Chapter 9: My Husband's Last Bargain
The first thing I noticed was the silence.
Not the peaceful silence of the Bennett estate.
This was different.
It was the kind of silence that followed a bomb going off.
"He's claiming I authorized the loans?"" I asked.
Richard nodded.
"He has submitted documents indicating that you approved the financing arrangements.""
I looked at Margaret.
"Are they forged?""
"Yes.""
"How do you know?""
She reached into her handbag again.
This time, she removed a small flash drive.
"Because I have the original recordings.""
Martin stepped forward.
"Margaret, where did you get those?""
"From Edward's private archive.""
Richard's face turned white.
"Mother, give me that.""
She held it tightly.
"No.""
He grabbed her wrist.
I immediately stepped between them.
"Touch her again, and I'll have you removed from this property.""
Richard released her.
"You have no idea what you're getting involved in.""
I looked him straight in the eyes.
"I think I'm beginning to understand.""
My phone rang.
Margaret Ellis.
I answered.
"Leah, the police have taken Grant in for questioning. He's requested that you come to the station.""
"Why?""
"He's claiming the forged loan applications were prepared with your knowledge. He wants to give a statement.""
I looked at Martin.
"Can he do that?""
"Of course," Margaret Ellis replied.
"But don't go without counsel. He's likely trying to create a record that protects himself.""
I turned toward the front door.
"I'm going.""
Martin shook his head.
"Leah, this is exactly what he wants.""
"Then he'll get to see me.""
Two hours later, I sat across from Grant in a private interview room.
His expensive suit was wrinkled.
His hair was disheveled.
The arrogant man who had ordered security to remove me from my own boardroom was gone.
In his place sat someone who looked exhausted.
A police investigator remained near the door while Margaret Ellis sat beside me.
Grant stared at my face.
"Leah.""
I didn't respond.
He leaned forward.
"Tell them you approved the financing.""
I looked at him.
"Did I?""
"You knew about the restructuring.""
"I knew about your attempt to steal my shares.""
His jaw tightened.
"Don't use words like that.""
"What word would you prefer? Fraud?""
He glanced toward the investigator.
"Can we speak privately?""
"No.""
Grant rubbed his hands together.
"I made mistakes.""
"That's an interesting way to describe eighteen million dollars borrowed against my ownership without permission.""
"I was trying to protect the company.""
"By giving Sloane twelve percent?""
His eyes flickered.
"She was part of the strategy.""
"Was the Miami property part of the strategy too?""
He looked down.
I leaned forward.
"Grant, I want one answer. Did you know my signature was forged?""
He remained silent.
Then he whispered:
"I didn't sign it.""
I stared at him.
"That wasn't my question.""
He looked toward Margaret Ellis.
"Can you give us a minute?""
She shook her head.
"No.""
Grant sighed.
"Fine. I didn't create the signature.""
"Who did?""
His expression hardened.
"Richard.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Richard Cole?""
"Yes.""
"And you knew?""
Grant looked at me.
"I knew he was arranging the documents. I didn't know he'd use your signature without telling me.""
I laughed softly.
"You expected me to believe that?""
He slammed his palm against the table.
"I'm telling you the truth!""
The investigator immediately stood.
"Mr. Rowan, lower your voice.""
Grant leaned back.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then he reached into his jacket and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
"There's something you need to understand.""
He pushed it across the table.
It was a copy of an old corporate resolution.
The date was twelve years earlier.
The month before our wedding.
I read the document.
It appeared to authorize a transfer of certain Bennett Capital voting rights to a private family entity.
My signature was at the bottom.
But I'd never seen the document.
"What's this?""
Grant looked at me.
"Your grandfather wanted to protect you.""
"From what?""
"From the Rowan family.""
I frowned.
He continued.
"William knew about the trust. He knew your grandfather had given you control of Bennett Capital. But he also knew that if you married into the Rowan family, the ownership structure could become complicated.""
I looked at the signature.
"Why does this document have my name?""
"Because you were supposed to inherit the voting rights automatically after your wedding.""
I shook my head.
"That's not what the trust says.""
Grant smiled bitterly.
"Because you're reading the wrong version.""
My blood ran cold.
He leaned closer.
"Your grandfather created two versions of the succession agreement. One for you. One for the Rowan family.""
I stared at him.
"Where is the other one?""
Grant lowered his voice.
"Richard has it.""
Margaret Ellis immediately sat straighter.
"Mr. Rowan, do you understand what you're saying?""
Grant ignored her.
"Leah, I can help you recover everything. I know where the original documents are. I know who received the money. I know who forged the signatures.""
"Then tell the investigator.""
He shook his head.
"Not until we reach an agreement.""
I stared at him.
"You're negotiating with me?""
"I'm offering you a chance to protect yourself.""
"By helping you?""
"By giving me the shares I was promised.""
I slowly stood.
"You still think this is about shares?""
His expression hardened.
"Everything is about ownership, Leah. You should know that better than anyone.""
I turned toward the door.
Then Grant spoke again.
"Wait.""
I stopped.
He looked at me with something resembling desperation.
"There's one more person you need to know about.""
"Who?""
He swallowed.
"Your mother.""
I froze.
"My mother died fifteen years ago.""
"I know.""
"Then don't you dare bring her into this.""
Grant shook his head.
"She didn't die knowing the truth about your grandfather's estate.""
I turned slowly.
"What truth?""
Grant leaned forward.
"Your mother wasn't Edward Bennett's biological daughter.""
The room seemed to tilt.
I stared at him.
He continued.
"She was Eleanor's child.""
I couldn't breathe.
Eleanor wasn't my grandfather's sister.
She was his daughter.
And if Grant was telling the truth, the woman I'd spent my entire life calling my aunt's name in a family story was actually my mother's biological mother.
Then the investigator opened the door.
"Mrs. Rowan, there's someone here who says she can confirm the family relationship.""
I turned.
A woman stood in the hallway.
Her green eyes were identical to mine.
May you like
It was Eleanor.
And she was holding a birth certificate with my mother's name on it.
