Chapter 6: The Partner Who Buried the Truth
My father didn't move after the call ended.
He stood beside the conference table, holding Thomas' phone as if Martin might suddenly call back and explain everything.
Nobody spoke.
Then Richard placed the phone down.
"Get me every document connected to Martin Cole.""
Thomas nodded.
"Already working on it.""
Daniel closed his laptop.
"There's something you should know before you confront him.""
Richard turned.
"What?""
"The shell companies aren't just receiving money. They're being used to purchase property.""
"Whose property?""
"Several commercial buildings. Warehouses. Two office complexes.""
Richard frowned.
"Those are company assets.""
Daniel shook his head.
"Not anymore. The ownership records were transferred to separate holding companies.""
Thomas leaned forward.
"How much are we talking about?""
"At current valuations, approximately $8.5 million.""
I looked at my father.
"Can he take the company?""
Richard's jaw tightened.
"Not if we stop him.""
Thomas shook his head.
"There's a complication. Martin has voting authority over the original investor shares through a proxy agreement.""
"That agreement expired last year.""
"Not according to the document on file.""
Richard stared at him.
"What?""
Thomas slid a copy across the table.
"This version was renewed. It carries your signature.""
Richard picked it up.
His face hardened.
"I never signed this.""
I looked at the document.
The signature looked convincing.
But my father recognized it immediately.
"That's forged," he said.
Daniel nodded.
"That's what we suspect.""
Richard paced toward the window.
"Martin has been sitting across from me in board meetings while stealing from the company.""
Thomas closed the folder.
"Which means we need to be careful.""
I looked down at my mother's documents.
She had discovered all of this.
She'd tried to protect me.
And somehow, the people who had hurt her had remained in our lives for years.
"Did Martin know about the trust?"" I asked.
Thomas nodded.
"Yes.""
"How?""
"Your mother told him she was restructuring the ownership.""
I frowned.
"Why would she tell him?""
"She believed he might cooperate. They had been friends for a long time.""
Richard shook his head.
"Martin was the best man at our wedding.""
I looked at him.
"That doesn't mean he was a good man.""
Richard said nothing.
A knock sounded at the conference room door.
Margaret entered carrying a small envelope.
"Mr. Hayes, this was delivered by courier.""
Richard took it.
There was no return address.
Only his name.
He opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
My mother stood outside a restaurant, wearing a blue coat.
Martin was beside her.
The photograph appeared to have been taken shortly before her death.
On the back, someone had written:
*Ask Richard what happened after this meeting.*
I looked at my father.
His face had gone pale.
"Dad?""
He stared at the photograph.
Then he sat down.
"October 14.""
The date from my mother's letter.
"Do you remember now?"" I asked.
He nodded slowly.
"That evening, I received a call from the hospital.""
My chest tightened.
"What?""
Richard rubbed his forehead.
"Your mother had collapsed.""
I stared at him.
"But you said you were out of town.""
"I was.""
"Did you go to the hospital?""
He nodded.
"Yes. I flew back that night.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"You were twelve. You were staying with your aunt. I didn't want you frightened.""
I swallowed.
"What happened?""
Richard looked at the photograph again.
"Your mother was conscious when I arrived. She told me she'd found evidence that Martin was moving company funds.""
Thomas leaned forward.
"Did she mention Diane?""
Richard hesitated.
"Yes.""
I felt my stomach drop.
"What did she say?""
Richard closed his eyes.
"She said Diane had been helping Martin.""
Silence filled the room.
I stared at him.
"Did you believe her?""
"At first, I thought she was confused. Then she showed me a document.""
"What document?""
"A transfer authorization.""
"Where is it?""
Richard looked at Thomas.
"I thought I gave it to you.""
Thomas shook his head.
"You never did.""
Richard looked genuinely confused.
"I remember handing you the folder.""
Thomas opened his briefcase.
"Richard, I never received that folder.""
I stared at my father.
"So where did it go?""
Nobody answered.
Then Margaret spoke from the doorway.
"Excuse me, sir.""
Richard turned.
"Yes?""
"Mrs. Hayes is downstairs.""
Diane.
Richard stood.
"Tell her I'm busy.""
Margaret hesitated.
"She says she needs to speak with Nia.""
I looked at Thomas.
He shook his head slightly.
But I stood anyway.
"I'll hear what she has to say.""
Richard turned toward me.
"You don't have to.""
"I know.""
I walked downstairs.
Diane was waiting in the living room.
Her beige blouse had been replaced with a white cardigan. Her eyes were red, but her makeup was perfect.
She stood beside the fireplace.
When she saw me, she approached.
"Nia, sweetheart.""
I stopped several feet away.
"Don't call me that.""
Her expression tightened.
"Fine. We need to talk.""
"About what?""
"Your father.""
I folded my arms.
"Then talk.""
She glanced toward the hallway.
"Alone.""
"No.""
Diane sighed.
"You're making this difficult.""
"That's what people say when they can't control the conversation.""
She looked at me sharply.
Then she lowered her voice.
"Martin isn't the person you think he is.""
I almost laughed.
"Neither are you.""
She ignored that.
"Your father has been making terrible decisions for years. He trusted Martin too much. He trusted me too much. And now he's going to destroy everything because he can't accept that your mother made mistakes.""
"My mother made mistakes?""
Diane looked away.
"She wasn't perfect.""
"Neither are you.""
She stepped closer.
"Listen carefully. There are things about your mother's death that you don't know.""
My stomach tightened.
"What things?""
Diane looked directly at me.
"She was planning to leave your father.""
I froze.
"What?""
"She had spoken to a lawyer. She wanted to separate their finances. She wanted to take you and move away.""
I shook my head.
"That's not true.""
"Your mother was unhappy.""
"Stop.""
"She knew your father was neglecting the family. She knew he cared more about his company than his wife.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"Why are you telling me this?""
"Because you deserve the truth.""
I stared at her.
"Then tell me why you sold my car.""
She looked down.
"That was a mistake.""
"Tell me why you took my inheritance.""
"I was trying to protect Ava.""
"From what?""
"From having nothing.""
I stepped closer.
"She has a father. She has a home. She has a future. What exactly was she going to lose?""
Diane's voice became sharp.
"She would lose her position in this family.""
I stared at her.
And suddenly, I understood.
This had never been about money alone.
It had been about status.
Diane wanted Ava to inherit everything.
She wanted my father's company.
His house.
His wealth.
His attention.
And she wanted me to disappear quietly.
"You didn't just want my inheritance," I whispered.
Diane didn't answer.
"You wanted my mother's place.""
Her expression changed.
"Don't be ridiculous.""
"You wanted everything she left behind.""
Diane's eyes flashed.
"Your mother had everything. She had a husband who loved her, a beautiful home, and a successful business. And even after she was gone, she still controlled everything from beyond the grave.""
I stared at her.
"You were jealous of a dead woman.""
Diane slapped me.
My head turned to the side.
For a second, I heard nothing.
Then I heard footsteps.
Richard appeared at the entrance.
He saw my face.
Then he looked at Diane.
"What did you do?""
Diane immediately began crying.
"She insulted me!""
Richard stepped between us.
"You hit my daughter.""
"Richard, she—"
"Don't.""
His voice was quiet.
Dangerously quiet.
Diane reached for his arm.
"Please, listen to me.""
He moved away.
"You're leaving this house.""
Her face changed.
"What?""
"Pack your belongings. You are no longer welcome here.""
Diane laughed in disbelief.
"You can't throw me out.""
Richard looked at her.
"Watch me.""
Ava appeared at the top of the staircase.
"What's happening?""
Richard looked up.
"Ava, come downstairs.""
She hesitated.
Then she walked down slowly.
When she reached the bottom, her eyes moved to my cheek.
"Mom?""
Diane shook her head.
"Your father is throwing me out because Nia has been manipulating him.""
Richard looked at Ava.
"Did you know your mother was transferring money from Elena's trust?""
Ava lowered her eyes.
"Yes.""
"Did you know she sold Nia's car?""
Ava nodded.
"Yes.""
"Did you know she was working with Martin Cole?""
Ava looked up.
Her expression changed.
"What?""
Richard stared at her.
"You heard me.""
Ava shook her head.
"I didn't know about Martin.""
Diane grabbed her hand.
"Don't answer him.""
Ava pulled away.
"Mom, what is happening?""
Diane's eyes filled with tears.
"Everything I've done has been for you.""
Ava began crying.
"Then why did you lie to me?""
Diane stared at her.
No answer.
Richard pointed toward the stairs.
"Both of you. Go upstairs. Nobody leaves with documents, electronics, or company property until Thomas has reviewed everything.""
Diane looked at him in disbelief.
"You can't keep me here!""
"I'm not keeping you here. I'm protecting the evidence.""
She turned toward me.
"This is what you wanted, isn't it?""
I touched my cheek.
"No, Diane. I wanted my car.""
She stared at me.
Then she walked upstairs.
Ava followed, but halfway up she stopped.
She looked back.
"Nia?""
I turned.
"I'm sorry.""
I wanted to believe her.
But apologies were easy.
Especially when people realized they were about to lose something.
I said nothing.
She disappeared upstairs.
Richard walked toward me.
"Are you hurt?""
I shook my head.
"I'm fine.""
He looked at my cheek.
"No, you're not.""
He gently touched my shoulder.
"I'm sorry.""
I looked at him.
"For what?""
"For bringing her into our lives. For not listening to your mother. For letting you spend years believing you had to tolerate this.""
I swallowed.
"Can we find out what happened to Mom?""
He nodded.
"We will.""
Before we could say anything else, Thomas came down the stairs.
His face was pale.
"Richard, we have a problem.""
"What now?""
Thomas held up his phone.
"Martin has just called an emergency board meeting.""
"When?""
"Tomorrow morning.""
Richard frowned.
"He can't call that without my approval.""
"He already has.""
Thomas handed him the phone.
An email was open.
The subject line read:
*EMERGENCY SHAREHOLDER MEETING — MOTION TO REMOVE RICHARD HAYES AS CEO.*
I stared at the screen.
"Can he do that?""
Thomas nodded slowly.
"With the proxy documents he filed, yes. Unless we challenge them before the meeting.""
Richard looked furious.
"He's trying to take my company.""
Thomas shook his head.
"No, Richard.""
He glanced at me.
"He's trying to take Nia's company before her twenty-fifth birthday.""
My phone vibrated.
Another unknown number.
This time, the message contained a photograph of the original transfer authorization my mother had mentioned.
Beneath it were four words.
*Your father signed this.*
I looked at the photograph.
The signature was unmistakable.
Richard Hayes.
I slowly raised my eyes toward my father.
He saw the screen.
His face drained of color.
And then he whispered:
"That's impossible. I never signed it.""
Thomas took the phone from my hand.
He zoomed in on the document.
Then he looked at Richard.
"There's something written beneath your signature.""
I leaned closer.
A handwritten sentence appeared at the bottom.
*Payment approved. Subject to Elena's permanent removal from company affairs.*
Richard staggered backward.
I felt my heart stop.
Because suddenly, the question wasn't just whether Diane and Martin had stolen my mother's money.
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It was whether someone had used my father's name to authorize something far worse.
And tomorrow morning, in front of the entire board, we would have to find out who was really responsible.
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