Chapter 7: The Last Lie
Patricia had one hand on the shredder switch and the transfer order in the other.
The investigator, Grace Holloway, held out her palm.
“Give me the document.”
Patricia looked at Mr.
Pike.
“You called an investigator?”
He closed his briefcase.
“No.
Daniel did.”
Patricia turned on her son.
“You would bring authorities into your own family?”
“You brought fraud into it first.”
She tore the transfer order in half.
Grace stepped forward.
“Destroying that copy changes nothing.
The bank has the original scan.”
Patricia dropped the pieces.
“This is a misunderstanding.”
Conrad pushed the ledger toward Grace.
“Then explain all twelve transfers.”
Patricia pointed at me.
“She planned this.
She wants Daniel’s money for her daughter.”
I stood across from her.
“My daughter walked away from a wedding rather than risk marrying someone she believed was her brother.
Do not speak about her character.”
“She hid the report.”
“Because your lie broke her heart.”
Patricia looked at Daniel.
“I can still protect you.
Sign the management extension, say Elaine fabricated those messages, and I will restore your accounts today.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“You’re offering me my own money.”
“I’m offering you a future.”
“My future is standing beside Emily.”
Patricia’s face hardened.
“Then perhaps she should know you are not Thomas’s son either.”
Daniel stared at her.
“What did you say?”
“You wanted truth.
Thomas could not have children.
Your biological father was someone else.”
Emily took Daniel’s hand.
“Is that true?”
Mr.
Pike removed his glasses.
“Patricia, stop.”
She smiled bitterly.
“Why?
They enjoy exposing secrets.”
Daniel’s voice dropped.
“Who was my father?”
“I don’t know.”
The answer bent him forward as if the room had tilted.
Emily caught his arm before he reached the table.
“You knew this and used Richard’s name because he could not answer you,” I said.
Patricia lifted her chin.
“I used the story they would believe.”
Grace switched on a recorder.
“Would you repeat that?”
Patricia’s eyes widened.
“I said nothing illegal.”
Elaine stepped beside Grace.
“The shop video has sound.”
She pressed play.
Patricia’s recorded voice filled the boardroom.
“Once Emily thinks Richard fathered Daniel, the wedding will collapse.
By the time my son questions it, I’ll have another five years of control.”
The recording continued.
Elaine’s voice asked, “What if they order a real test?”
Patricia answered, “Then I’ll make sure Daniel has no money left to fight me.”
Mr.
Pike stood.
“My firm withdraws as counsel effective immediately.”
“You work for me,” Patricia snapped.
“I work for the trust you defrauded.”
Grace placed a document in front of Patricia.
“This order freezes your personal accounts and prevents the sale of your house while the financial investigation proceeds.”
Patricia grabbed her handbag.
“You cannot keep me here.”
“You may leave after surrendering your passport and company devices.”
Patricia looked around the table.
No one met her eyes.
She stopped in front of Daniel.
“One day, when Emily leaves you, you’ll remember that I was the only person who tried to secure your future.”
Daniel opened the boardroom door.
“No, Mother.
You tried to own it.”
Grace escorted Patricia into the hall, but before the elevator arrived, Patricia turned back.
“You will regret choosing them over me.”
Daniel held Emily’s hand.
“My only regret is believing you for as long as I did.”
The elevator doors closed.
Grace’s phone rang almost immediately.
She listened, then looked at the transfer order Patricia had torn apart.
“The bank found another account,” she said.
“And it isn’t in Patricia’s name.”
“Whose name is on it?” I asked.
May you like
Grace faced Elaine.
“Yours.”
