Chapter 12: The Chairman's Betrayal
I didn't scream.
I didn't move.
I simply stared at Robert Hayes.
The man had been chairman of Bennett Enterprises' audit committee for six years.
He had attended my father's funeral.
He had stood beside me at company anniversaries.
He had watched Daniel slap me at the gala and had promised to help uncover the truth.
Now he was holding a gun.
"Robert," I whispered.
"Put it away.""
He looked almost disappointed.
"I was hoping we could do this without unnecessary drama.""
"You're working with Daniel?""
"Not exactly.""
"Then who?""
He glanced toward the boathouse.
"Your mother should have stayed out of this.""
I swallowed.
"What do you want?""
"The original shareholder certificate. And the flash drive.""
I tightened my grip on my handbag.
"I don't have the certificate.""
He gave a small laugh.
"Olivia, I've spent six years watching you make decisions. You're intelligent, but you have one weakness.""
"What's that?""
"You trust people who tell you they're protecting you.""
The words hit harder than I expected.
Because he was right.
I had trusted Daniel.
I had trusted Patricia.
I had trusted Margaret.
And I'd trusted Robert.
He extended his free hand.
"Give me the bag.""
I slowly removed it from my shoulder.
But instead of handing it to him, I dropped it.
The contents spilled across the ground.
My phone landed near his shoe.
Robert glanced down.
That was enough.
I stepped backward and shouted.
"HELP!""
One of the security officers turned.
Robert raised the gun.
"Stay where you are!""
The officer immediately reached for his radio.
"Sir, put the weapon down!""
Robert swung toward him.
I ran.
A loud crack echoed across the parking area.
The sound of a bullet striking the vehicle made me stumble.
I ducked behind the SUV.
My heart hammered against my ribs.
"Olivia!"" Robert shouted.
"Don't make this worse!""
I reached for my phone.
The screen was cracked, but still working.
I dialed 911.
Before I could speak, another voice shouted from behind the vehicle.
"Drop it, Robert!""
It was Evelyn.
She stood near the boathouse entrance, holding a metal flashlight.
Robert turned.
"Stay out of this!""
Evelyn moved toward him.
"You've taken enough from this family.""
He pointed the gun at her.
Then a security officer tackled him from behind.
The weapon fell.
Two more officers rushed forward and restrained him.
I remained behind the vehicle until someone called my name.
"Olivia, it's safe.""
I emerged slowly.
Robert was on the ground, his hands cuffed behind his back.
He looked up at me.
"You don't understand what you've just done.""
I walked toward him.
"Then explain it.""
He laughed.
"Northbridge owns half the people you think are protecting you.""
I stared at him.
"Who else?""
He smiled.
"Ask Margaret.""
My stomach tightened.
Before I could question him, police officers arrived and took Robert away.
Evelyn approached me.
"Are you hurt?""
I shook my head.
"Why was Robert working with Northbridge?""
She looked toward the road.
"Because he has been receiving payments from them for years.""
"How much?""
"Enough to make him believe he could become the next chief executive.""
I looked down at my scattered belongings.
The flash drive was still there.
I picked it up.
Then I noticed something else.
A small white envelope had fallen from my handbag.
I hadn't put it there.
My name was written across the front.
Inside was a handwritten note.
*Olivia, if Robert has betrayed you, the next person you must question is Margaret.*
I closed my eyes.
Not again.
I called Margaret.
She answered immediately.
"Olivia? Where are you?""
"Robert just tried to take my documents.""
There was a pause.
"What happened?""
"He's been working with Northbridge.""
Margaret exhaled.
"Are you safe?""
"For now.""
"Listen carefully. I found something in the company's archive. I think it explains why your father never trusted the board.""
"What?""
"An original set of shareholder minutes from eleven years ago. There was a secret vote to remove your father as chairman.""
I stared at Evelyn.
"Who voted?""
"Patricia, Robert, and two other directors.""
"Was the vote successful?""
"No. Your father challenged it because the meeting had never been properly called.""
I rubbed my forehead.
"Then why does it matter?""
"Because the minutes contain signatures from people who weren't present.""
I felt my stomach turn.
"Forged signatures?""
"Yes. And one belongs to your mother.""
I went silent.
Margaret continued.
"Olivia, I also found a payment authorization signed by Daniel. It was dated the morning after your father died.""
"What payment?""
"One million dollars to an account in London.""
I remembered my mother's story.
She had said Daniel had borrowed money from Northbridge.
But why had he paid one million dollars immediately after my father's death?
"Who received the money?""
Margaret lowered her voice.
"An account belonging to someone named Eleanor Whitmore.""
I froze.
That was my mother's maiden name.
"Are you certain?""
"Completely.""
I looked at Evelyn.
She was watching me carefully.
"Margaret, I need you to tell me something. Did my mother receive that money?""
"I don't know. But I found a second document.""
"What document?""
"A private agreement between Daniel and Eleanor Whitmore.""
I closed my eyes.
"Read it to me.""
Margaret hesitated.
Then she said:
"It states that Daniel would receive control of Bennett Enterprises in exchange for transferring one million dollars to your mother.""
I felt physically sick.
"Why would my mother make that deal?""
"That's what I don't understand.""
I stared at the lake.
My mother had told me she'd financed Daniel.
She had admitted to creating Northbridge.
But now it looked as though she'd also agreed to help him take control of my father's company.
I looked at Evelyn.
"Did you know about this?""
She slowly nodded.
My voice broke.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I didn't have the complete agreement.""
"Who does?""
Evelyn reached into her handbag.
She removed a folded document.
"Your father kept the original.""
I opened it.
The first page was a contract.
The second page contained the signatures.
Daniel Bennett.
Eleanor Whitmore.
And a third person.
I read the name.
Then I read it again.
*Olivia Bennett.*
My signature.
My supposed consent.
But I had been twenty-nine years old, living in another state, and had never met the people listed as witnesses.
I looked at Evelyn.
"How is this possible?""
She whispered:
"Because your mother told them you had agreed to the deal.""
My phone vibrated.
An incoming video call.
The caller ID displayed:
*MOM.*
I answered.
Her face appeared on the screen.
She looked older, but unmistakably familiar.
Behind her was a bank vault.
She held up a document.
"Olivia, I need you to listen very carefully.""
I stared at her.
"Did you use my signature?""
She closed her eyes.
"Yes.""
My throat tightened.
"Why?""
"Because your father was going to lose everything, and I believed Daniel was the only person who could save the company.""
"By stealing my inheritance?""
"No, darling. I thought I could reverse the agreement before you ever found out.""
"Did you know Daniel was going to forge the share transfer?""
"No.""
"Did you know he was stealing money?""
She looked down.
"I knew about some of it.""
I felt tears burning my eyes.
"Then what else haven't you told me?""
My mother slowly raised the document.
"There's a reason your father left you seventy percent of the company, Olivia. It wasn't just because he trusted you.""
"What reason?""
"Because he knew that one day, the company would belong to you and someone else.""
I stared at her.
"Who?""
She turned the document toward the camera.
At the bottom was a name I had never seen before.
*BENJAMIN EDWARD BENNETT.*
My father's signature appeared beside it.
My mother whispered:
"Olivia, you have a brother.""
May you like
And before I could ask another question, she added:
"He's the person who has been secretly financing Daniel's entire operation.""
