Chapter 3 - Rebecca's Second Life
Rebecca's new apartment overlooked the East River.
It was smaller than the penthouse.
It was quieter.
And every inch of it belonged to her.
She had purchased it six months earlier through a holding company Daniel had never heard of.
The apartment contained no photographs of Daniel.
No awards from Mercer Strategic.
No furniture chosen to impress investors.
Only things Rebecca actually liked.
Warm wood.
Soft linen.
Books.
A grand piano she had not touched in nearly fifteen years.
At nine that morning, Rebecca sat beside the window while Margaret reviewed documents.
“You still have time to reconsider.”
Rebecca shook her head.
“I reconsidered for twenty-three years.”
Margaret nodded.
“Fair enough.”
A second woman entered from the kitchen carrying coffee.
Her name was Lena Park.
She had been Rebecca's financial adviser for twelve years.
Daniel believed Lena was merely the accountant who handled Rebecca's inheritance taxes.
That misconception had been useful.
Lena placed a tablet on the table.
“I traced the Mercer Strategic loans.”
Rebecca looked up.
“And?”
“They are worse than Margaret thought.”
Margaret leaned forward.
Lena opened a spreadsheet.
“Daniel borrowed against projected contracts.”
Rebecca frowned.
“Contracts with whom?”
“Three companies.”
Lena turned the screen toward her.
Rebecca recognized two immediately.
The third made her sit back.
“Hawthorne Capital?”
Lena nodded.
Rebecca stared at the name.
Her father had founded Hawthorne Capital forty years earlier.
After his death, Rebecca's older brother Thomas became chairman.
Daniel knew Rebecca still owned shares.
He did not know how many.
“What did Daniel promise them?”
Lena's eyes narrowed.
“Equity conversion if the debt isn't repaid.”
Rebecca became very still.
Margaret looked between them.
“How much equity?”
“Potentially thirty-seven percent.”
Rebecca understood immediately.
If Daniel defaulted, Hawthorne could become the largest outside shareholder in Mercer Strategic.
Lena continued.
“The loan matures Friday.”
Rebecca stared at the river.
Daniel had spent years telling her that family money was old money.
Safe money.
Cowardly money.
He had mocked her father's conservative investment philosophy at dinner parties.
Now his company was surviving on Hawthorne money.
Margaret folded her hands.
“Did Thomas tell you?”
“No.”
Rebecca reached for her phone.
She had not spoken to her brother in almost eight months.
Daniel had encouraged that distance.
He always said Thomas looked down on him.
Rebecca now wondered how much of that resentment had been deliberate isolation.
She called.
Thomas answered on the second ring.
“Rebecca?”
His voice immediately softened.
She closed her eyes.
“Hi, Tommy.”
There was silence.
Then he said.
“I've been waiting for this call.”
Rebecca opened her eyes.
“You know about Daniel's loan.”
“Yes.”
“How much else do you know?”
Thomas exhaled slowly.
“Enough to know you should have left him years ago.”
Rebecca's jaw tightened.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because every time I tried, Daniel convinced you I was attacking your marriage.”
Rebecca said nothing.
Thomas continued.
“But if you're finally asking questions, I'll answer every one of them.”
Rebecca looked at Margaret and Lena.
“Then start with Friday.”
May you like
Thomas's tone changed.
“Friday is when Daniel loses control of his company.”
