Chapter 6 - Eleanor’s Ledger

The painting’s wooden frame contained a hidden compartment.

Inside was a leather-bound ledger.

Charlotte recognized Eleanor’s handwriting immediately.

Dates.

Names.

Hotel locations.

Transactions.

Board votes.

Payments.

Every page documented something the official Solmere files did not.

Adrian Mercer.

Simon Graves.

Lucien Laurent.

Vivienne Laurent.

Three senior vice presidents.

Two outside vendors.

The scheme had begun four years earlier.

At first, they skimmed small amounts through inflated supplier contracts.

Then Eleanor discovered the irregularities.

She quietly confronted Adrian.

He convinced her not to expose it immediately.

He claimed the scandal would destroy Solmere’s planned international expansion.

Eleanor agreed to investigate privately.

That was her mistake.

The theft grew.

So did the conspiracy.

The ledger included a notation eight weeks before Eleanor’s death.

A.M. wants Charlotte declared unfit before succession.

S.G. preparing medical documentation.

L.L. says board can be bought.

Charlotte stopped reading.

Daniel stared at the initials.

Adrian Mercer.

Simon Graves.

Lucien Laurent.

Charlotte turned the page.

Then she found Vivienne.

V.L. knows Charlotte may return.

Wants Adrian to “handle” it.

Charlotte’s stomach tightened.

Vivienne had known more than she admitted.

The final page contained only three sentences.

They know I found Account 1816.

If they move against me, Charlotte becomes controlling owner immediately.

Do not allow Adrian to invoke the amendment.

Below that was Eleanor’s signature.

And the signature of a witness.

Daniel Reed.

Charlotte slowly looked up.

Daniel had gone pale.

“You signed this?”

He sat down.

“Three years ago.”

Charlotte stared at him.

“And you never told me?”

“I didn’t know what it was attached to.”

Her voice sharpened.

“You signed something for my mother without reading it?”

“No.”

Daniel looked ashamed.

“I witnessed a sealed succession statement.”

“Eleanor told me it would only be opened if she died unexpectedly.”

Charlotte held up the ledger.

“She did die unexpectedly.”

“I know.”

“Then why wasn’t it opened?”

Daniel’s face changed.

“Because Simon Graves told me the envelope had been destroyed by Eleanor.”

Charlotte felt cold.

Daniel continued.

“I believed him.”

They searched the hidden compartment again.

Behind the ledger was a smaller envelope.

On the front.

FOR CHARLOTTE ONLY.

Charlotte opened it.

Inside was a notarized declaration.

It revoked the emergency amendment.

It restored Charlotte’s full voting authority immediately upon Eleanor’s death.

And it prohibited Adrian Mercer, Simon Graves, or any Laurent family member from acting as trustee.

Daniel read the final page.

“This changes everything.”

Charlotte looked at him.

“No.”

“It confirms everything.”

Then footsteps sounded in the corridor.

Daniel turned toward the door.

Someone was coming.

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Charlotte closed the ledger.

The lights suddenly went out.