"Then the court can decide.""
I looked at the signature.
It resembled Dad's handwriting.
But something was wrong.
The date was from a day when Dad had been in Chicago.
I remembered because he'd called me from the airport that evening.
I took a photograph of the document.
Vanessa noticed.
"Put your phone away.""
I ignored her.
She stepped toward me.
"You're making a serious mistake.""
I looked directly at her.
"No. I think I'm finally making the right one.""
Then I walked out with Brielle.
Dad followed.
Behind us, Vanessa shouted something.
But I didn't turn around.
Outside, Brielle started crying.
"I can't believe she did that.""
I looked at her.
"Did she really forge Dad's signature?""
"I think so.""
"Why?""
Brielle wiped her face.
"Because she told me last week that if anything went wrong, Daniel would take the blame.""
Dad stopped beside the car.
He looked at Brielle.
"Did she say anything else?""
Brielle nodded.
"She said Martin had already moved the prototype to Sentinel's facility. She said the deal would be finished before anyone could stop it.""
I looked at Dad.
"Then we need to find another way to get the recording.""
My phone rang.
Eleanor.
I answered.
"Maya, I have news.""
"What happened?""
"The court has scheduled the emergency hearing for tomorrow morning.""
My heart sank.
"Tomorrow?""
"Yes. Vantage is requesting an order preventing you from accessing or demonstrating A.R.I.A. They're also asking the court to recognize their ownership claim temporarily.""
I looked at Dad.
"What do we do?""
"Bring every original record you have. The development files, the trust documents, your mother's letter, and Brielle's messages.""
"Will that be enough?""
"Possibly. But the missing recording could make a significant difference.""
I closed my eyes.
"We're trying to find it.""
"Good. Because there's another development.""
"What?""
"Sentinel Dynamics has confirmed that it will attend the hearing.""
My stomach tightened.
"Why?""
"Because Vantage has already signed a preliminary acquisition agreement. If they lose control of the technology, Sentinel could lose its investment.""
I looked at the dark road ahead.
The people involved were no longer just Vanessa and Brielle.
There was a company, an investor, a school official, and potentially a forged legal record.
And somewhere in the middle of all of it was my mother's invention.
Eleanor lowered her voice.
"Maya, there's one more thing. I've been reviewing the documents Brielle provided.""
"What did you find?""
"The settlement wasn't simply designed to transfer your rights.""
I waited.
"It also contains a clause requiring you to surrender A.R.I.A. for independent testing.""
"Why?""
"Because they believe your robot contains a complete copy of the original Aurora Framework.""
I looked at A.R.I.A. through the car window.
"They want to take it apart.""
"That's what it appears to say.""
I felt a wave of anger.
"They're not touching it.""
Eleanor was quiet for a moment.
"Then we need to be prepared for tomorrow.""
At home, I sat beside A.R.I.A. and opened its maintenance interface.
A small warning appeared.
*EXTERNAL ACCESS ATTEMPT DETECTED.*
I froze.
The warning displayed a timestamp.
11:38 p.m.
I checked the security logs.
Someone had attempted to access the robot remotely.
The request had come from an external network.
I traced the identifier through the diagnostic records.
It matched a device registered to Vantage Intelligent Systems.
My phone buzzed.
A message from Brielle.
Mom just left the house.
Then another.
She took the silver key.
I looked at the key Arthur had identified.
The one that opened the prototype's secondary compartment.
I called Brielle.
She answered immediately.
"Where did she get it?""
"I don't know. It was on my desk. She must have found it when I went downstairs.""
"Did she say where she was going?""
"No.""
I looked at the address from the old laboratory.
Then at the time.
Vanessa was heading somewhere.
And she had the key.
I grabbed my jacket.
Dad appeared in the doorway.
"Where are you going?""
"To find the prototype.""
"Maya, wait.""
"She has the key, Dad.""
His expression changed.
He understood immediately.
"We'll call Eleanor.""
But I was already dialing.
The line rang.
And rang.
Then Eleanor answered.
"Maya?""
"Vanessa has the key to the original Aurora prototype. I think she's going to destroy the recording.""
There was a pause.
May you like
Then Eleanor said something that made my heart stop.
"Don't go anywhere. The police have just informed me that someone reported a break-in at the old laboratory.""
