Chapter 5: The Lawyer Who Betrayed My Father
Daniel didn't speak until we were inside the car.
Marcus had opened the rear door, but I remained standing beside it.
"What does that message mean?""
Daniel loosened his tie.
"Leah, not here.""
"Then where?""
"At the office. We need privacy.""
I looked at him.
"Did you know something about my father's death?""
He didn't answer immediately.
That was answer enough.
I got into the car.
"Drive to the office, Marcus.""
At 9:36 p.m., Daniel closed the conference room door.
Maya and Elliot had already left. Only the two of us remained.
I placed my phone on the table.
"Tell me.""
Daniel sat opposite me.
"Your father died of cardiac arrest. That was the official cause.""
"I know.""
"But two days before he died, he contacted me.""
"What did he say?""
"He told me he'd discovered an unauthorized transfer from Rowan Capital.""
"How much?""
"Three point two million dollars.""
I stared at him.
The exact amount Richard had mentioned.
"Who received it?""
"An account connected to Finch Advisory Group.""
I leaned forward.
"And Arthur?""
"Your father confronted him.""
"What happened?""
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
"I wasn't present. But Arthur called me the following morning. He said Edward had been confused and that the transfer was part of an approved investment.""
"Did you believe him?""
"No.""
"Then why didn't you investigate?""
Daniel looked directly at me.
"Because your father asked me not to.""
I stared.
"Why?""
"He believed the investigation would expose you to retaliation. He wanted the ownership transfer completed first.""
"Was it completed?""
"Yes.""
"Then what happened?""
Daniel opened his briefcase.
He removed a yellowed envelope.
"I kept this.""
I looked at the handwriting.
My father's.
Daniel pushed it toward me.
"He gave me this three days before he died.""
I opened it.
Daniel,
Arthur has betrayed me. Grant is involved, although I don't believe he understands the entire arrangement.
The missing money is not the greatest problem. The original ownership records have been copied, and someone is attempting to create a competing claim against Leah's trust.
Do not confront them until Leah is protected.
If anything happens to me, make sure she receives the original documents.
I looked up.
"Why didn't you give me this?""
"Because I didn't know whether the threat had ended.""
"Eleven years, Daniel.""
"I know.""
"You let me marry a man who may have been involved in stealing from my father.""
Daniel lowered his eyes.
"I made a promise to Edward. I thought protecting your inheritance meant keeping you away from the people involved.""
"And what did it mean for my marriage?""
He had no answer.
I stood and walked toward the window.
Outside, Charlotte's buildings glittered against the dark sky.
I'd spent seven years defending Grant whenever people suggested he was selfish.
I'd told myself his ambition was admirable.
His arrogance was confidence.
His long absences were the cost of building an empire.
Now every memory seemed to have another explanation.
"Did my father suspect Grant would hurt me?""
Daniel spoke quietly.
"He feared Grant might eventually discover that you controlled Rowan Capital. He worried your marriage could become a way for Grant to gain access to your inheritance.""
I turned.
"Did Grant ever know?""
"Not until recently, I believe.""
"Why recently?""
Daniel hesitated.
"Because three months ago, someone requested an updated beneficial ownership report from the trust administrator.""
"Who?""
"Arthur Finch.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Why?""
"We don't know.""
I looked at the letter again.
"Then we'll find out.""
At 10:15 p.m., Maya called.
"Leah, I need you to see something.""
I returned to the conference table.
She had sent a secure link to a collection of transaction records.
"I traced the $3.2 million payment through the intermediary accounts," she said.
"Where did it end up?""
"Not where we expected.""
She displayed a final account statement.
The money had been transferred into an account belonging to Avery Strategic Holdings.
Sloane's company.
I leaned closer.
"How much of it was spent?""
"About $1.1 million. The rest was moved into an investment account.""
"Who controls the investment account?""
Maya opened the ownership details.
A name appeared.
*GRANT ROWAN.*
I exhaled slowly.
"So he funded Sloane's company with money stolen from Rowan Capital.""
"That's what the records suggest.""
"Can we prove the transfers?""
"Every single one.""
I looked at Daniel.
"Then tomorrow, we present the evidence.""
Daniel nodded.
But Maya wasn't finished.
"There's one more thing.""
She opened a second file.
"This account made payments to someone at First Carolina.""
I read the name.
Ethan Cole.
The bank chairman.
"How much?""
"Four payments totaling $480,000.""
Daniel leaned toward the screen.
"Those payments were made through Finch Advisory.""
I stared at the dates.
The first payment had occurred shortly before Rowan Works received its expanded credit facility.
The second had been made after a financial review.
The third was dated two months ago.
And the fourth had been transferred yesterday.
"Why would a bank chairman receive money from Grant's lawyer?""
Maya shook her head.
"We don't know the purpose. The payment descriptions say consulting fees.""
I looked at Daniel.
"Get the bank's compliance department involved.""
He nodded.
"And Leah," Maya added, "we found the original credit agreement.""
"Show me.""
She displayed the first page.
My name was listed as the controlling beneficial owner of the guarantor.
But there was something unusual beneath the signature block.
A handwritten note.
*Personal authorization required from Leah Rowan for any material change in guarantor control.*
Grant had signed the agreement.
Arthur had countersigned.
Neither had informed me.
I smiled faintly.
"He's been signing my name into his financial future without understanding what it means.""
Daniel shook his head.
"Not anymore.""
The following morning, Rowan Works was already in chaos.
At 8:20 a.m., Grant called an emergency meeting of the board.
At 8:35, he sent an email to all fourteen executives.
The subject line read:
*URGENT: SHAREHOLDER MISCONDUCT AND PROTECTION OF COMPANY ASSETS.*
I read it in the back of my car.
According to Grant, I had threatened to withdraw essential financing because of "personal disagreements arising from an impending marital separation.""
He claimed I had attempted to extort the company.
He also accused me of using confidential financial information to interfere with legitimate business operations.
Sloane had added a statement of her own.
She described herself as a "committed strategic leader" who had been subjected to intimidation by a disgruntled shareholder.
I almost admired the confidence.
Almost.
At 8:52, I received another call.
Grant.
I answered.
"Yes?""
"You've gone too far.""
"Good morning to you too.""
"First Carolina is sending compliance officers to our headquarters. What did you tell them?""
"The truth.""
"What truth?""
"Ask Arthur.""
He went silent.
Then he said, "Listen carefully. You're going to walk into that boardroom today, withdraw your threats, and sign the restructuring documents.""
"Why would I do that?""
"Because I have something you want.""
I looked out the window.
"What?""
"The original trust agreement.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"How did you get it?""
"Arthur has a copy.""
"That's impossible.""
"Your father wasn't as careful as you think.""
I looked at Daniel.
He immediately signaled for me to put the call on speaker.
Grant continued.
"Your father signed a document giving me temporary management rights over certain trust assets.""
I looked at Daniel.
His expression became serious.
"Grant," I said carefully, "what document?""
"An authorization agreement. Signed before his death.""
"Then bring it to the board meeting.""
"Oh, I will.""
He lowered his voice.
"And one more thing. Sloane is staying in your chair.""
The call ended.
I stared at the screen.
Daniel looked at me.
"He's bluffing.""
"Are you sure?""
"Your father would never have given him control of the trust.""
I thought about the photograph.
The guarantee.
The forged ownership documents.
Arthur's involvement.
"Maybe he has something.""
Daniel shook his head.
"Then we'll examine it.""
I placed the phone in my handbag.
"Let's go.""
At 9:03 a.m., I entered the Rowan Works headquarters.
The lobby was packed.
Employees stood near the reception desk, whispering.
Several people recognized me.
One young woman stepped forward.
"Mrs. Rowan?""
I stopped.
"Yes?""
She looked nervous.
"Is it true the company is losing its financing?""
I studied her face.
She couldn't have been more than twenty-five.
Her employee badge identified her as a production planning analyst.
"What is your name?""
"Emily.""
"Emily, do you have a family depending on this job?""
She nodded.
"My husband and I just bought a house.""
I felt something tighten in my chest.
"Then I want you to hear something clearly. I have no intention of destroying the company or taking away anyone's job.""
"Then why is Mr. Rowan saying—"
"Because Mr. Rowan is trying to protect himself.""
She looked down.
I gently touched her shoulder.
"Keep doing your work. The people responsible for this mess will answer for it.""
I continued toward the elevators.
At the executive floor, Kent Marshall was waiting.
"Leah.""
"Kent.""
He looked exhausted.
"Grant's already in the boardroom.""
"With Sloane?""
"Yes.""
"Of course.""
Kent lowered his voice.
"He's also brought a document from your father's estate.""
I stopped.
"What kind of document?""
"A management authorization. Arthur says it gives Grant authority to act on behalf of Rowan Legacy Trust.""
I stared at him.
"Did you see the signature?""
Kent nodded.
"It looks real.""
Before I could respond, the boardroom doors opened.
Grant stood inside.
He held a document above his head.
"Well, look who's finally here.""
Fourteen executives turned toward me.
Sloane was sitting in my chair again.
Grant placed the document on the table.
"Leah, before you embarrass yourself, I suggest you read this.""
I walked forward.
The document was dated eleven years earlier.
My father's signature appeared at the bottom.
But there was another signature beneath it.
The witness.
I looked at the name.
*DANIEL MERCER.*
I turned toward my attorney.
He was standing beside me.
His face had gone completely white.
May you like
And Grant smiled.
"Now, shall we discuss who actually controls your father's trust?""
