Chapter 4: The Secret Behind the Ownership Records
James Brooks had negotiated multimillion-dollar contracts with men who smiled while trying to destroy his company.
He had faced hostile takeovers, lawsuits, boardroom betrayals, and business partners who would sell their own mothers for a larger percentage of a deal.
But nothing had prepared him for seeing his own name appear on a security access record he hadn't authorized.
He looked at Daniel Price.
“Show me that again.””
Daniel enlarged the tablet display.
The record was unmistakable.
*ACCESS CREDENTIAL: JAMES BROOKS.*
*LOCATION: ADMINISTRATIVE SECURITY CORRIDOR.*
*TIME: 9:41 A.M.*
James shook his head.
“I wasn't here at 9:41.””
Richard Whitmore folded his hands.
“Could someone have duplicated your credentials?””
“Possibly. But my executive access card has never left my possession.””
Danielle looked between them.
“Dad, what does that mean?””
James turned toward her.
“It means someone wanted that camera disabled before you arrived.””
Victoria Hale suddenly laughed.
It was a short, nervous sound.
“Maybe you should investigate your own people before accusing everybody else.””
James looked at her.
“You seem remarkably comfortable discussing an access breach.””
Victoria immediately stopped smiling.
Daniel stepped forward.
“Ms. Hale, we need you to surrender your management access card.””
She clutched her handbag.
“Absolutely not.””
“That's an instruction from the property owner.””
“I report to corporate management.””
Richard's voice cut through the lobby.
“Not anymore.””
Victoria stared at him.
“You can't dismiss me in front of customers.””
“I can suspend your authority while an investigation is conducted.””
“This is outrageous!””
Richard looked toward Daniel.
“Collect her card.””
Two officers approached.
Victoria backed away.
“Don't touch me!””
One officer calmly replied, “Ma'am, please cooperate.””
She reluctantly removed a silver access card from her handbag and handed it over.
But James wasn't watching Victoria anymore.
He was looking at Richard.
“Three years ago. What happened to the ownership structure?””
Richard's expression changed.
He glanced toward Danielle, then back at James.
“Not here.””
James shook his head.
“After what happened today, I don't think we're keeping anything private.””
Richard took a breath.
“Your father-in-law's investment group was involved in the restructuring.””
James frowned.
“My father-in-law died eight years ago.””
“I'm aware.””
“Then explain.””
Richard looked toward his assistant.
“Bring the original acquisition file. The 2023 transaction. Not the digital summary. I want the signed documents.””
The assistant hurried away.
Danielle gently rocked Amara.
“Dad, are you telling me Grandpa owned part of this mall?””
James looked at her.
“Your grandfather helped finance several properties before he died. But Westbridge wasn't supposed to be connected to those investments.””
Richard lowered his eyes.
“That's not exactly what the records say.””
Before James could respond, Danielle's phone vibrated.
A text message appeared from an unknown number.
*STOP ASKING ABOUT THE OWNERSHIP TRANSFER. YOUR FATHER ISN'T TELLING YOU EVERYTHING.*
She stared at the screen.
Another message arrived.
*ASK HIM WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BROOKS FAMILY TRUST.*
Danielle's stomach tightened.
She turned the phone toward her father.
James read the message.
His face changed.
“Who sent this?””
“I don't know.””
He looked toward Daniel.
“Can you trace it?””
“Not from the message alone, sir. We'll preserve the number and provide it to the investigators.””
Richard returned with a thick black folder.
He placed it on a nearby table.
“This is the original transaction file.””
James opened it.
The first few pages contained familiar documents: property valuations, financing agreements, signatures from corporate attorneys.
Then he reached a page marked with a yellow tab.
He stopped.
Danielle noticed.
“What is it?””
James didn't answer.
He read the paragraph again.
Then he turned the page.
His expression became almost unreadable.
Richard stood beside him.
“That's the document.””
James looked up.
“Why was this never disclosed to me?””
Richard rubbed his forehead.
“Because the agreement was handled through a separate holding company.””
“Whose holding company?””
Richard hesitated.
“Brooks Legacy Ventures.””
Danielle frowned.
“That's Grandpa's company.””
James nodded slowly.
“That's right.””
He flipped to the signature page.
There were two signatures.
One belonged to her grandfather.
The other belonged to James.
But the date was three years earlier.
Danielle stared.
“Dad, you signed this?””
James closed the folder.
“I don't remember authorizing this specific transfer.””
Richard stepped closer.
“You signed several restructuring documents during that period.””
“Not this one.””
“James, your signature is there.””
“I can see that.””
Victoria, who had been standing near the officers, suddenly spoke.
“Perhaps this is why your family is making such a scene. You came here expecting special treatment, and now you're trying to intimidate everyone.””
James slowly turned toward her.
“Do you know anything about this transaction?””
Victoria smiled nervously.
“I don't handle ownership matters.””
Richard looked at her.
“That's interesting, considering your name appears in the correspondence attached to this agreement.””
Victoria's smile vanished.
James reopened the folder.
A printed email was attached behind the signature page.
The sender was listed as Victoria Hale.
The recipient was an attorney named Thomas Vance.
The subject line read:
*RE: Brooks Legacy Transfer — Final Approval.*
James read the message silently.
Then he passed it to Richard.
Richard's expression darkened.
“What the hell?””
Danielle leaned closer.
“What does it say?””
James looked at his daughter.
“Victoria was involved in communicating with the legal department during the transfer.””
Victoria shook her head.
“This is taken out of context.””
Richard held up the paper.
“You told the attorney that the beneficial ownership details should remain outside the ordinary corporate reporting package.””
Victoria's face went white.
“I was following instructions.””
“Whose instructions?””
She looked toward the elevator.
Nobody spoke.
Then James closed the folder.
“Find Thomas Vance.””
Richard nodded.
“I'll have legal locate him.””
But Daniel suddenly received another notification.
He checked his tablet.
“Mr. Brooks, there's something else.””
James looked at him.
“What?””
“The access card used to disable the camera was registered to your executive office. But the physical card hasn't been used.””
“Then what was used?””
Daniel turned the tablet around.
“A digital duplicate.””
James stared at the screen.
“Who created it?””
Daniel hesitated.
“The authorization came from an account belonging to the Brooks family trust.””
Danielle felt the blood drain from her face.
Because she recognized the account name.
It was the same trust her grandfather had created to protect her future.
And only three people had ever been authorized to access it.
Her father.
Her aunt.
And Danielle herself.
She slowly turned toward James.
“Dad, why does my name appear on an account that disabled that camera?””
James didn't answer.
His eyes were fixed on the screen.
Then his phone rang again.
This time, the caller ID displayed a name.
*MONICA BROOKS.*
His older sister.
The woman who had helped manage their father's estate.
James answered.
“Monica, did you authorize a digital access credential for Westbridge?””
There was a pause.
Then Monica's voice came through.
“James, listen to me carefully. You need to take Danielle and leave that mall.””
“Why?””
“Because Victoria isn't the person you should be worried about.””
James tightened his jaw.
“Then who is?””
May you like
His sister whispered four words.
“Your daughter's inheritance is gone.””