Chapter 12 - THE SECRET HIDDEN INSIDE MY OWN COMPANY
Corinne looked at me across the conference table.
For the first time since she'd returned, fear entered her eyes.
"Grant, Victor told me something about your father."
My stomach tightened.
"What?"
"He said your father discovered a financial scheme years before he died."
"I know about that."
She shook her head.
"Not all of it."
I stared.
Corinne reached into her bag.
She removed a small encrypted drive.
"Daniel Mercer gave this to me."
My pulse quickened.
"What is it?"
"Your father's final investigation."
I looked at Rebecca.
She nodded.
"The contents have been provided to law enforcement. Corinne can show you the copies relevant to your family."
Corinne placed a laptop on the table.
A video appeared.
My father sat in his office.
His hair was silver.
His face looked tired.
But his voice was unmistakable.
"Grant."
I stopped breathing.
"If you're watching this, Victor Hale has probably done exactly what I feared."
My father paused.
"I made mistakes."
He looked down.
"I trusted Victor because he helped me build the company."
"But over time, I discovered he was using our businesses to conceal fraudulent transactions."
My hands trembled.
"I tried to remove him. He threatened to destroy the company and accuse me of crimes I didn't commit."
My father looked directly into the camera.
"I began collecting evidence."
A pause.
"Then someone interfered with my medical treatment."
My stomach turned.
He continued.
"I don't know whether the people involved intended to harm me. But I no longer trust the arrangements Victor made."
The recording had been created several weeks before his death.
I stared at the screen.
Then he said something I never expected.
"Grant, your greatest weakness has always been believing you can solve every problem alone."
Tears filled my eyes.
"Your mother tried to teach you that strength includes listening."
My father smiled sadly.
"You never learned."
I covered my face.
He continued.
"If you want to protect the family, listen to Corinne."
I looked up sharply.
"She sees things you overlook."
The recording ended.
For several moments, nobody spoke.
Then Rebecca explained that the evidence contained records of financial fraud, unauthorized corporate transfers, and concerns about my father's medical care.
Investigators were reviewing everything.
Corinne closed the laptop.
"Grant, I didn't keep this from you to hurt you."
I shook my head.
"I know."
"I was afraid you'd tell Victor."
I swallowed.
"You were right to be afraid."
She looked at me with quiet sadness.
Then Owen began fussing.
Corinne lifted him gently.
I watched her soothe him.
The way she rocked.
The way she whispered.
The way his tiny hand relaxed against her shoulder.
For the first time, I understood how much she'd been carrying alone.
Then Rebecca's phone rang.
She stepped outside.
When she returned, her expression was serious.
"Grant, there's been a development."
I stood.
"What?"
"Victor Hale has been arrested."
Relief washed over me.
But Rebecca didn't smile.
"Investigators also recovered a private agreement he had prepared with Tessa."
My stomach tightened.
"What agreement?"
Rebecca placed a document on the table.
It was titled:
Proposed Family Asset Restructuring.
My name appeared.
Tessa's name appeared.
And Owen's trust was listed as a potential source of collateral.
Then I noticed a final clause.
It described a planned marriage.
Between me and Tessa.
Dated six months in the future.
I stared.
"That can't be real."
Rebecca looked at me.
"The document appears to be part of Victor's planning. It was never executed."
But the final attachment was worse.
It contained a photograph of Corinne.
May you like
And beside it was one sentence.
CORINNE KEATON MUST BE REMOVED FROM ALL DECISION-MAKING AUTHORITY BEFORE THE TRANSFER.
