Chapter 2: The Billionaire's Daughter
My father's name was Alexander Bennett.
To the financial world, he was the billionaire founder of Bennett Capital, one of the largest private investment firms in the country.
To me, he was simply Dad.
He was the man who taught me to ride a bicycle, who made terrible pancakes on Sunday mornings, and who still called me every night when he traveled.
He was also the man who had spent years reminding me that money could buy comfort, but never respect.
Unfortunately, Diane Whitmore was about to learn that lesson.
"Dad, it's fine," I said quietly.
He looked at my trembling hands.
"No, Maya. It clearly isn't.""
Ryan hurried toward us.
"Mr. Bennett, sir! I'm Ryan Whitmore. Maya's boyfriend.""
Dad looked at him.
"I know who you are.""
Ryan extended his hand.
"We've heard so much about you. My father has been trying to arrange a meeting with your investment firm for months.""
Dad didn't shake his hand.
Instead, he took off his overcoat and placed it around my shoulders.
"Are you cold?""
"A little.""
"Then let's get you somewhere warm.""
Diane rushed forward.
"Mr. Bennett, I'm Diane Whitmore. Ryan's mother.
What a wonderful surprise! We had absolutely no idea Maya was your daughter.""
Dad glanced at her.
"Would that have changed anything?""
Diane blinked.
"Well, of course! We adore Maya.""
I almost laughed.
Ten minutes earlier, she'd called me a nobody.
Now she was smiling so hard that her cheeks trembled.
"Actually," I said, "you just threw my grandmother's pie into your trash can.""
Diane's smile faltered.
"Oh, darling, that was a misunderstanding.""
"Was it?""
"Of course! I was only joking.""
I looked through the open kitchen door.
The pie was still sitting beneath a pile of discarded napkins.
"That's a strange joke.""
Dad followed my gaze.
"Your grandmother's pie?""
I nodded.
He exhaled slowly.
"Your grandmother would have been heartbroken.""
Diane quickly stepped between us.
"Mr. Bennett, please understand. We were simply trying to maintain certain family traditions. Thanksgiving is very important to us.""
Dad looked at the expensive decorations, the crystal glasses, and the enormous dining table.
"Apparently, kindness isn't one of those traditions.""
Nobody spoke.
Ryan tried again.
"Sir, Maya and I have a wonderful relationship. There has been a little tension with Mom, but that's normal.""
I turned toward him.
"Ryan, you told me I shouldn't start.""
He rubbed his forehead.
"Can we discuss this privately?""
"No. You had no trouble humiliating me publicly.""
Diane folded her arms.
"Young people argue. There's no reason to involve business matters.""
That caught my father's attention.
"Business matters?""
Ryan's uncle, Charles, stepped forward.
"Mr. Bennett, perhaps this is actually a good opportunity. We've been trying to secure financing for our real estate development company. We're currently seeking twelve million dollars to expand our operations.""
Dad nodded once.
"I know.""
Charles looked delighted.
"Excellent! Then perhaps we could arrange a meeting next week?""
"Perhaps.""
Diane immediately brightened.
"Wonderful! We should all have dinner together. Maya can come, too, of course.""
I stared at her.
She was already acting as though the pie incident had never happened.
Dad reached into his coat and pulled out his phone.
"Michael?""
His assistant answered immediately.
"Yes, Mr. Bennett.""
"Open the Whitmore Development financing application.""
Charles straightened.
"That's wonderful, sir. You'll see we've made considerable progress.""
Dad scrolled through the document.
Then he stopped.
His expression changed.
"Michael, who prepared the personal guarantee?""
There was a pause.
"Please read the guarantor's name.""
Dad looked at the screen.
Then he turned it toward me.
My stomach tightened.
At the bottom of the twelve-million-dollar financing application was a signature.
My name.
MAYA ELIZABETH BENNETT.
I stared at it.
"What is that?""
Ryan's face went pale.
Dad enlarged the document.
"Apparently, your boyfriend submitted a personal guarantee secured against an asset registered in your name.""
I looked at Ryan.
"What asset?""
He swallowed.
"Maya, I can explain.""
Dad's voice became colder.
"Let me make this simple. My daughter's name appears on a document promising financial security for a twelve-million-dollar loan. She has never authorized this guarantee.""
Charles stepped forward.
"That can't be right.""
Dad turned the phone toward him.
"Would you care to explain?""
Charles scanned the document.
His face drained of color.
"Ryan?""
Ryan looked around at the guests.
"There's been a misunderstanding.""
I stepped closer.
"Ryan, what did you put my name on?""
He lowered his voice.
"Listen. I was trying to protect our future.""
"Our future?""
"Yes. I knew we were going to get married eventually. The company needed collateral, and you have assets—"
I stared at him.
"Which assets?""
He didn't answer.
Dad tapped another page.
Then he turned the phone toward me.
It was a property registration document.
A property I recognized immediately.
My grandmother's lakeside estate.
The small house where I'd spent every summer of my childhood.
The house she had left exclusively to me.
Its estimated value was listed at $4.8 million.
My hands went cold.
"Ryan...""
He stepped toward me.
"Baby, please. I was going to tell you.""
"You used my grandmother's house?""
"I didn't think it would become a problem.""
Dad's jaw tightened.
"Did you forge her signature?""
Ryan looked at the ground.
Diane suddenly interrupted.
"Now, hold on! Ryan is a good young man. He was only trying to build a future for himself and Maya.""
I turned toward her.
"By stealing my inheritance?""
"Don't use such dramatic words!""
Dad slipped his phone into his pocket.
"Michael, freeze the application immediately. Notify legal counsel. And preserve every document submitted under my daughter's name.""
Ryan stepped forward.
"Mr. Bennett, please. This is a family matter.""
Dad looked directly at him.
"She isn't your wife. She isn't your business partner. And she never authorized you to use her property.""
Ryan's voice cracked.
"Maya, you know I love you.""
I looked at the man I'd spent eight months defending.
Then I looked at the trash can through the window.
"Did you love me when you let your mother throw away my grandmother's pie?""
He said nothing.
Dad opened the SUV door.
"Come on, sweetheart.""
I turned away.
But before I could get inside, Charles rushed toward us.
"Mr. Bennett, wait!""
Dad stopped.
Charles held up his phone.
"There's something else you need to see. I just checked the company records.""
He looked at Ryan.
Then at me.
"That property isn't the only asset Ryan has listed under Maya's name.""
My heart sank.
"What else?""
Charles hesitated.
May you like
Then he said something that made my father reach for his phone again.
"Ryan has already used her identity to obtain another loan.""
