Chapter 6: The File My Husband Stole
I read Daniel's name again.
Then I read it a third time.
"Two weeks ago?""
Eleanor nodded.
"The archive system shows that he requested access to the file under his executive credentials.""
"Was it returned?""
"No.""
I looked at Jonathan.
"Can he access the archive now?""
"His credentials were suspended last night.""
"Then how did he get the file?""
Jonathan studied the access record.
"Someone may have used his credentials before the suspension. Or he may have made a physical copy.""
I closed the folder.
"Find out.""
Eleanor hesitated.
"There's something else.""
I looked at her.
She placed a printed email on my desk.
It was dated three weeks earlier.
The sender was Daniel.
The recipient was Patricia.
*I found the reference to Dad's old file. Martin says it could become a problem if Nia discovers what William was investigating. We need to secure it before the board starts asking questions.*
I felt the room tilt slightly.
My father hadn't simply left behind a complicated business arrangement.
He had been investigating something.
And Daniel knew about it.
"Did Patricia reply?"" I asked.
Eleanor turned over the page.
There was a response.
*Don't worry. Martin knows what to do. Just make sure your wife doesn't start asking questions.*
I sat down.
For a moment, I remembered Daniel on our wedding day.
He'd looked into my eyes and promised that he would never let anyone hurt me.
I'd believed him.
Now I wondered how long he'd been keeping secrets.
Jonathan pulled out his phone.
"I'm contacting the forensic team. We'll also request preservation of all archived records.""
I nodded.
"Do it.""
My phone rang.
Daniel.
I stared at the screen.
Then I answered.
"What?""
"Nia, we need to talk.""
"About the missing file?""
There was a pause.
"So you found out.""
"Where is it?""
"Not over the phone.""
"Then tell me where to meet you.""
"Somewhere private.""
I looked at Jonathan.
He shook his head slightly.
I understood.
"Come to headquarters," I said.
"No.""
"Then we have nothing to discuss.""
"Nia, please. I'm trying to help you.""
I almost laughed.
"You've had three years to help me.""
He exhaled.
"There's something you don't understand about your father.""
"Then explain it.""
"I can't do that until I know what Martin has told you.""
I gripped the phone.
"Why does Martin matter so much to you?""
Daniel lowered his voice.
"Because he's the reason your father left you those shares.""
I froze.
"What?""
"He didn't just transfer them because he wanted you to inherit the company. There was something else.""
"What something else?""
Daniel went silent.
Then he said, "Meet me tonight. I'll tell you everything.""
The call ended.
I lowered the phone.
Jonathan looked at me.
"What did he say?""
I repeated his words.
Jonathan's expression became grave.
"That doesn't make sense.""
"Why?""
"Your father had already established the trust before Martin left the company.""
I frowned.
"Could he have changed the arrangements later?""
"Not without documentation. And I have copies of every executed version.""
He walked to his filing cabinet.
After several minutes, he returned with a sealed folder.
"This is the original trust instrument.""
I opened it.
The first pages contained the familiar legal language.
My name.
The ownership percentages.
The voting rights.
Then I reached an additional clause.
It was handwritten in the margin.
The handwriting was my father's.
*The beneficiary shall receive full control upon reaching the age of thirty, unless evidence of deliberate financial misconduct by the former adviser is discovered before that date.*
I stared.
"Why would Dad include this?""
Jonathan pointed to the date.
"Because he added it shortly before his death.""
I looked at the handwritten sentence.
"What happens if evidence is discovered?""
Jonathan turned to the final page.
"There is a second trust provision.""
He read it carefully.
"If credible evidence establishes that Martin Cole participated in financial misconduct involving the company, an independent review must be initiated. During that review, certain voting rights may be temporarily transferred to the designated independent trustee.""
I looked up.
"Who is the trustee?""
Jonathan hesitated.
"That's the strange part.""
He turned the page toward me.
The name was written clearly.
*Evelyn Hayes.*
My mother.
I stared at it.
"That's impossible.""
Jonathan nodded slowly.
"Your mother was appointed as the independent trustee.""
"My mother died when I was nineteen.""
"I know.""
I sat back.
My mother had died from cancer eleven years earlier.
She had never worked for the company. She had never attended board meetings. She had never shown any interest in corporate affairs.
Why would my father appoint her?
"Did she know about this?""
Jonathan studied the document.
"She signed the acceptance.""
I touched the signature.
It was unmistakably hers.
"Why didn't Dad tell me?""
"Perhaps he believed it was safer if you didn't know.""
I looked at the clause again.
A terrible possibility began forming in my mind.
My father had suspected Martin of wrongdoing.
He had created a mechanism to protect me.
And someone had spent years trying to make sure I never discovered it.
My office door suddenly opened.
Daniel stood there.
His tie was loosened, and his eyes were bloodshot.
Jonathan immediately stood.
"You're not authorized to enter this office.""
Daniel ignored him.
"Nia, we need to talk.""
I placed the trust document inside its folder.
"What happened to the file?""
Daniel looked at the folder.
Then he looked at me.
"Where did you get that?""
"From my father's records.""
His expression changed.
"You shouldn't have opened it.""
I slowly stood.
"Why?""
He ran a hand through his hair.
"Because you don't understand what it means.""
"Then explain it.""
He glanced toward Jonathan.
"Can we have five minutes alone?""
"No," I answered.
Daniel's jaw tightened.
"Fine.""
He stepped closer.
"Martin didn't steal from the company. He was moving money to protect your father.""
"Protect him from what?""
Daniel looked at me.
"From Patricia.""
I stared.
"You're saying my mother-in-law was threatening my father?""
"Not exactly.""
"Then what exactly?""
Daniel looked toward the door, as if he expected someone to appear.
Then he lowered his voice.
"Your father discovered that Patricia had been working with Martin to take control of the company. He confronted them. After that, everything changed.""
My heart began beating faster.
"What happened after the confrontation?""
Daniel swallowed.
"He made me promise never to tell you.""
I felt sick.
"My father trusted you?""
Daniel nodded.
"And you betrayed him anyway.""
He looked down.
"I was trying to protect you.""
"By stealing my inheritance?""
"By keeping you away from something dangerous!""
I stepped back.
"Get out.""
"Nia—"
"Get out of my office.""
He stood motionless for several seconds.
Then he placed a small envelope on my desk.
"I found this inside the file before Martin took it.""
I didn't touch it.
"What is it?""
Daniel looked at me.
"A letter from your father.""
He turned toward the door.
Just before leaving, he stopped.
"There's one thing you need to know.""
I said nothing.
Daniel looked over his shoulder.
"Your father didn't die before he could expose Martin.""
My stomach dropped.
"What are you saying?""
Daniel's eyes filled with something I couldn't identify.
Fear. Regret. Maybe both.
"He was supposed to meet someone the morning he died.""
"Who?""
Daniel swallowed.
"Your mother.""
I stared at him.
"That's impossible. My mother had been dead for eleven years.""
Daniel shook his head.
"Not your mother, Nia.""
He pointed toward the envelope.
"Your father's second family.""
Then he walked out.
I stood frozen.
Jonathan slowly picked up the envelope.
On the front, in my father's familiar handwriting, were five words:
*For Nia, when the truth comes.*
May you like
And beneath them was a name I'd never heard before.
*Rebecca Hayes.*
