Chapter 11 - Daniel's Choice
Harold moved faster than I expected.
He reached for the flash drive.
Daniel pulled it back.
"Sit down."
For the first time, Harold looked at his son with uncertainty.
"You have no idea what you're doing."
"I know exactly what I've done. That's the problem."
Daniel looked at me.
"Claire, I'm not asking you to forgive me."
"Good."
His jaw tightened.
Then he faced the board.
"My father directed me to sign vendor approvals I knew were false. Victor created the paperwork. I told myself the money would be restored. It wasn't."
Harold stood.
"Shut your mouth."
Daniel didn't.
"The resignation was forged. I delivered the unsigned original to Victor. He returned it notarized."
Victor backed toward the door.
Two security officers were already outside.
Maya raised her phone.
"This meeting is being preserved by counsel."
Harold turned on me.
"This is what you wanted? To destroy the family?"
I looked at Evelyn's bruised face.
"You did that before I arrived."
The flash drive contained scans of vendor contracts, payment schedules, and copies of messages between Harold and Victor.
One message read:
BENNETT ACCESS MUST BE CONTROLLED BEFORE MARRIAGE.
Another:
IF SHE WON'T SIGN, MAKE THE WEDDING-NIGHT INCIDENT ABOUT HER.
I stared at Daniel.
"You knew they planned to frame me."
"Not until yesterday afternoon."
"And you still married me."
He looked down.
"Yes."
That confession closed mine.
Police arrived to speak with Harold about Evelyn's assault.
The scheduled transfers were frozen pending review.
As Harold was escorted from the room for questioning, he leaned close to Evelyn.
"You think Bennett's daughter is saving you?"
Evelyn did not move.
Harold smiled.
"Ask her what her father signed before he died."
Then he walked away.
I turned to Evelyn.
She looked as confused as I felt.
May you like
Daniel went pale.
"Claire," he said, "there's another file."
