Chapter 10: The Daughter They Used Against Us
"Sophie!""
I shouted her name into the phone.
There was a crash.
Then silence.
I pressed the phone against my ear.
"Sophie, answer me!""
A man's voice came through.
"Mr. Carter, I wouldn't come upstairs if I were you.""
The call disconnected.
I turned toward David.
"Get us to Carter Global. Now.""
He accelerated through the intersection.
My mother sat beside me, her hands trembling.
"Marcus, you need to understand something.""
I turned toward her.
"Not another secret. Not another excuse.""
She swallowed.
"James may be Sophie's biological father.""
I stared at her.
"What?""
"Your father and I were separated briefly when Sophie was conceived. James was involved in our lives. He took advantage of a terrible situation.""
I shook my head.
"You're telling me my uncle might be my sister's father?""
"Yes.""
"Does Dad know?""
"Your father raised her as his own. He loved her. Nothing changed that.""
I looked down at the photograph of Sophie.
A young woman who had grown up believing she was abandoned.
A young woman who had been manipulated into helping the people who destroyed our family.
"Why did James tell her?""
"Because he wants to separate her from us. If she believes she's his daughter, she'll think she owes him loyalty.""
I clenched my jaw.
"He doesn't get to decide who her family is.""
David pulled into the underground parking garage.
I jumped out before the car stopped completely.
"Marcus!"" my mother called.
I ignored her.
The private elevator required an executive access card.
I swiped mine.
Red light.
Access denied.
I tried again.
Red light.
Someone had revoked my credentials.
David stepped forward.
"Stand back.""
He used a small override device from his security kit.
The panel flashed green.
The doors opened.
We entered.
Thirty-two floors.
I watched the numbers climb.
Twenty-eight.
Twenty-nine.
Thirty.
Then my phone rang.
Emily Parker.
I answered.
"Emily?""
"Mr. Carter, where are you?""
"On my way to the legal department. Is Sophie there?""
"Yes. But you need to be careful.""
"Why?""
"Ms. Reed has called an emergency executive meeting. She's presenting evidence that you and your mother conspired to steal company assets.""
"Where is Vanessa now?""
"Conference Room A.""
"Get everyone out of that room.""
"I can't. Security has locked the floor.""
I looked at David.
He nodded.
"Emily, listen carefully. I need you to find a way into the meeting room. Don't confront anyone. Just make sure you can access the main presentation system.""
"Why?""
"Because I want the truth on those screens.""
The elevator doors opened.
The hallway was crowded.
Employees stood near the conference room, whispering.
Two security guards blocked the entrance.
"Mr. Carter," one said, "you are not authorized to enter.""
I looked at his badge.
"Who gave you that instruction?""
"Ms. Reed.""
"Then call her.""
The guard reached for his radio.
Before he could speak, Vanessa's voice came from inside.
"Let him in.""
The doors opened.
Vanessa stood at the head of the table.
Sophie sat beside her.
Her face was pale.
A man in a black suit stood behind her chair.
James Carter was nowhere to be seen.
Vanessa smiled.
"Marcus. How convenient.""
I ignored her and looked at Sophie.
"Are you okay?""
She nodded uncertainly.
"Who are you?"" she asked.
"I'm your brother.""
She studied my face.
Then she looked at our mother.
"Is that true?""
My mother stepped forward.
"Yes, sweetheart.""
Sophie stood abruptly.
"Don't call me that.""
My mother stopped.
Sophie turned toward Vanessa.
"She says you're my mother. But Vanessa showed me documents proving you signed the agreement that transferred my father's shares.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"You're very good at producing documents.""
Vanessa clicked a remote.
A photograph appeared on the screen.
It showed my mother standing outside my father's house on the night he died.
The next slide showed her signature.
The next showed bank transfers.
Then came an audio recording.
My mother's voice.
"Once Marcus takes control, everything must be transferred.""
The recording stopped.
Sophie looked horrified.
"She planned all of this.""
I turned toward my mother.
She looked devastated.
"That's not the full conversation.""
Vanessa folded her arms.
"Of course it isn't. There's always another explanation.""
I approached the presentation screen.
"Who supplied this recording?""
"An independent investigator.""
"Name?""
"That information is confidential.""
I smiled faintly.
"Then perhaps we should discuss your investigation into my father's death.""
Vanessa's expression hardened.
"Your father was a respected man. His death was tragic, but it doesn't excuse your behavior.""
I looked around the room.
"Before we continue, I'd like everyone to see something.""
I took out the USB drive.
Vanessa immediately stepped forward.
"Don't connect that.""
Interesting.
I looked at her.
"You know what's on it?""
She said nothing.
Emily appeared at the side entrance.
She held up her laptop.
"Mr. Carter, I have access.""
I handed her the drive.
She connected it.
The screen went black.
Then my father's face appeared.
He was sitting in his study.
His voice filled the room.
"If you're watching this, it means I didn't survive long enough to explain what happened.""
Sophie covered her mouth.
My mother began crying.
My father continued.
"James has been using Carter Global to move money through Meridian Holdings. Richard helped him. Vanessa handled the operational records.""
Vanessa moved toward the laptop.
"Turn it off!""
Emily stepped back.
David blocked her path.
My father's voice continued.
"But there is one person I need to protect from the truth.""
He paused.
Then looked directly into the camera.
"My daughter, Sophie.""
Sophie began shaking.
My father continued.
"James Carter is not my daughter's biological father. But he is not her uncle either.""
The room went completely silent.
I looked at my mother.
She was staring at the screen.
My father leaned closer to the camera.
"James is the man who arranged her disappearance. He used a fabricated paternity claim to control Eleanor. The DNA records were altered.""
Sophie whispered:
"What?""
My father continued.
"Sophie, if you are hearing this, you are my daughter. I raised you. I loved you. And no document can change that.""
Sophie broke down.
I moved toward her.
She grabbed my arm.
"Marcus...""
"I know.""
But the recording wasn't finished.
My father looked directly into the camera again.
"There's one more thing. The person who helped me uncover the truth about James is sitting in this room.""
The screen flickered.
Then the recording ended.
Everyone stared at the blank display.
Vanessa suddenly laughed.
"Very touching. But an old recording proves nothing.""
She reached into her folder and removed another document.
"Unfortunately, it does confirm one thing.""
She placed it on the table.
A medical report.
A DNA test.
James Carter's name appeared beside Sophie's.
Vanessa leaned toward her.
"Your biological father has been trying to find you for twenty-three years.""
Sophie looked at me.
I looked at the report.
Something was wrong.
The test date was three weeks before my father's death.
But Sophie had been missing for eleven years.
Who had actually provided the DNA sample?
Before I could ask, the conference room doors opened.
A man walked in.
James Carter.
He looked at Sophie.
Then he smiled.
May you like
"Hello, sweetheart.""
And Sophie stepped away from me.
