Chapter 5: The Watch That Belonged to My Husband
Richard Bennett walked into the office as if he owned the hotel.
He didn't ask permission.
He simply pulled out a chair, sat down, and placed his black leather folder on David's desk.
"Well," he said, looking around, "I see the family reunion has started without me.""
Daniel stepped toward him.
"Where did you get that watch?""
Richard glanced at his wrist.
"This old thing?""
He smiled.
"Your father gave it to me.""
"You're lying.""
"Careful, Daniel. You sound just like Thomas.""
I stood up.
"Take it off.""
Richard raised an eyebrow.
"Excuse me?""
"That watch belonged to my husband. Take it off.""
He looked at me for a moment, then slowly rotated the watch around his wrist.
"Thomas left me several things. We were brothers, after all.""
"You were supposed to be dead.""
Richard laughed softly.
"That's a rather dramatic way of putting it.""
Daniel moved closer.
"Why did Dad tell us you were dead?""
Richard leaned back.
"Because your father was very good at telling stories.""
"Where have you been for six years?""
"Traveling. Working. Living.""
"While Mom believed you were dead?""
Richard shrugged.
"Your mother and I weren't exactly close.""
I looked at him.
"You never even attended Thomas's funeral.""
"Funerals are expensive, Margaret. And I was out of the country.""
The casual way he dismissed my husband's death made my stomach turn.
David Collins interrupted.
"Mr. Bennett, your name appears in our security records. We need to discuss the financial authorization submitted yesterday.""
Richard opened his folder.
"Of course. I anticipated that.""
He removed a document and placed it on the desk.
"Margaret authorized the funds. This is a family matter, and I was simply acting as an intermediary.""
I looked at the paper.
It was another copy of the authorization.
My signature appeared at the bottom.
"I never signed that.""
Richard gave me a sympathetic expression.
"Memory can become unreliable under stress.""
I slapped my hand against the desk.
"Don't you dare.""
Daniel stepped between us.
"Uncle Richard, stop.""
Richard looked at him.
"You're making a mistake getting involved.""
"No. You're making a mistake thinking you can walk in here and steal from my mother.""
Richard's smile disappeared.
"Steal? That's an interesting word.""
He opened his folder again and produced a second document.
"Your mother sold the Bennett property three weeks ago, didn't she?""
I felt my throat tighten.
"How do you know about that?""
"Because I helped arrange the original ownership.""
I stared at him.
"What?""
Richard pointed to the document.
"Thomas and I inherited that land from our father. Your husband later transferred his share into a family trust. Unfortunately, Margaret, he didn't tell you everything.""
I shook my head.
"Thomas told me the land was mine.""
"He told you that it would become yours.""
Richard leaned forward.
"There's a difference.""
Daniel took the paper.
"What's this?""
"An ownership agreement.""
Daniel scanned it.
His expression changed.
Richard continued.
"Thomas established a trust before he died. The land was supposed to remain protected until certain conditions were met. One of those conditions involved the construction company.""
"What conditions?"" I asked.
Richard tapped the paper.
"Your son was supposed to receive the controlling interest when he married.""
Daniel looked up.
"That's impossible.""
"Your father wanted to secure your future.""
I felt sick.
"Then why wasn't I told?""
Richard smiled.
"Because Thomas didn't trust you with the details.""
The room seemed to shrink.
For six years, I had mourned a man I thought had shared everything with me.
Now his brother was telling me that my marriage had been built on secrets.
Daniel turned another page.
"There's a date here.""
Richard nodded.
"Three weeks ago.""
"That's when Mom sold the land.""
"Exactly.""
Daniel looked at me.
"Mom, how much did you get?""
"One hundred and twenty thousand dollars.""
Richard gave a small laugh.
"And the buyer paid considerably more than that.""
My stomach dropped.
"How much more?""
"Three hundred and fifty thousand.""
I stared at him.
"Who bought it?""
Richard didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he glanced toward Robert Whitaker.
Robert had been silent for several minutes.
Now he stepped forward.
"That's enough, Richard.""
I slowly turned.
"What does Robert have to do with the land?""
Richard closed his folder.
"Your daughter-in-law's family purchased it through a holding company.""
Tiffany shook her head.
"That's not true.""
Robert looked at her.
"Don't.""
But Tiffany continued.
"Dad, you told me the land was an investment.""
Robert's jaw tightened.
"It is an investment.""
Richard smiled.
"And now we're getting somewhere.""
I looked at my daughter-in-law.
"Did you know my land was being purchased by your family?""
She started crying.
"Margaret, I didn't know it was yours.""
"Then why is your name on the $68,000 authorization?""
Her tears stopped.
Daniel turned toward her.
"Tiffany?""
She looked at her father.
Robert moved toward the door.
"Everyone needs to calm down. We'll settle this privately.""
But David stood in his path.
"Sir, I haven't finished reviewing the documents.""
Richard rose from his chair.
"Neither have I.""
He took a final sheet from his folder and slid it toward me.
"This is the document Thomas signed shortly before his death.""
My hands trembled as I read the first line.
It was a declaration naming Daniel as the future trustee of the family estate.
But beneath his name was another clause.
A clause that stated the estate would be transferred only if Daniel's marriage met certain financial conditions.
I looked at Richard.
"What does this mean?""
He leaned close enough for me to smell his expensive cologne.
"It means, Margaret, that the wedding you just canceled may be the most expensive mistake your son has ever made.""
Then he pointed to the bottom of the document.
"Because Thomas left one final instruction.""
I followed his finger.
May you like
And the words made my blood run cold.
If Daniel marries Tiffany Whitaker, the trust must remain frozen until an independent investigation is completed.
