Chapter 8: My Husband's Enemy Was Standing at the Door
Charles Whitmore entered the marina office as if he owned the building.
He wore a charcoal suit, a gold watch, and an expression of complete irritation.
Two men followed him.
One carried a leather briefcase.
The other held a tablet.
Charles barely glanced at the security officers.
"Marcus. We need to talk.""
Marcus remained beside the conference table.
"You're welcome to talk. Whether anyone believes you is another matter.""
Charles ignored the comment.
His eyes moved toward Patricia.
"What are you doing here?""
She stood.
"Trying to understand why you've been lying to me.""
Charles sighed.
"Patricia, not now.""
"Not now?"" Her voice rose.
"You told me you owned this marina!""
"I told you we had an ownership arrangement.""
"You told me the Bennett family was desperate to sell!""
Charles looked toward Noah.
Then he smiled.
It was the kind of smile adults use when they think a child won't understand what is happening.
"Well, hello there, young man.""
Noah didn't respond.
Charles placed his briefcase on the table.
"Marcus, I understand there's been some confusion regarding the historical ownership records. Fortunately, I've brought documents that should resolve everything.""
Marcus didn't touch the briefcase.
"James, would you like to explain what happened the last time Mr. Whitmore submitted documents to our legal department?""
James opened a folder.
"Your previous submission contained an authorization that our attorneys could not authenticate.""
Charles's smile disappeared.
"That is an outrageous accusation.""
Marcus nodded toward the laptop.
"Then you shouldn't have any objection to an independent review.""
Charles looked at Patricia.
"Did you give them the documents?""
She stared at him.
"You used me to enter their archive.""
Charles's expression hardened.
"Keep your voice down.""
"Why did you tell me to collect an envelope? Why did you tell me Daniel had stolen something?""
Charles turned toward Marcus.
"She's upset. She's misunderstood a routine administrative matter.""
Patricia slammed her palm against the table.
"Stop telling me what I understand!""
Everyone fell silent.
She pulled out her phone and showed him the security photograph.
"Is this your idea of routine administration?""
Charles looked at it.
For the briefest moment, his face changed.
Then he smiled again.
"That footage is incomplete.""
James leaned forward.
"We have the full recording.""
Charles ignored him.
"Patricia, we're leaving.""
She didn't move.
"Not until you explain why my name appears in the archive records.""
Charles lowered his voice.
"Do you want to lose everything?""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"I thought everything we had was built together.""
He looked away.
That was answer enough.
Marcus stepped forward.
"Charles, let's discuss the financing.""
Charles straightened his jacket.
"My company has a legitimate commercial interest in this property.""
"No. Your company has a lease and outstanding obligations.""
"We have an agreement.""
"An agreement that doesn't transfer ownership.""
Charles opened his briefcase and removed a thick document.
"Perhaps you should read this before making threats.""
He placed it on the table.
James examined the first page.
Then he looked at Marcus.
"This is the alleged transfer agreement.""
Charles nodded.
"Signed and approved by Robert Bennett.""
Marcus picked up the document.
His eyes moved across the page.
Then he laughed once.
Not because anything was funny.
Because he recognized the signature.
"James, bring me the foundation notebook.""
James placed it beside him.
Marcus opened to a page near the middle.
Then he compared the two documents.
"Charles, this is interesting.""
"What?""
"You submitted a document dated April 14, 2006.""
"Correct.""
Marcus pointed to the signature.
"You're claiming my father signed this.""
"Yes.""
Marcus turned to James.
"Do you remember where my father was on April 14, 2006?""
James shook his head.
"No, sir.""
Marcus opened the notebook.
"At the time, he was in London undergoing surgery. He couldn't have signed this document in Florida.""
Charles's face tightened.
"That doesn't prove anything.""
Marcus slid the page toward him.
"The signature is also wrong.""
Charles laughed.
"According to whom?""
"According to the original agreement in my father's handwriting.""
He pointed to the bottom of the document.
"My father never signed his name with that middle initial.""
Patricia looked at Charles.
"You told me this was legitimate.""
Charles snapped.
"Enough, Patricia!""
Noah flinched.
Marcus immediately placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't raise your voice around my son.""
Charles took a breath.
Then he looked at Noah again.
"Marcus, let's be reasonable. The child is a beneficiary. He doesn't understand commercial matters. Surely we can arrange something that protects everyone.""
Marcus's expression became cold.
"My son understands something you clearly don't.""
"And what's that?""
"That ownership doesn't give you permission to take what belongs to someone else.""
Charles slammed the briefcase shut.
"Fine. If you want to make this difficult, I'll challenge the entire foundation.""
James looked up.
"On what grounds?""
Charles smiled.
"On the grounds that Robert Bennett wasn't legally competent when he amended the trust.""
Marcus went still.
"What did you just say?""
Charles opened another folder.
"Medical records. Witness statements. Financial assessments. Your father was deteriorating before his death.""
I felt Noah's hand tighten around mine.
Marcus looked at the papers.
"Where did you get those?""
Charles leaned forward.
"From people who knew your father better than you did.""
Then he turned toward Patricia.
"And before you start asking questions, remember something. You signed the authorization.""
Patricia stared at him.
"What authorization?""
Charles smiled.
"The one that allowed Daniel to remove the original document.""
Daniel suddenly stepped forward.
"That's not true.""
Charles turned sharply.
"You should have stayed in London.""
Daniel's face hardened.
"Then why did you tell everyone I was there?""
For the first time, Charles looked genuinely uncomfortable.
Marcus glanced toward James.
"Call our attorneys. I want every document preserved.""
Charles picked up his briefcase.
"You're making a mistake.""
Marcus didn't move.
"No, Charles. I think the mistake was believing nobody would ever check.""
Charles walked toward the door.
But before he reached it, James spoke.
"Mr. Whitmore, there's one more thing.""
Charles stopped.
James opened a new email on the laptop.
"Your company submitted another ownership claim this morning.""
Charles frowned.
"What?""
James turned the screen toward him.
The document had been submitted electronically at 9:17 a.m.
It claimed that Charles Whitmore was the rightful controlling owner of Bennett Maritime Holdings.
The signature at the bottom belonged to Robert Bennett.
But the date was from last week.
Charles stared at it.
Then he whispered something that made Patricia step backward.
"I didn't submit that.""
Marcus slowly looked at him.
"Then who did?""
Charles said nothing.
May you like
Because the email had been sent from an account belonging to someone who had been dead for twenty-three years.
*Eleanor Bennett.*
