Chapter 5: My Brother's Secret Agreement
I watched the recording three times.
The first time, I couldn't breathe.
The second time, I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
By the third, I had stopped making excuses for either of them.
Jason sat at the conference table in my grandmother's old office, wearing the same navy suit he had worn to a charity dinner the previous September.
Across from him was Daniel.
My older brother.
The person who had held my hand at our father's funeral.
The person who had walked me down the aisle when our father was too ill to attend.
The person who had told me, during my divorce, that Jason was a fool for letting me go.
Apparently, he knew more than I did.
The recording continued.
Daniel leaned forward.
"She won't sign anything she doesn't understand.""
Jason laughed.
"She signs whatever you tell her is best for the family.""
My stomach turned.
Daniel frowned.
"Don't underestimate her.""
"I'm not. I'm married to her, remember?""
"Not for much longer.""
Jason looked down at a document.
"Once the divorce is final, I can move the business assets into the new structure. The old agreement won't matter if the holding company releases its voting rights.""
Daniel shook his head.
"You're assuming the trustees will agree.""
"They will if we have Nora's signature.""
"What if she refuses?""
Jason smiled.
"Then you convince her.""
I stopped the recording.
My hands were shaking.
I called Daniel.
He answered after four rings.
"Nora! Hey. How are you holding up?""
I stared at the computer screen.
"Did you have dinner with Jason last September?""
Silence.
Then a small laugh.
"What?""
"September 8. My grandmother's conference room. You and Jason.""
Another silence.
"Where did you hear that?""
"That's not an answer.""
Daniel sighed.
"Look, Nora. I don't know what Jason's telling you, but—"
"I'm asking about a recording.""
His breathing changed.
"Where did you get it?""
"From Grandmother's archive.""
He swore quietly.
Then he said, "You shouldn't be watching those files.""
I stood.
"Why?""
"Because you don't understand the context.""
"Then explain it.""
"Not over the phone.""
"Fine. Come to the mansion.""
He hesitated.
"Tomorrow.""
"Tonight.""
"Nora, I have a family.""
"So do I.""
I ended the call.
For several minutes, I stood in the archive room looking at the frozen image of my brother.
Then I opened the document folder attached to the video.
There were several scanned pages.
The first was a draft agreement between Daniel and Jason.
The second was a proposed restructuring plan.
The third was a document titled:
*IRREVOCABLE PROXY AND VOTING AUTHORIZATION.*
I read it slowly.
The document would have transferred the voting authority of the controlling shareholder to an appointed representative.
The representative's name was Daniel Whitmore.
The authorization period was ten years.
And the document included a clause allowing the representative to approve certain transfers without direct shareholder consent.
I felt sick.
If I had signed it, Daniel would have effectively controlled the company my grandmother left me.
And Jason would have remained in charge of operations.
They would have controlled the business together.
I called Catherine.
She answered immediately.
"Have you watched the recording?""
"Yes.""
"Then you understand why I wanted to speak with you before you opened the archive.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I wanted to establish the authenticity of the documents first. We needed to know whether the proxy agreement had ever been executed.""
"Was it?""
"No.""
I closed my eyes.
"Why not?""
"Your grandmother refused to authorize it. She considered the arrangement a serious conflict of interest.""
I looked at the draft.
"Did Daniel know?""
"Yes.""
"Did Jason?""
"Absolutely.""
I swallowed.
"Then why did they keep trying?""
Catherine's voice became quieter.
"Because they believed you would eventually agree to a settlement that included the transfer of your voting rights.""
I remembered the divorce negotiations.
Jason had repeatedly asked me to sign a document granting him authority to handle certain company-related matters.
At the time, I had assumed it was routine.
My attorney had advised against it.
I had refused.
Now I understood why Jason had become so angry.
He hadn't simply wanted a divorce.
He wanted my signature.
And when he couldn't get it, he had decided to remove me from his life and proceed without me.
"Catherine, I want every communication between Daniel and Jason.""
"We're requesting those records.""
"And the board?""
"We can convene an emergency meeting once we have sufficient evidence.""
"How soon?""
"Forty-eight hours.""
"Do it.""
After we ended the call, I went upstairs.
I hadn't eaten since breakfast.
Samuel brought soup into the library, but I barely touched it.
At 8:42, the doorbell rang.
Daniel.
He entered wearing a gray cashmere sweater, carrying a bottle of wine.
He looked around the library.
"Nice place.""
I didn't smile.
"Sit down.""
He placed the bottle on the table.
"Can we not do this like an interrogation?""
"You tell me.""
He sighed and sat.
"Jason called me. He said you've been looking through old company records.""
"That's true.""
"He said Arthur Bennett has been feeding you lies.""
"Arthur showed me your agreement.""
Daniel's expression changed.
"Which agreement?""
"The one where you were supposed to take control of my voting rights.""
He leaned back.
"Nora, it wasn't like that.""
"Then what was it like?""
"It was a business arrangement.""
"With my signature?""
"Yes.""
"Without my understanding?""
He rubbed his face.
"You don't understand how complicated the company was becoming.""
I stared at him.
"Jason's company was becoming complicated?""
"Your grandmother's investment created restrictions. Jason needed more flexibility.""
"So you decided to give him access to my assets?""
"Nobody was trying to take anything from you.""
I pushed the document across the table.
"Read paragraph seven.""
He didn't touch it.
"Daniel.""
He finally looked down.
The paragraph outlined the transfer of voting authority.
His name appeared in bold.
"Did you know this would give you control over the company?""
He didn't answer.
"Did you know it would allow Jason to make decisions without my approval?""
He looked away.
"I was trying to help.""
"Help whom?""
"Both of you.""
I laughed bitterly.
"You were helping the man who was sleeping with his event coordinator.""
Daniel looked up sharply.
"What?""
"Brooke Dalton.""
He stared at me.
Then he shook his head.
"That's between you and Jason.""
"Interesting. Because your name is in the agreement that would have allowed him to control my inheritance.""
He stood.
"You're twisting everything.""
"Sit down.""
"No.""
"Daniel, sit down.""
Something in my voice made him stop.
He slowly returned to the chair.
I opened another folder.
"Do you recognize this company?""
I showed him the registration for BD Strategic Events.
He glanced at it.
"Yes.""
"Why?""
"Jason mentioned it.""
"Did you know he had been transferring money to it?""
"Not specifically.""
"Did you know Brooke owned it?""
His silence answered.
I felt a cold pressure behind my ribs.
"How much did you know?""
Daniel leaned forward.
"Nora, listen. Jason came to me because he was worried about the business. The company had debt. He needed a way to reorganize things.""
"Then why did he transfer hundreds of thousands of dollars to Brooke?""
"I don't know.""
"Why did he tell you to convince me to sign away my voting rights?""
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
"Because he thought you'd listen to me.""
I stared at him.
"That's your explanation?""
He finally looked directly at me.
"I was going to get paid.""
The words landed like a slap.
I sat very still.
"How much?""
He hesitated.
"Daniel.""
"Two hundred thousand.""
I blinked.
"For what?""
"For arranging the restructuring.""
"That was your fee?""
"Yes.""
"Did you receive it?""
He looked down.
"Part of it.""
I stood.
"You accepted money from my husband to help him take control of my inheritance?""
"I didn't know it would turn into this.""
"Turn into what?""
He raised his voice.
"Jason said he was protecting the business! He said you were emotionally attached to the company but didn't understand how to run it. He said someone had to make decisions.""
I stared at him.
"And you believed him?""
Daniel's expression softened.
"Nora, you have to understand. I was in trouble.""
There it was.
The excuse.
I waited.
He continued.
"My investment company lost money. I had loans coming due. I was desperate.""
"So you sold me out.""
"I was going to pay you back.""
"With what?""
He said nothing.
I walked to the window.
Across the street, the lights in Jason's house were on.
Brooke's silhouette moved past the curtains.
I thought about my grandmother.
How she had always warned me that the most dangerous betrayals often came from people who knew exactly where you kept your trust.
I turned back.
"Did you tell Jason I would sign the agreement?""
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
"Yes.""
"Did you tell him I trusted you?""
He didn't answer.
"Did you tell him I wouldn't question something if it came from my own brother?""
He lowered his eyes.
That was answer enough.
I picked up the wine bottle and placed it beside the door.
"Take that with you.""
"Nora—"
"Leave.""
"Please. We can work this out.""
"No, Daniel. You can explain yourself to the people who will be reviewing the company's records.""
His face drained.
"You're going to involve the board?""
"I'm already involving them.""
"You can't do that.""
I looked at him.
"Apparently, I can.""
He stood slowly.
At the doorway, he turned around.
"Jason told me something else.""
I didn't move.
"What?""
"He said Brooke wasn't the only person involved.""
My pulse quickened.
"What does that mean?""
Daniel looked toward the hall.
"I think you should ask your husband.""
"My ex-husband.""
He nodded.
"Right.""
Then he left.
I stood in the doorway for several seconds after the front door closed.
My phone rang.
Catherine.
"Nora, we've found something in the company's records.""
"What?""
"The board has received a resignation letter from the chief financial officer.""
"Why?""
"He's claiming that Jason instructed him to alter several quarterly reports.""
I closed my eyes.
"Did he provide evidence?""
"Yes.""
"What kind?""
"A recorded conversation.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Who was speaking?""
Catherine paused.
Then she said:
"Jason Mercer and Brooke Dalton.""
I looked at the dark street beyond the window.
"What's on it?""
May you like
Her answer made me grip the phone harder.
"They're discussing a payment that appears to have been made to someone inside your grandmother's estate office.""
