Chapter 5 - THE MAID WHO OWNED MILLIONS
Annie Carter was sitting in the kitchen eating leftover vegetable soup when I found her.
She looked up immediately.
"Mr. Graves?"
"Can we talk?"
She glanced at Samuel.
"Did I do something wrong?"
I hated that question.
Every time she saw me, she expected punishment.
"No."
I sat across from her.
"Annie, have you ever heard of Graves-Carter Technologies?"
She shook her head.
"No."
"It was a company founded by my father and your grandfather."
Her spoon stopped halfway to her mouth.
"Grandpa had a company?"
"Yes."
She looked confused.
"Mom always said he worked in engineering."
"He did. He helped develop technology that became extremely valuable."
Annie blinked.
"Okay."
I took a breath.
"Your grandfather retained legal rights that may have passed to his descendants."
She frowned.
"What does that mean?"
"It means you and your mother may be entitled to money from his inventions."
Annie stared at me.
"How much?"
"We're still calculating it."
"Like... a few thousand?"
I looked at her.
"Potentially much more."
She gave a nervous laugh.
"Mr. Graves, I have twenty-three dollars in my checking account."
"I know."
"My mom borrowed money for groceries last week."
I swallowed.
"I know."
She stared at me.
"Then why would anybody let us struggle if there was money?"
I had no answer.
That silence hurt more than any accusation.
Annie pushed her soup away.
"Did your dad steal from my grandpa?"
I took a slow breath.
"I don't know exactly what happened yet."
She looked disappointed.
"But I'm going to find out."
She studied me.
"Even if it makes your family look bad?"
I met her eyes.
"Especially then."
Annie nodded slowly.
For the first time, she looked as though she might believe me.
That evening, Laura Carter arrived at the estate.
Annie had called her.
Laura was forty-two, exhausted, and wearing a faded brown coat.
She entered my study with her chin raised.
"Nathan Graves."
"Mrs. Carter."
"I told my daughter not to work here."
Annie stood beside her.
"Mom, please."
Laura looked at me.
"What do you want?"
"The truth."
She laughed bitterly.
"Your family has never been interested in that."
I opened the folder.
"Henry Carter's ownership agreement."
Her expression changed.
"Where did you get that?"
"Company archives."
She stared at the document.
Then her eyes filled.
"My father kept telling me there was an agreement."
I leaned forward.
"What happened?"
Laura swallowed.
"Victor Graves told him the company was in trouble. He convinced Dad to sign emergency paperwork."
"What paperwork?"
"Documents he claimed were needed to protect the business."
Rebecca placed the disputed transfer agreement on the desk.
Laura pointed immediately.
"That's not my father's signature."
The room went silent.
I looked at her.
"Are you sure?"
She nodded.
"Absolutely."
Rebecca leaned closer.
"The signature appears on a document dated three weeks before Henry's death."
Laura covered her mouth.
"My father was already hospitalized then."
I felt cold.
"Why?"
"He'd been injured in a workplace accident."
Annie took her mother's hand.
Laura looked directly at me.
"And Victor Graves controlled the factory where it happened."
Then she revealed something that made my blood run cold.
"Henry wasn't injured because of an accident."
May you like
Her voice broke.
"Someone sabotaged the machine."
