Chapter 5: The Invitation Brooke Never Expected
Daniel opened the envelope slowly.
Inside were copies of old correspondence, financial statements, and a photograph.
The photograph showed Robert standing beside a younger man in front of a construction site.
I recognized the other man immediately.
Frank Harrington.
Brooke's father.
He looked considerably younger, but the confident smile was unmistakable.
I picked up the photograph.
“Why were Robert and Frank together?””
Daniel sighed.
“They were business partners once.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
“Back in 2001, Frank approached Robert about developing a commercial property. They formed a temporary partnership. Robert provided the land. Frank handled the construction financing.””
“What happened?””
“Frank attempted to redirect funds from the project into another company he controlled.””
I stared at him.
“Did Robert know?””
“He discovered irregularities during an audit. He confronted Frank, and the partnership ended.””
“Was there a lawsuit?””
“No. Robert negotiated a settlement and walked away.””
“Why didn't he tell me?””
“Because he believed the matter was finished.””
Daniel opened one of the folders.
“However, he kept copies of everything.””
I examined the documents.
There were invoices, bank transfers, and letters between the two men.
One letter contained a sentence underlined in red.
The Collins family will never understand the value of what they own until someone else tries to take it from them.
I looked at Daniel.
“Did Frank write this?””
“Yes.””
My hands trembled.
“Why would Brooke marry Ethan knowing all this?””
Daniel didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he pointed to another document.
It was a recent corporate filing.
Harrington Development Group had created a subsidiary company six months earlier.
Its stated purpose was to acquire commercial properties for a redevelopment project.
And one of the targeted properties was ours.
I looked at the date.
Six months earlier.
The same month Ethan had told me Brooke wanted to introduce him to her father's investment group.
I felt sick.
“Do you think their marriage was part of this?””
Daniel shook his head.
“I won't speculate without evidence. But I do think we need to investigate the financial relationship between Ethan, Brooke, and Frank.””
My phone rang.
Brooke.
I looked at the screen.
Daniel nodded for me to answer.
“Hello?””
“Margaret, finally.””
Her voice sounded strained.
“Brooke.””
“We need to talk.””
“About what?””
“Ethan tells me you're making a terrible situation much worse.””
I glanced at Daniel.
“I'm simply refusing to sign a document I never signed.””
She exhaled sharply.
“It's a misunderstanding.””
“Then why is my name on a financial guarantee?””
“Because the lawyers prepared the paperwork based on the family arrangement.””
“There is no family arrangement that gives you ownership of my company.””
“Margaret, please. Don't be difficult.””
I almost smiled.
There it was again.
That familiar tone.
The same one she'd used when telling me my cooking didn't fit her Christmas theme.
“I'd like to ask you something,” I said.
“What?””
“Did you know your father was involved in a business dispute with Robert?””
Silence.
Then Brooke laughed.
“That's ancient history.””
“So you knew?””
“Margaret, this has nothing to do with what happened twenty years ago.””
“Then why is your father's company trying to acquire our property?””
Another silence.
Her voice became colder.
“Your husband made a lot of promises before he died. Perhaps you should stop pretending you understand everything he did.””
I sat straighter.
“What did you just say?””
“I'm saying you should let people who understand business handle this.””
“Are you suggesting I don't understand my own company?””
“I'm suggesting you're making emotional decisions.””
I looked at Robert's photograph.
“Yesterday, you told me my cooking was inappropriate for your Christmas dinner. Today, you're telling me I don't understand business. Is there anything else you would like to criticize?””
“Don't turn this into a personal issue.””
“You made it personal when you humiliated me in front of your guests.””
Brooke sighed.
“Fine. If that's how you want to behave, perhaps you shouldn't expect to be included in our family celebrations anymore.””
I laughed softly.
“Brooke, you already excluded me.””
Then I ended the call.
Daniel looked at me.
“Are you all right?””
“No,” I admitted.
“But I think I'm finally understanding what's happening.””
He nodded.
“Then we should discuss our next move.””
He explained that we could request an independent audit, notify the lender, and begin formal proceedings to protect Collins Holdings.
But there was another possibility.
A special shareholders' meeting.
As the majority owner, I had the authority to call one.
And because Harrington Development Group had been attempting to acquire our assets, I could invite its representatives to attend and explain their interest.
I looked at the documents.
“Can I invite Frank Harrington?””
Daniel smiled slightly.
“You certainly can.””
“And Brooke?””
“If you wish.””
I sat quietly.
Then I asked Daniel to prepare the invitations.
Not because I wanted revenge.
Because I wanted answers.
By four o'clock that afternoon, the invitations had been sent.
The meeting would take place at the Collins Holdings office the following Monday.
Ethan called me twice.
I didn't answer.
At 6:15, he appeared at my front door.
I opened it and found him standing there with a bouquet of white roses.
“Hi, Mom.””
I looked at the flowers.
“What's this?””
“Can we talk?””
I stepped aside.
He walked into the living room and placed the bouquet on the coffee table.
For a few moments, he looked around the house.
His eyes stopped at Robert's photograph.
“Dad would hate what's happening,” he whispered.
“Yes,” I said.
“He would.””
Ethan sat down.
“Brooke is upset. Her father says you're threatening the entire investment.””
“I'm protecting the company.””
“Mom, please. We can fix this.””
“How?””
He leaned forward.
“Just sign the authorization. We'll restructure the loan, and everything will be fine.””
I stared at him.
“Ethan, have you forgotten what happened yesterday?””
He looked confused.
“What?””
“Your wife told me to take my Christmas cooking away. You watched me carry seven hours of work back to my car. You didn't even ask me to stay for dinner because you were afraid I'd embarrass you.””
He lowered his head.
“I'm sorry.””
“Are you sorry because you hurt me, or because I won't sign the papers?””
His eyes filled.
“Both.””
I wanted to believe him.
God, I wanted to believe him.
But before I could respond, his phone rang.
He checked the screen.
“It's Brooke.””
He answered.
“What?””
I could hear her voice from across the room.
“Are you with her? Did she sign?””
Ethan looked at me.
“Not yet.””
Brooke's voice rose.
“Then get the documents! Dad said we don't have another day!””
Ethan stood.
“Brooke, calm down.””
“No! You told me she would cooperate!””
I watched my son's face change.
Then Brooke said something that made him go completely still.
“Ethan, if your mother refuses, tell her what Dad found in Robert's old files.””
Ethan slowly lowered the phone.
“What did she mean?”” I asked.
He looked at me.
His lips parted.
Then he whispered:
“Mom, there's something Dad never told you about the company.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“What?””
Ethan looked toward Robert's photograph.
“Brooke's father says Dad wasn't the only person who signed the original property agreement.””
He swallowed.
“He says you were supposed to lose the company four years ago.””
I stared at him.
Four years ago.
The year Robert died.
And suddenly, the Christmas dinner, the fake signature, the suspicious loan, and Brooke's strange urgency began to connect.
But before I could ask another question, my doorbell rang.
Ethan looked toward the entrance.
I opened the door.
Frank Harrington stood on my porch, holding a leather briefcase.
He smiled as though we were old friends.
“Margaret,” he said.
“I think it's time we discussed what your husband really left you.””
May you like
Then he looked past me at Ethan.
“And what your son has already promised me.””
