Chapter 6 - THE REASON VICTOR CARED ABOUT MY SON
The recording was four years old.
Rachel hadn’t been pregnant then.
So why would Harold mention a future child?
The answer was buried in the next file.
Harold had discovered something I never knew.
Rachel owned twenty-two percent of an old family trust tied to land beneath several distribution centers used by Cole Dynamics.
If she had a child, control of that trust would eventually pass partly to the child.
Owen.
And the Zurich acquisition would transfer those distribution rights into a new holding company controlled by Victor’s investment group.
I stared at the documents.
“He was trying to steal from my son before he was born.”
Rachel’s voice was quiet.
“And from me.”
The truth hurt.
Because once again, I had instinctively centered myself.
I looked at her.
“I’m sorry.”
“Stop saying sorry automatically.”
“I’m not.”
She studied me.
“I’m beginning to understand how often I did that.”
“What?”
“Made everything about what it meant for me.”
Rachel’s expression softened slightly.
“That’s new.”
My phone rang.
Victor.
I answered.
“Nathan. We need to meet.”
“No.”
Silence.
Then his voice cooled.
“You don’t understand the position you’re in.”
“I understand enough.”
“You think you do.”
I stepped into the hallway.
“What did you do with Harold Bennett’s records?”
A pause.
Too long.
Then Victor said, “Be careful what Rachel tells you.”
My anger surged.
“Leave her out of this.”
“She’s already in it.”
“What does that mean?”
Victor laughed quietly.
“You spent years thinking you were the smartest man in every room. Harold knew better.”
“Stay away from my family.”
“Your family?”
The word was almost mocking.
“You divorced her.”
I gripped the phone.
“And yet here I am.”
Victor’s voice changed.
“Nathan, do you know why your marriage actually ended?”
I looked through the glass at Rachel holding Owen.
“Yes.”
“Do you?”
Victor continued.
“Ask her about the offer she received three months before filing for divorce.”
My stomach tightened.
“What offer?”
He hung up.
I walked back into the room.
Rachel knew immediately something was wrong.
“What did he say?”
I hated the question I needed to ask.
“What offer did you receive before the divorce?”
Her face changed.
Not guilt.
Fear.
“Nathan…”
“What offer?”
She looked down at Owen.
Then back at me.
“Victor offered me ten million dollars.”
My chest went cold.
“For what?”
“To leave you.”
I stared at her.
May you like
She swallowed.
“And when I refused, he told me if I stayed married to you, our child would never be safe.”
