Chapter 5: The Threat Behind the Smile
Richard read the email twice.
Then he looked at Daniel.
“When did this arrive?””
“Just now, sir.””
“Did Thomas send anything similar before?””
Daniel shook his head.
“No. This is the first time.””
James immediately photographed the screen.
“Don't delete anything. I'll preserve the email headers and forward a copy to our legal team.””
Arthur looked toward the door.
“I'm calling security. Nobody leaves this building without being identified.””
Vanessa held Amara closer.
“Dad, what does he mean by making sure I don't leave with the documents?””
Richard approached her.
“I don't know, sweetheart. But we're going to be careful.””
“I don't want to stay here.””
“You won't have to.””
He turned toward James.
“Arrange a secure vehicle and have someone accompany Vanessa and the baby to the medical center.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I'm not leaving you here.””
Richard took both her hands.
“Listen to me. I came here because you called me. My priority is making sure you're safe.””
“But what if Uncle Thomas—”
“He isn't going anywhere near you.””
Arthur stepped forward.
“Richard, I can arrange a private room and additional security.””
Richard looked at him.
“Do that. And make sure nobody gives out my daughter's location.””
Daniel remained seated, staring at the email.
Vanessa noticed his expression.
“Daniel?””
He looked up.
“Yes?””
“Is there something else you're not telling us?””
Daniel hesitated.
Then he slowly nodded.
“Ms. Harrington had a meeting scheduled this afternoon.””
“With whom?”” Richard asked.
“Thomas Brooks.””
Arthur frowned.
“Here?””
“Yes, sir. In the chairman's conference room.””
“When?””
“Four o'clock.””
Richard checked his watch.
It was 3:42 p.m.
“Is the meeting still scheduled?””
Daniel nodded.
“As far as I know.””
Richard looked at Arthur.
“Then we wait.””
Arthur frowned.
“You want to confront them here?””
“I want to hear what they say when they believe nobody is listening.””
James shook his head.
“Richard, we need to be careful. We cannot interfere with a formal investigation.””
“We won't. We'll preserve every record and let the proper authorities handle anything criminal.””
He glanced at Daniel.
“Can you confirm whether the conference room has a security camera?””
Daniel nodded.
“Two. One facing the entrance and another inside.””
“Are they working?””
“Yes.””
“Then make sure the footage is preserved.””
Arthur took out his phone.
“I'll handle it personally.””
Vanessa looked at her father.
“Dad, please don't let this become about revenge.””
Richard's expression softened.
“It isn't revenge.””
He touched Amara's tiny hand.
“It's accountability.””
The medical nurse returned with a small first-aid kit.
“Ms. Brooks, the examination is complete. Your daughter appears perfectly fine.
Your cheek is bruised, but I don't see any immediate reason for concern. I'd still recommend medical documentation and follow-up if you develop any symptoms.””
Vanessa nodded.
“Thank you.””
The nurse gave her a reassuring smile.
“She's a beautiful little girl.””
Richard smiled.
“She gets that from her mother.””
For the first time since entering the club, Vanessa laughed.
It was a small laugh, but it mattered.
James checked his phone.
“The vehicle is ready.””
Richard turned to Vanessa.
“Go with the nurse and the security officer. I'll join you shortly.””
She hesitated.
Then she kissed his cheek.
“Be careful, Dad.””
“I will.””
Before leaving, she turned toward Daniel.
“Why are you helping us now?””
Daniel looked embarrassed.
“Because I watched someone hurt you and chose to protect my position instead of doing what was right.””
Vanessa studied him.
“Then make sure you don't do that again.””
Daniel nodded.
“I won't.””
After Vanessa left, Richard returned to the conference room with Arthur, James, and the security director.
The atmosphere was different now.
No guests.
No laughter.
No expensive cocktails.
Only four men, a stack of documents, and a clock moving toward four.
At 3:58 p.m., the security director received a message.
“Mr. Whitmore, someone has entered the east parking lot.””
Arthur looked up.
“Who?””
“Thomas Brooks. He's accompanied by another woman.””
Richard's expression hardened.
“Victoria?””
The security director checked his phone.
“Yes.””
Arthur stood.
“She's supposed to be relieved of her duties.””
Richard raised a hand.
“Let them come upstairs.””
A minute later, the conference room door opened.
Thomas Brooks walked in wearing a charcoal suit and a burgundy tie.
He was fifty-eight, broad-shouldered, and carried himself with the confidence of a man who believed every problem had a price.
Victoria followed him.
Her pink cocktail dress was unchanged, but her makeup had been touched up.
When she saw Richard, she stopped.
Thomas glanced around.
“Well, this is unexpected.””
Richard remained seated.
“Thomas.””
His younger brother smiled.
“Big brother.””
Victoria looked at Arthur.
“Mr. Whitmore, I was told we needed to discuss the transition agreement.””
Arthur pointed toward the table.
“Sit down.””
Thomas took the chair opposite Richard.
Victoria remained standing.
Richard placed the tablet on the table.
“Do you recognize this document?””
Thomas glanced at it.
“Of course.””
“Did you authorize it?””
“I advised on it.””
“Did you arrange for Vanessa's name to be removed from the guest list?””
Thomas leaned back.
“Richard, we're not here to discuss family matters.””
“Then why did you send an email saying my daughter shouldn't leave with the documents?””
Thomas's smile disappeared.
He looked toward Daniel.
“You sent him the email?””
Daniel stood near the door.
“I didn't send anything. You sent it to me.””
Victoria immediately interrupted.
“This is becoming absurd.””
Richard turned toward her.
“Sit down, Victoria.””
She remained standing.
“I don't take orders from you.””
Thomas gave a short laugh.
“Richard, let's not make this dramatic. Victoria made a judgment call. She thought Vanessa wasn't authorized to attend.””
“She had an invitation.””
Thomas shrugged.
“Then it was an administrative mistake.””
Arthur pushed a document across the table.
“An administrative mistake that involved a physical assault?””
Victoria's face tightened.
“I have already explained what happened.””
Richard leaned forward.
“Then explain it again.””
Victoria looked at Thomas.
He gave her a slight nod.
She took a breath.
“I was trying to maintain order. Your daughter became confrontational, and I lost my balance when she moved toward me.””
Daniel immediately spoke.
“That's not what happened.””
Victoria turned.
“Excuse me?””
“I was standing beside you. Vanessa never moved toward you. You slapped her.””
Thomas's jaw tightened.
“Daniel, perhaps you should remember who's responsible for your salary.””
Daniel looked directly at him.
“That's exactly why I stayed silent the first time. I'm not doing it again.””
Richard nodded once.
“Good.””
Arthur opened another folder.
“Thomas, this agreement carries my digital authorization. I did not sign it.””
Thomas glanced at the page.
“Maybe your office made an error.””
“My signature was forged.””
Thomas's face remained remarkably calm.
“That's a serious accusation.””
“It is.””
Richard tapped the table.
“Who authorized Crestwell to negotiate the transfer of club property?””
Thomas sighed.
“I did.””
“On whose authority?””
“As a strategic adviser.””
“You have no authority to sell this property.””
Thomas leaned forward.
“Neither do you, Richard.””
Richard's eyes narrowed.
“You're wrong.””
Thomas smiled.
“Am I?””
He pulled a folder from his briefcase.
“Your father left something behind. Something you apparently forgot.””
He slid a document across the table.
Richard opened it.
The first page was an old trust agreement.
The second contained a handwritten amendment.
And the third showed a signature that Richard recognized immediately.
His father's.
Thomas watched his brother's expression carefully.
“Your father didn't leave you complete control of the family investments.””
Richard looked up.
“What are you talking about?””
Thomas smiled without warmth.
“Samuel Brooks created a separate voting trust. And I am the beneficiary of half the voting rights.””
Arthur stared at the document.
“That's impossible.””
Thomas placed his hands on the table.
“It's perfectly possible. The paperwork was finalized before his death.””
Richard studied the signature.
He knew his father's handwriting.
But something about the document felt wrong.
The date.
The wording.
The witness section.
He looked toward James.
“Have you seen this before?””
James shook his head.
“No.””
Thomas laughed.
“Of course he hasn't. Richard kept the entire family business to himself.””
Richard closed the folder.
“You're claiming that Dad transferred voting rights to you?””
“I'm not claiming anything. I'm showing you.””
Thomas stood.
“By the end of the week, Crestwell will have its agreement, Victoria will return to her position, and the board will recognize my authority.””
Arthur rose.
“That will never happen.””
Thomas looked at him.
“Then you may want to consider your own position.””
Victoria suddenly smiled.
It was the first genuine smile Richard had seen from her all afternoon.
Thomas gathered his papers.
“Enjoy the rest of your day.””
He headed toward the door.
Then he stopped.
“One more thing, Richard.””
Richard looked up.
Thomas lowered his voice.
“Tell Vanessa to stop asking questions about our father.””
Richard stood.
“Why?””
Thomas smiled.
“Because some family secrets are better left buried.””
He walked out.
Victoria followed.
The door closed.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then James opened the folder again.
“Richard, this document needs to be examined immediately.””
Arthur nodded.
“I've never seen this trust amendment.””
Richard looked toward the signature.
“My father would never have hidden something this important from me.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“Mr. Brooks?””
Richard looked up.
Daniel's face had turned pale.
“There's something you need to know about that document.””
“What?””
Daniel pointed to the witness section.
“I saw that name on another paper in Victoria's office.””
James examined it.
The witness was listed as:
*MELISSA GRANT.*
Daniel swallowed.
“Melissa was Samuel Brooks's personal secretary before he died.””
Richard froze.
His father's secretary.
The woman who had handled his father's private paperwork for nearly fifteen years.
The woman who had disappeared from the family business shortly after the funeral.
James slowly closed the folder.
“Richard, if this document is genuine, the entire ownership structure could be affected.””
Richard looked at the door Thomas had just walked through.
“Find Melissa Grant.””
Daniel nodded.
“I can try.””
Richard's phone vibrated.
A message appeared from Vanessa.
Dad, I'm at the medical center. Something strange just happened.
He immediately called her.
She answered on the first ring.
“Dad?””
“What's wrong?””
“Someone came to the reception desk asking for me.””
Richard stood.
“Who?””
Vanessa lowered her voice.
“He said he was sent by Uncle Thomas.””
Richard's blood ran cold.
“Where are you right now?””
“In the examination room with the nurse.””
“Lock the door. Don't open it for anyone.””
“Dad, there's something else.””
“What?””
Vanessa took a shaky breath.
“The man left an envelope.””
Richard closed his eyes.
“What was inside?””
“A photograph.””
“Of whom?””
Vanessa's voice broke.
“Me. When I was a little girl.””
She paused.
“And Dad, someone wrote something on the back.””
“What?””
May you like
Vanessa read the message.
Ask your father what really happened the night Samuel Brooks died.
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