Chapter 2: The Secret Hidden in My Mother's Name
I didn't sleep that night.
Leo eventually fell asleep with his favorite stuffed dinosaur tucked beneath his chin. I carried him to his bedroom, removed his little tie, and carefully unbuttoned his suit jacket.
He still smelled like the vanilla lotion I'd used after his bath.
I stood beside his bed longer than necessary.
Then I walked downstairs and called my father.
He answered on the first ring.
"Nia?""
"Dad, what did you mean about Mom's investment agreement?""
There was a long silence.
Then I heard him exhale.
"Come to my office tomorrow morning. I'll explain everything.""
"No. I want to know now.""
"Nia, this isn't a conversation to have over the phone.""
I closed my eyes.
"Did Mom invest in Whitmore Holdings?""
"Yes.""
My stomach tightened.
"How much?""
"That isn't the important part.""
"Then what is?""
He paused.
"Your mother helped establish the company before Vanessa's husband took control. She was one of its original financial partners.""
I sank onto the living room sofa.
"What?""
"Your mother and Edward Whitmore started the business together. Your mother provided the original capital. Edward handled operations.""
"Then why have I never heard about this?""
"Because your mother left the company after a serious disagreement. She transferred some of her interests into a trust for you.""
I stared at the framed photograph on the mantel.
It showed my mother holding me at the beach. She was laughing, her dark hair blowing across her face.
I'd spent most of my childhood believing she had worked as a small-business consultant.
Nothing more.
"Was Vanessa involved?""
My father hesitated.
"Yes.""
"How?""
"She married Edward. Eventually, she became involved in the company's financial decisions.""
"Did she know who I was?""
"She knew your mother's name.""
That wasn't an answer.
"Dad, did she know I was her business partner's daughter?""
"Yes.""
I stood up.
"Then she knew exactly whose son she was insulting tonight.""
My father didn't respond.
I laughed bitterly.
"She knew about the investment, didn't she?""
"She knew Hayes Capital held a significant position. I don't think she understood how much control had been transferred to you.""
"Why?""
"Because she assumed you were simply the daughter of a wealthy investor. She never bothered to investigate the family history.""
I looked toward the stairs.
"She humiliated Leo.""
"I know.""
"She told him he didn't belong at the table.""
My father's voice softened.
"Your mother would have walked out before Vanessa finished that sentence.""
I swallowed hard.
"Then why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I wanted you to build your own life without being defined by your inheritance. And because there were legal matters surrounding your mother's trust that I hoped would remain buried.""
"Buried?""
Before he could answer, the doorbell rang.
I checked the security monitor.
Marcus stood outside.
He was holding a bouquet of white roses.
I almost laughed.
Of all the flowers he could have chosen, he'd brought the same ones Vanessa had placed on her dinner table.
"Dad, Marcus is here. I'll call you back.""
"Don't let him pressure you into signing anything.""
"I won't.""
I ended the call and opened the door.
Marcus looked exhausted.
"Nia, can I come in?""
I stepped aside but didn't smile.
He placed the flowers on the console table.
"I've called you twenty-three times.""
"I noticed.""
"Why aren't you answering?""
"Because I didn't have anything to say.""
He rubbed his forehead.
"Please. I know last night was terrible.""
"Terrible?""
"Yes.""
"Marcus, your mother told my six-year-old son that he didn't belong at the table.""
"I know.""
"And you stood there.""
His shoulders dropped.
"I was trying to avoid making things worse.""
I stared at him.
"For whom?""
He looked away.
"That's not fair.""
"No, Marcus. What's not fair is asking a child to understand why an adult who claims to love him couldn't defend him.""
He walked toward the sofa.
"Listen, my mother has always been difficult. You know that.""
"That sentence doesn't excuse anything.""
"She grew up in a very traditional family. She has expectations.""
"Does one of those expectations involve humiliating children?""
He flinched.
"Nia, please.""
I crossed my arms.
"Did you come here to apologize to Leo or to discuss the investment?""
His expression changed.
That was all the answer I needed.
"Your mother is worried about the company's financial position," he admitted.
I nodded slowly.
"Of course she is.""
"There's a board meeting at ten tomorrow. She's asking me to convince you to delay the withdrawal.""
"Why you?""
"Because you're my fiancée.""
I almost laughed.
"Was I your fiancée last night when your mother ordered my son into the kitchen?""
Marcus looked down.
"I should have handled it differently.""
"You should have handled it immediately.""
He moved closer.
"Can we start again? You, me, Leo. Without my mother interfering?""
I studied his face.
For one brief moment, I wanted to believe him.
I remembered him teaching Leo how to tie his shoes. I remembered the three of us making pancakes on Sunday mornings. I remembered how Leo used to run to the window whenever Marcus's car pulled into the driveway.
Then I remembered the little boy asking whether he'd done something wrong.
"No," I whispered.
Marcus's eyes widened.
"What?""
"I'm not starting again with someone who needs a second chance to protect my child.""
His phone vibrated.
He glanced at it.
Then another notification appeared.
I noticed the name on the screen.
*Vanessa Whitmore.*
"Answer it," I said.
He hesitated before accepting.
"Mom?""
Vanessa's voice came through loudly enough for me to hear.
"Have you convinced her?""
Marcus looked at me.
"Not yet.""
"Then you're wasting your time. Bring her to the office. We need her signature before the board meeting.""
I frowned.
"What signature?""
Marcus turned away.
"Mom, I told you not to discuss that.""
Vanessa continued.
"She has to sign the revised shareholder authorization. Once she does, we can move forward.""
I stepped closer.
"Marcus, what revised authorization?""
He ended the call.
Too quickly.
I stared at him.
"Tell me.""
"It's complicated.""
"Then explain it simply.""
He rubbed his jaw.
"The company needs temporary access to certain voting rights.""
"Mine?""
"Yes.""
"And what happens if I don't sign?""
"Nothing immediately.""
"That's not what your mother thinks.""
Marcus remained silent.
I walked to the console table and picked up the bouquet.
"Take these.""
"Nia—"
"Take them, Marcus.""
He didn't move.
I placed the flowers in his arms and opened the front door.
"Goodbye.""
He stood there for several seconds.
Then he said something that made my blood run cold.
"There's another reason my mother doesn't want Leo involved in the family.""
I stopped.
"What does that mean?""
Marcus looked toward the stairs.
"Your mother left something behind. Something that could change who actually owns Whitmore Holdings.""
My fingers tightened around the door handle.
"What did she leave?""
He swallowed.
"A document.""
"What document?""
"A letter naming someone as the company's rightful successor.""
I stared at him.
"Who?""
Marcus's eyes filled with something I couldn't identify.
Fear, perhaps.
Or guilt.
"Leo.""
For a moment, the entire house seemed to stop breathing.
"My son?""
Marcus nodded.
"Your mother named Leo in a legal document before she died.""
I shook my head.
"That's impossible. Leo was born years after she died.""
"Exactly.""
Then Marcus reached into his jacket and removed a folded piece of paper.
"The document was amended three months before your mother passed away. Your father knows about it.""
I took the paper.
At the bottom was my mother's familiar signature.
May you like
But above it was a name I had never expected to see.
*Leo Hayes.*
