Chapter 4: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
For several seconds, nobody in the conference room moved.
My father stared at my phone as though Marcus had just announced that a ghost was standing outside the door.
"Repeat that," he said.
I put the call on speaker.
Marcus sounded breathless.
"Daniel Hayes is here. He's sitting beside my mother. She introduced him as a special financial adviser to the company.""
My father grabbed the edge of the table.
"That's impossible.""
"That's what I thought," Marcus replied.
"But he has identification, legal documents, and apparently a power of attorney signed by Evelyn Hayes.""
I looked at Margaret.
She had gone pale.
"Put him on the phone," she demanded.
"He's in the boardroom. I can't exactly—"
"Marcus, listen to me. Do not let anyone touch those documents. Do you understand?""
"Yes.""
"And do not let Vanessa present herself as the legal guardian of Leo's trust.""
Marcus hesitated.
"She says she has proof.""
Margaret closed her folder.
"Then she's about to embarrass herself.""
The call ended.
I turned toward my father.
"Who is Daniel?""
He didn't answer immediately.
My father had always been the kind of man who could walk into a room full of angry investors and make everyone listen. I had watched him negotiate multimillion-dollar contracts without raising his voice.
Now he looked like someone had pulled the ground from beneath him.
"Daniel was my older brother," he finally said.
"I know that. But why was he declared dead?""
"Because he disappeared after your mother's final dispute with Edward.""
"Disappeared isn't dead.""
My father rubbed his face.
"His car was found near the river. There was blood inside. The authorities believed he'd drowned.""
Margaret interrupted.
"Your father never accepted the identification.""
"Because there was no body," my father replied.
"But the investigation eventually closed.""
I looked at the documents.
"Why would my uncle help Vanessa?""
My father finally met my eyes.
"Because Daniel and your mother had a secret arrangement. One I was never supposed to know about.""
Margaret slowly removed her glasses.
"Richard, are you certain?""
He nodded.
"Yes.""
"What arrangement?""
My father looked at me.
"Before your mother died, she believed someone inside Whitmore Holdings was stealing more than money. She thought they were preparing to eliminate her control over the company permanently.""
I felt a chill.
"She trusted Daniel?""
"More than she trusted anyone else.""
"And now he's working with Vanessa?""
"I don't know.""
I looked toward Leo.
He had climbed onto a chair and was drawing dinosaurs on a piece of paper Margaret had given him.
He was humming quietly.
I couldn't let him grow up surrounded by this kind of danger.
"We're going to the headquarters," I said.
My father stood.
"I'm coming with you.""
Margaret gathered the documents.
"So am I.""
Twenty minutes later, we entered the Whitmore Holdings building.
The receptionist immediately recognized me.
Her smile disappeared when she saw my father.
"Good morning, Mr. Hayes.""
"Where is the board meeting?""
"Thirty-second floor.""
"Has the resolution been signed?""
She hesitated.
"I believe they're discussing it now.""
"Then tell them we're here.""
The elevator doors opened.
As we stepped out, I heard Vanessa's voice coming from the boardroom.
"These documents establish my authority to act on behalf of the beneficiary. The transfer is a routine restructuring measure.""
A man answered.
"Then why wasn't the trustee notified?""
Vanessa sounded irritated.
"Because the trustee's involvement is unnecessary.""
Margaret pushed open the doors.
"That's an interesting interpretation of the law.""
Every head turned.
Vanessa stood beside the conference table in a cream-colored suit. She looked polished, composed, and completely unbothered.
Until she saw Margaret.
Then her fingers tightened around the papers.
"Margaret Ellis.""
"Vanessa.""
Vanessa's eyes moved toward me.
"Why are you here?""
"Because you're discussing my son's property.""
"Your son has no business being involved in corporate matters.""
"Neither do you, apparently.""
A few board members exchanged uncomfortable glances.
Marcus stood near the windows.
He looked relieved when he saw me.
But Daniel was the one I couldn't stop staring at.
He was older than I remembered from childhood photographs. His hair had turned almost entirely white, and a thin scar crossed his left eyebrow.
He looked directly at me.
"Nia.""
My voice came out cold.
"Uncle Daniel.""
He smiled faintly.
"You've grown up.""
"You're supposed to be dead.""
The room fell silent.
Vanessa quickly stepped forward.
"Daniel is a respected financial adviser. His personal history is irrelevant.""
I looked at her.
"Then why did you bring him here?""
Daniel pulled out a chair.
"Perhaps we should all sit down.""
My father remained standing.
"You have some explaining to do.""
Daniel's expression hardened.
"Not here, Richard.""
"After twelve years, you don't get to decide where we talk.""
Vanessa slammed a document onto the table.
"Enough. We are not here to discuss family history.""
She turned toward the board.
"The transfer resolution is ready for approval.""
Margaret stepped forward.
"Before anyone votes, I'd like to see the authorization you're relying on.""
Vanessa lifted a page.
"Here.""
Margaret examined it.
Then she laughed.
Not loudly.
Not nervously.
It was the kind of laugh someone makes when they discover an opponent has made a catastrophic mistake.
"Where did you get this?""
Daniel answered.
"From the original estate file.""
"Who certified it?""
"I did.""
Margaret looked at him.
"Then you should know that this document was revoked.""
Daniel's smile disappeared.
My father took a step forward.
"Daniel, what have you done?""
Vanessa snatched the paper back.
"This is ridiculous. We have a legitimate authorization.""
Margaret pointed to the bottom of the page.
"Look at the date.""
Vanessa glanced down.
Her expression changed.
The document was dated three months before my mother died.
But the signature had been witnessed by someone who had died four years earlier.
Margaret placed a second document on the table.
"That authorization was superseded by a later amendment. Your mother signed it in the presence of three witnesses, including me.""
Vanessa looked toward Daniel.
He didn't move.
"Show them the amendment," I said.
Margaret opened her folder.
And just as she began reading the first paragraph, Daniel suddenly stood.
"Don't.""
Everyone turned.
He looked at me.
"Before you destroy this family, Nia, you should know what your mother really did.""
My father stepped toward him.
"Careful.""
Daniel ignored him.
"Your mother didn't leave Leo those shares because she wanted to protect him.""
May you like
He looked directly at my son.
"She left them because she knew what he was going to inherit.""
