Chapter 3 - The Seat Near the Kitchen
I pulled my wrist free. “Then perhaps you shouldn't have built everything on a lie.”
Richard Vale entered wearing a navy suit despite the warm evening. His wife Celia followed with white roses and a tired, intelligent face. Richard had made money restoring industrial buildings; he didn't seem like a man who invested ten million dollars without looking at documents.
“Mrs. Hartwell,” he said. “Daniel said you were helping in the kitchen.”
“I was. Welcome.”
His gaze moved to the brown stain down my blouse. “Are you all right?”
“An accident,” Vanessa said quickly. “Ellie is so careless with sauces.”
I watched Daniel's silence settle over the foyer like dust.
Dinner began with twelve candles, five courses, and a chair placed for me near the swinging kitchen door. Vanessa had set seven fine place settings and one mismatched plate. Mine.
Celia noticed. “Did something happen to the china?”
“Oh, Ellie prefers that one,” Vanessa answered.
I sat down without correcting her. Richard praised the turkey. “Who catered this?”
“Vanessa organized everything,” Daniel replied.
I stared at him. He had watched me spend the afternoon roasting, kneading, simmering, and trying not to cry over what my life had become.
“Excellent,” Richard said. “Now, about the portfolio.”
Vanessa set down her fork. “Daddy, we promised not to talk business until dessert.”
“I promised nothing.” Richard placed a leather folder beside his plate. “The valuation lists four properties as assets of Daniel's management company, including this residence. But the county records name Hartwell Holdings.”
My heartbeat steadied. Daniel cleared his throat. “That's our corporate structure.”
“Your structure,” Richard repeated. “Who controls the holding company?”
Vanessa looked at my stained blouse, then at the kitchen door.
“Ellie,” she said brightly, “would you bring the rolls?”
Richard didn't look away from Daniel. “I asked you a question.”
May you like
My son leaned forward and said five words that changed our family forever.
“My mother signed it over.”
