Chapter 10 - The Father of the Groom
For several seconds, Daniel did not speak.
His father's name seemed to hang inside the vault like smoke.
Graham Ross.
Independent stewardship trustee.
Temporary controller of the company.
Sophie looked at her husband.
"You really didn't know?"
Daniel's face tightened.
"No."
"Your father has been connected to my family trust for years and you didn't know?"
"No."
"He joined Dad's board last month and you didn't think that was strange?"
"I thought it was an investment connection."
Sophie laughed bitterly.
"Apparently everything in our lives is an investment connection."
Daniel took the blow without defending himself.
Evelyn respected him for that.
Charles, however, seemed suddenly calmer.
That frightened her.
"Graham is a responsible trustee," he said.
Daniel turned toward him.
"You knew."
Charles shrugged.
"Of course I knew."
"You knew my father would control the votes if the protection clause triggered."
"I knew your grandmother named him years ago."
Evelyn stared at Charles.
"Why would my mother name Graham?"
"Because he was your father's friend."
That part was true.
Graham Ross had advised Evelyn's parents on real estate projects before Daniel and Sophie were even born.
He had attended family Christmas dinners.
He had carried Evelyn's father's casket.
Then the families drifted apart after her mother's death.
Years later, Sophie and Daniel met by coincidence at a charity event.
At least Evelyn had believed it was coincidence.
A sick thought moved through her.
She looked at Daniel.
"How did you and Sophie actually meet?"
Daniel frowned.
"At the Harbor Children's Fund gala."
"Who invited you?"
"My father."
Sophie stared at him.
"You told me your company bought a table."
"It did."
"Did your father know I would be there?"
Daniel's expression changed.
"Probably."
Sophie stepped away from him.
"Oh my God."
"Sophie, no."
"Was our relationship arranged too?"
"No."
"How do you know?"
Daniel's voice broke slightly.
"Because I know how I feel about you."
Sophie looked at him with tears in her eyes.
"That isn't the same thing."
Evelyn wanted to comfort her.
But before she could, Charles's phone rang.
Graham.
Charles answered immediately.
"Where are you?"
Everyone watched him.
Charles listened.
"The protection clause triggered."
Pause.
"Yes."
Pause.
"Then do it."
Daniel moved closer.
"Put him on speaker."
Charles ignored him.
"No, Graham. We don't have until morning."
Daniel grabbed the phone.
Charles resisted.
For one brief, ugly moment, father-in-law and son-in-law wrestled over it.
Then Daniel pulled it free.
"Dad."
Silence.
"Dad, where are you?"
Graham's voice finally came through.
"Daniel, this is not a conversation for tonight."
"My wife was forged into a corporate transaction on our wedding night."
"I know."
Sophie flinched.
Daniel's face changed.
"You know?"
"Pike called me."
"Did you sign it?"
"Sign what?"
"Sophie's name."
"No."
"Did you see who did?"
Long pause.
"No."
Melissa looked toward Charles.
Evelyn saw it.
Again.
Melissa knew something.
Daniel continued.
"Why were you in the bridal suite with Charles and Melissa?"
Graham exhaled.
"We were discussing the closing."
"During my wedding?"
"The timing was unfortunate."
"Did you know Charles planned to get Sophie's signature without explaining the proxy?"
Another pause.
"I knew he planned to simplify the consent."
Sophie laughed in disbelief.
"Simplify?"
Graham heard her.
His voice softened.
"Sophie, I'm sorry this happened tonight."
"Tonight?"
Her voice shook.
"You're sorry about the timing?"
"I'm sorry you were pulled into a complicated situation."
"I am the situation."
Graham went quiet.
Sophie continued.
"Those are my shares."
"Yes."
"My signature."
"Yes."
"My family."
"Yes."
"Then stop talking to me like I'm a child who wandered into the wrong room."
Graham did not answer.
Daniel took over.
"You're temporary trustee now."
"Yes."
"What are you going to do?"
"Preserve the company."
Charles smiled faintly.
Evelyn saw it.
"By completing the sale?" she asked.
Graham paused.
"Possibly."
Daniel stared at the phone.
"Dad."
"If the sale is necessary to protect creditors and employees, I have a duty to consider it."
Evelyn's anger sharpened.
"You have a duty to consider whether Charles created the crisis to force the sale."
"I will consider all relevant information."
"When?"
"Tomorrow morning."
Charles cut in.
"The buyer won't wait."
Graham's voice cooled.
"Then perhaps the buyer should have asked better questions."
For the first time, Charles looked uncertain.
Graham continued.
"No transfer closes tonight."
Melissa released a breath.
Evelyn almost did too.
Then Graham added one more sentence.
"But Evelyn, you need to understand something before you celebrate."
"What?"
"The 2018 amendment exists."
Evelyn's stomach dropped.
Charles's smile returned.
"I signed no amendment."
"I witnessed it."
Daniel closed his eyes.
Sophie whispered, "Of course you did."
Evelyn gripped the edge of the steel table.
"Graham, where is it?"
"In my office safe."
"Why?"
"Your mother instructed the trustee to hold all superseding instruments."
"Then read it to me."
Graham hesitated.
"Tomorrow."
"No."
"Evelyn."
"You just told me you witnessed me sign a document I have no memory of signing."
Her voice remained steady.
"You will read the signature page now."
There was a long silence.
Then Graham said quietly, "The signature page is not yours."
Charles's smile vanished.
Evelyn felt the vault tilt.
"Whose is it?"
Graham answered.
"Caroline's."
Evelyn's sister.
May you like
The co-trustee who had just called to warn her.
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