Chapter 11 - THE SON WHO HEARD EVERYTHING|
Nathaniel stood in the study when we came upstairs.
He wore a dark overcoat and carried no briefcase, no flowers, and no expression of regret.
Two security men stood behind him.
Arthur stepped forward.
“You are trespassing on trust property.”
Nathaniel smiled faintly.
“My grandfather helped build this house.”
“And your father tried to erase the person who paid for it.”
Nathaniel looked at me.
“Did you find the ledger?”
I said nothing.
“Of course you did. Samuel always believed paper could save the world.”
“You knew about the archive.”
“I knew it existed. I didn't know where.”
“Why did you marry me?”
His expression hardened.
“I did love you.”
“That wasn't my question.”
He walked toward the desk.
“My father spent years trying to locate the trust beneficiary. He believed Samuel had left everything to a hidden heir. When I met you, I recognized the name Bennett from an old file.”
“So you investigated me.”
“I wanted to know whether you were connected.”
“And when you found out?”
“I found a woman who didn't care about money. I thought I could have both things.”
The honesty was so ugly that it almost felt refreshing.
“You thought you could use me.”
“I thought we could build something together.”
“You wanted me to sign away control.”
Nathaniel looked away.
“My father insisted.”
“Your father is dead.”
“His mistakes didn't die with him.”
Arthur opened the blue ledger.
“Your father stole forty-two million dollars from the original partnership. We have the records.”
Nathaniel's eyes moved to the page.
For the first time, he looked frightened.
“That money was returned.”
“Where is the repayment?”
Nathaniel said nothing.
I stepped closer.
“Did you know my grandfather was threatened?”
He looked at me.
“I was a child.”
“That isn't an answer.”
“I heard arguments. My father told me Samuel was trying to destroy us. He said the company would collapse if the Whitmores took control.”
“And you signed the document removing his name.”
“I was told it was a temporary filing.”
“You never corrected it.”
Nathaniel's jaw tightened.
“Because by then the company was worth billions.”
Arthur closed the ledger.
“This conversation is over. We will preserve the records and submit them to the appropriate authorities.”
Nathaniel laughed.
“You think the authorities will touch this company? Half the city's pension funds are invested in it.”
“That is why we will follow the law.”
Nathaniel looked at me one last time.
“You don't understand what happens when the truth comes out. Thousands of people could lose their jobs.”
“Then perhaps you should have thought about them before stealing from the company.”
He turned toward the door.
Before leaving, he stopped.
“Ask Arthur why he waited eleven months to find you.”
I looked at the trustee.
Nathaniel smiled.
May you like
“Ask him who knew your grandfather was dying.”
Then he walked out.
