Chapter 10: The Daughter Nobody Was Supposed to Find
"Mom, you told me my father was dead.""
The little girl's voice carried across the ballroom.
Cassidy looked as though someone had struck her.
The woman holding Lily's hand stepped forward. She was in her early thirties, wearing a simple black dress and carrying a thick document folder.
I recognized her from the photograph Gideon had shown me.
Daniel Vaughn's former wife.
Her name was Rebecca.
Cassidy stumbled backward.
"Lily? What are you doing here?""
The girl tightened her grip on Rebecca's hand.
"I came to see Daddy.""
Cassidy shook her head violently.
"You're supposed to be at home.""
Rebecca stepped between them.
"She's not going anywhere with you tonight.""
Preston looked toward the ballroom doors.
"Security! Who allowed these people inside?""
Gideon calmly raised one hand.
"They're my guests, Preston.""
Cassidy turned toward him.
"You invited them?""
"I invited people who have relevant information about the financial arrangements involving your department.""
Rebecca opened her folder.
"And I brought the original custody agreement.""
The room fell silent.
I looked at Lily.
She couldn't have been older than seven.
She had dark brown hair, small pink shoes, and a silver bracelet around her wrist.
She looked frightened.
"Is that your daughter?"" I whispered.
Rebecca nodded.
"Yes. And Cassidy has spent years telling her that her father abandoned her.""
Cassidy's voice cracked.
"That's not true.""
Rebecca turned toward her.
"Then explain why you told Lily that Daniel was dead when he was alive and living three states away.""
Lily looked up at her mother.
"You said Daddy didn't want me.""
Cassidy covered her mouth.
The little girl began crying.
I felt something twist inside my chest.
Whatever Cassidy had done to me, that child didn't deserve to be caught in the middle.
I walked down from the stage and crouched beside Lily.
"Hello, sweetheart.""
She looked at me cautiously.
"Are you Vivian?""
I nodded.
"My name is Lily.""
"I know. You look very brave.""
She glanced toward Cassidy.
"Is my daddy really alive?""
Rebecca knelt beside her.
"Yes, sweetheart. He's waiting outside. He wanted to come, but he didn't want to frighten you.""
Lily began crying harder.
Cassidy took a step forward.
"Rebecca, please. We can discuss this privately.""
Rebecca opened the folder.
"No. We're discussing it here because you used your position at Ashford Global to conceal financial payments connected to your custody agreement.""
Gideon approached.
"Explain.""
Rebecca placed several documents on a nearby table.
"Six years ago, Cassidy and Daniel divorced. Daniel received primary custody after discovering that Cassidy had used their daughter's identity in several fraudulent financial arrangements.""
Cassidy interrupted.
"That is a lie!""
Rebecca continued.
"After Daniel filed a complaint, someone offered him $500,000 to withdraw his allegations and disappear from Cassidy's life.""
Gideon looked at the paperwork.
"Who made the offer?""
Rebecca pointed toward Preston.
"He did.""
Preston laughed nervously.
"This is ridiculous.""
Rebecca pulled out another document.
"Here's the transfer. The money came from one of the same consulting companies used in the Whitmore insurance arrangement.""
I stared at Preston.
"You used stolen insurance money to buy someone's silence?""
Preston rubbed his forehead.
"Vivian, you don't understand the circumstances.""
"Then explain them.""
He looked toward Cassidy.
She stared at him with disbelief.
"You told me that money came from your investments.""
Preston snapped.
"Not now, Cassidy!""
She stepped backward.
"You said you were protecting me.""
Gideon took the document from Rebecca.
"According to these records, the payment was made through an offshore account controlled by Preston. It was subsequently transferred into Cassidy's personal account.""
Cassidy shook her head.
"I didn't know where the money came from.""
Rebecca looked at her coldly.
"You knew enough to sign the agreement.""
Lily suddenly tugged at my sleeve.
"Can I see Daddy now?""
I looked at Rebecca.
She nodded.
Rebecca led Lily toward the entrance.
Before leaving, Lily turned around.
"Goodbye, Vivian.""
I smiled.
"Goodbye, sweetheart.""
Then the doors closed behind them.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Finally, Cassidy turned toward Preston.
"You promised me everything.""
Preston stared at her.
"You've got enough money. Stop making this worse.""
Her eyes widened.
"Enough money? You told me you were going to marry me!""
He grabbed her arm.
"Lower your voice.""
She pulled away.
"Don't touch me!""
The investigators stepped forward.
"Mr. Whitmore, we'd like you to accompany us for questioning.""
Preston looked at Gideon.
"You're making a mistake. I'm one of your senior executives.""
Gideon adjusted his cufflinks.
"Not anymore.""
He handed a document to the company's legal counsel.
"Effective immediately, Preston Whitmore's executive authority is suspended pending the investigation. All corporate accounts and outstanding authorizations under his control are frozen.""
Preston looked at me.
His expression was no longer angry.
It was desperate.
"Vivian. Tell him this is a misunderstanding.""
I looked at the man whose life I'd once saved.
"You had five years to tell me the truth.""
He opened his mouth.
I turned away.
Then Gideon's assistant approached, carrying another envelope.
"Mr. Ashford, this was delivered by courier ten minutes ago. It's addressed to Mrs. Whitmore.""
I took it.
Inside was a photograph of the original electrical control panel.
On the back, someone had written:
Preston didn't start the fire. He only made sure the alarm wouldn't wake you.
My blood ran cold.
Because that meant someone else had actually started it.
May you like
And Gideon, after reading the message, whispered:
"Vivian, I think we have another person to find.""
