Chapter 10 - The Man Who Sold Them Out
The hidden room was behind a wall in the mansion library.
Claire inserted the brass key.
A panel opened.
Inside was a small safe.
Dominic stood behind her.
Claire entered the combination from her mother's birthday.
The safe opened.
Inside was a letter.
Claire unfolded it.
My dearest Claire,
If you are reading this, you are thirty years old.
You are finally old enough to know the truth.
Your father did not build Whitmore Freight.
I did.
And you saved it.
Claire's eyes filled with tears.
The letter continued.
I knew Charles would try to take everything from you.
So I created a trust.
Forty-three percent belongs to you.
But there is more.
Claire stopped.
Dominic leaned closer.
The person who betrayed me was not Victor.
Claire's heart raced.
It was someone inside our family.
Someone who believed you would never be strong enough to discover the truth.
Claire looked at Dominic.
Then back at the letter.
The final sentence was underlined.
Trust no one who asks you to sign.
Claire lowered the page.
Dominic said nothing.
Then a sound came from behind them.
Footsteps.
Claire turned.
Madison stood in the doorway.
She was crying.
“I didn't know.”
Claire stared.
“Know what?”
“Everything.”
Madison walked inside.
“Dad told me you were trying to take the company from us.”
Claire's expression hardened.
“I never wanted it.”
Madison shook her head.
“He lied.”
“Why are you telling me this now?”
Madison looked toward Dominic.
“Because Victor threatened me.”
Dominic asked, “Where is he?”
“I don't know.”
“Where did he take the money?”
Madison looked at Claire.
“Your father gave him access.”
Claire closed her eyes.
Again.
Her father.
Always her father.
Then Madison whispered:
“There was another person.”
Claire looked up.
“Who?”
Madison swallowed.
“Your lawyer.”
Claire frowned.
“My lawyer?”
“He was the one who created the fake account.”
Dominic's expression changed.
“Name.”
Madison hesitated.
“Daniel Cross.”
Claire went pale.
Daniel had handled her mother's estate.
Daniel had been the person Claire trusted most after her mother died.
He had helped her secure company contracts.
He had advised her for years.
And he had access to every document she had.
Dominic immediately called his office.
No answer.
He called again.
Nothing.
Claire suddenly remembered something.
“Daniel knew about the trust.”
Dominic looked at her.
“Then he knows the deadline.”
“What deadline?”
Claire looked at the letter.
“The trust becomes fully active on my thirtieth birthday.”
Dominic checked the date.
“Three weeks.”
Claire nodded.
But then Madison whispered:
“No.”
Claire looked at her.
“He moved the date.”
“How?”
“Your father signed something last month.”
Dominic took the letter.
His eyes narrowed.
“That's impossible.”
Madison shook her head.
“He changed the trust's activation date to tomorrow.”
Claire stared at her.
Tomorrow.
She had one day.
Then her phone rang.
Daniel Cross was calling.
Claire answered.
His voice was calm.
“Claire, we need to meet.”
“Where?”
“At the Whitmore warehouse.”
She hesitated.
“Why?”
Daniel's voice lowered.
“Because I have your mother's final recording.”
The call ended.
Dominic immediately said, “You're not going alone.”
Claire looked at him.
May you like
Then at the clock.
They had less than an hour before midnight...
