Chapter 7 - My Father’s Box
The key was hidden inside Emma’s silver locket.
I had bought that locket for Olivia.
My father had modified it after I gave it to her.
Inside the back plate was a tiny brass key.
Emma had worn it into my wedding without knowing what it opened.
Olivia said the box was in a private vault owned by Hale Development.
Only my father and Martin Shaw knew the location.
“Why didn’t you open it?”
“I tried. The vault company said the box required two keys.”
“Who had the second?”
“Your father.”
He died before Olivia could reach him.
I called Hale’s current security director.
Vault 117 was listed under an inactive corporate storage account.
The second key had been checked out that morning.
By Martin Shaw.
Martin requested a lawyer.
I didn’t care.
We drove to the vault.
Box 117 was the size of a briefcase.
Emma’s key turned first.
Martin’s key turned second.
Inside were three things.
A handwritten letter from my father.
A sealed DNA kit.
And a flash drive labeled:
NOVEMBER 17 - IF I DO NOT FINISH THIS.
I read the letter first.
Alexandre,
If you find this, I failed to fix something before time ran out.
Olivia is telling the truth.
The child she carries is almost certainly yours.
Do not punish either of them for decisions made by men who were afraid of losing control.
The flash drive contained a video from his office.
My father sat behind his desk.
Across from him sat Martin Shaw.
And Charles Whitmore.
Charles said, “If the child is acknowledged, the merger rights die.”
My father answered, “Then they die.”
Martin leaned forward.
“Robert won’t accept that.”
I paused the video.
“Robert?”
Lena went still.
Robert Hale.
My uncle.
Vice chairman of Hale Development.
The man who had walked me down the aisle after my father died.
Then the video continued.
My uncle entered the room.
May you like
He looked directly at my father and said:
“If you protect that child, Alexandre loses the company.”
