Chapter 9: The Original That## Chapter 9: The Original That Could Destroy Them Both Could Destroy Them Both
For a moment, nobody in the ballroom moved.
For a moment, nobody in the ballroom moved.
Nathan stood beneath the chandeliers, the microphone hanging at his side, while twoNathan stood beneath the chandeliers, the microphone hanging at his side, while two hundred wedding guests watched him realize he had said too much.
Marcus was the first to speak hundred wedding guests watched him realize he had said too much.
Marcus was the first to speak.
“What original, Nathan?””
His brother looked toward the stage entrance.
.
“What original, Nathan?””
His brother looked toward the stage entrance.
“Nothing.””
“You just told Richard Cole that if the original still exists, you're“Nothing.””
“You just told Richard Cole that if the original still exists, you're both finished.””
“I was talking about a business document.””
“Which business document?””
Nathan forced both finished.””
“I was talking about a business document.””
“Which business document?””
Nathan forced a laugh.
“Marcus, this is ridiculous. You're taking a private conversation out of context.””
“You a laugh.
“Marcus, this is ridiculous. You're taking a private conversation out of context.””
“You were speaking into a live microphone.””
A few guests exchanged uncomfortable glances.
Near the front table, Marcus were speaking into a live microphone.””
A few guests exchanged uncomfortable glances.
Near the front table, Marcus's aunt slowly put down her champagne glass.
Nathan noticed the movement and raised his voice.
“'s aunt slowly put down her champagne glass.
Nathan noticed the movement and raised his voice.
“Everyone needs to calm down. There are complicated legal issues hereEveryone needs to calm down. There are complicated legal issues here, and I won't discuss confidential business information at a wedding.””
Marcus, and I won't discuss confidential business information at a wedding.””
Marcus held up his phone.
“Then let's discuss the documents you brought to this wedding.””
He held up his phone.
“Then let's discuss the documents you brought to this wedding.””
He turned toward the guests.
“My brother has accused me of stealing money from our father's company. I've discovered records suggesting that money turned toward the guests.
“My brother has accused me of stealing money from our father's company. I've discovered records suggesting that money was transferred through a private consulting firm. I have also found evidence that documents were was transferred through a private consulting firm. I have also found evidence that documents were prepared to transfer my shares without my authorization.””
Nathan interrupted.
“Those are allegations!””
“Yes,” Marcus prepared to transfer my shares without my authorization.””
Nathan interrupted.
“Those are allegations!””
“Yes,” Marcus replied.
“Which is why I'm asking for an independent investigation instead of demanding that everyone replied.
“Which is why I'm asking for an independent investigation instead of demanding that everyone take my word for it.””
He looked directly at Nathan.
“Are you willing to do the same?””
Nathan take my word for it.””
He looked directly at Nathan.
“Are you willing to do the same?””
Nathan's face tightened.
“You're making a spectacle of this.””
“You made it's face tightened.
“You're making a spectacle of this.””
“You made it a spectacle when you accused me in front of our family.””
“I was trying to protect the company.””
“Then cooperate a spectacle when you accused me in front of our family.””
“I was trying to protect the company.””
“Then cooperate with the investigation.””
Nathan said nothing.
Aaliyah stood beside the stage, holding her phone against with the investigation.””
Nathan said nothing.
Aaliyah stood beside the stage, holding her phone against her chest. Her wedding dress had begun to crease around the waist, and one of the delicate straps her chest. Her wedding dress had begun to crease around the waist, and one of the delicate straps had slipped slightly from her shoulder.
She looked exhausted.
Marcus wanted to ask why she had waited until this moment to reveal the messages. had slipped slightly from her shoulder.
She looked exhausted.
Marcus wanted to ask why she had waited until this moment to reveal the messages. He wanted to demand whether there were other conversations she had withheld.
But He wanted to demand whether there were other conversations she had withheld.
But first, he needed to understand what Nathan meant by the original.
Daniel approached him.
“I've called James first, he needed to understand what Nathan meant by the original.
Daniel approached him.
“I've called James,” he whispered.
“He wants us to leave the documents untouched,” he whispered.
“He wants us to leave the documents untouched and preserve everything. He's also contacting the company's independent directors.””
“Good.””
“And Marcus?””
“What?””
and preserve everything. He's also contacting the company's independent directors.””
“Good.””
“And Marcus?””
“What?””
“Richard Cole has disappeared from the hotel.””
Marcus looked toward the ballroom doors.
“Of course he has.””
Nathan heard the exchange.
“Richard Cole has disappeared from the hotel.””
Marcus looked toward the ballroom doors.
“Of course he has.””
Nathan heard the exchange.
He immediately took out his phone and began typing.
Marcus watched him.
“AreHe immediately took out his phone and began typing.
Marcus watched him.
“Are you messaging Richard?””
Nathan didn't look up.
“I'm arranging legal representation.””
“You already you messaging Richard?””
Nathan didn't look up.
“I'm arranging legal representation.””
“You already have a lawyer.””
“Not one I trust anymore.””
That admission was almost laughable.
Marcus have a lawyer.””
“Not one I trust anymore.””
That admission was almost laughable.
Marcus stepped closer.
“Where is the original, Nathan?””
His brother's fingers stopped moving.
Then Nathan looked up stepped closer.
“Where is the original, Nathan?””
His brother's fingers stopped moving.
Then Nathan looked up.
“You have no idea what you're asking.””
“Then explain it.””
Nathan studied him for a long moment.
Finally.
“You have no idea what you're asking.””
“Then explain it.””
Nathan studied him for a long moment.
Finally, he said, “Dad kept a document proving the company was never supposed to belong, he said, “Dad kept a document proving the company was never supposed to belong to either of us in the way you think.””
Marcus frowned.
“What does that mean?””
“It means he changed the to either of us in the way you think.””
Marcus frowned.
“What does that mean?””
“It means he changed the arrangement shortly before he died. He signed an agreement that would have divided the controlling interest differently arrangement shortly before he died. He signed an agreement that would have divided the controlling interest differently.””
“Then why isn't it in the estate records?””
“Because the agreement disappeared.””
“Then why isn't it in the estate records?””
“Because the agreement disappeared.””
Marcus felt his pulse quicken.
“Who had it?””
Nathan looked toward Evelyn.
She was.””
Marcus felt his pulse quicken.
“Who had it?””
Nathan looked toward Evelyn.
She was standing near the aisle, her face drained of color.
“Ask Mother,” he said standing near the aisle, her face drained of color.
“Ask Mother,” he said.
Marcus turned.
“Mom?””
Evelyn didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she looked at.
Marcus turned.
“Mom?””
Evelyn didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she looked at Nathan with a mixture of grief and anger that seemed to span years.
“Your father never signed an agreement giving Nathan with a mixture of grief and anger that seemed to span years.
“Your father never signed an agreement giving Nathan control of the company,” she said.
Nathan laughed harshly.
“You don't know that.””
“I was there when Nathan control of the company,” she said.
Nathan laughed harshly.
“You don't know that.””
“I was there when he discussed the proposed changes.””
“Discussed,” Nathan snapped.
“Yes. He discussed everything with you. You were the only person he he discussed the proposed changes.””
“Discussed,” Nathan snapped.
“Yes. He discussed everything with you. You were the only person he trusted enough to tell the truth.””
“He trusted both of you.””
“Then trusted enough to tell the truth.””
“He trusted both of you.””
“Then why did he give Marcus the shares?””
Evelyn's voice trembled.
“Because Marcus had already demonstrated why did he give Marcus the shares?””
Evelyn's voice trembled.
“Because Marcus had already demonstrated that he could protect the company without treating his family like enemies.””
Nathan looked away.
For several seconds, he seemed that he could protect the company without treating his family like enemies.””
Nathan looked away.
For several seconds, he seemed unable to speak.
Then he turned back toward Marcus.
“You still don't understand. Dad was going to change everything.””
“Then unable to speak.
Then he turned back toward Marcus.
“You still don't understand. Dad was going to change everything.””
“Then show me the agreement.””
“I can't.””
“Why?””
“Because I don't have it.””
Marcus studied show me the agreement.””
“I can't.””
“Why?””
“Because I don't have it.””
Marcus studied his brother's face.
“You believe it exists.””
Nathan's jaw tightened.
“I know it exists.””
“Then who has it?””
Nathan's his brother's face.
“You believe it exists.””
Nathan's jaw tightened.
“I know it exists.””
“Then who has it?””
Nathan's eyes moved toward Aaliyah.
She went still.
Marcus followed his gaze.
“Aaliyah?””
She shook her head.
eyes moved toward Aaliyah.
She went still.
Marcus followed his gaze.
“Aaliyah?””
She shook her head.
“I don't have anything.””
Nathan let out a bitter laugh.
“You told“I don't have anything.””
Nathan let out a bitter laugh.
“You told me you found the key.””
Aaliyah stared at him.
“What key?””
“The one from me you found the key.””
Aaliyah stared at him.
“What key?””
“The one from the study. You told me you found something hidden behind the fireplace.””
Marcus felt his heart the study. You told me you found something hidden behind the fireplace.””
Marcus felt his heart hammer against his ribs.
The anonymous letter had mentioned a document hidden behind the old fireplace.
Nathan had just confirmed that he knew about hammer against his ribs.
The anonymous letter had mentioned a document hidden behind the old fireplace.
Nathan had just confirmed that he knew about it.
Aaliyah's face crumpled.
“I found a metal box,” she admitted it.
Aaliyah's face crumpled.
“I found a metal box,” she admitted.
“But it was locked.””
“When?”” Marcus demanded.
“Last week.””
“You went.
“But it was locked.””
“When?”” Marcus demanded.
“Last week.””
“You went into Dad's study last week?””
She nodded, unable to meet his eyes.
“Why?””
“N into Dad's study last week?””
She nodded, unable to meet his eyes.
“Why?””
“Nathan told me there might be something hidden there. He said your father had left a document that could proveathan told me there might be something hidden there. He said your father had left a document that could prove the estate had been mismanaged.””
“And you went looking for it?””
“I thought I was helping him the estate had been mismanaged.””
“And you went looking for it?””
“I thought I was helping him find evidence.””
“Evidence against me?””
She didn't answer.
Marcus looked find evidence.””
“Evidence against me?””
She didn't answer.
Marcus looked at Nathan.
“You sent her into Dad's study to search for a document you couldn't find yourself.””
Nathan folded his arms.
“I sent her to at Nathan.
“You sent her into Dad's study to search for a document you couldn't find yourself.””
Nathan folded his arms.
“I sent her to retrieve something that belonged to the family.””
“Something you intended to use to take control of my retrieve something that belonged to the family.””
“Something you intended to use to take control of my shares.””
“Something that would have settled the inheritance dispute.””
Marcus shook his head.
“You keep changing shares.””
“Something that would have settled the inheritance dispute.””
Marcus shook his head.
“You keep changing the name of what you're doing. First it was protecting the company. Then it was financial security. Now it's settling the name of what you're doing.
First it was protecting the company. Then it was financial security. Now it's settling an inheritance dispute.””
Nathan's voice rose.
“Because nobody listens unless I give them a reason!””
an inheritance dispute.””
Nathan's voice rose.
“Because nobody listens unless I give them a reason!””
The guests fell silent.
Nathan seemed to realize he had lost control of the room. He took a breathThe guests fell silent.
Nathan seemed to realize he had lost control of the room. He took a breath, straightened his jacket, and tried again.
“Marcus, I'm asking you to think rationally. If that, straightened his jacket, and tried again.
“Marcus, I'm asking you to think rationally. If that agreement exists, it could change the entire estate. It could invalidate decisions agreement exists, it could change the entire estate.
It could invalidate decisions Dad made in his final months. It could expose both of us to years of litigation Dad made in his final months. It could expose both of us to years of litigation.””
“Then we should find it.””
“No.””
The word came too quickly.
Marcus stared at him.
“Why not.””
“Then we should find it.””
“No.””
The word came too quickly.
Marcus stared at him.
“Why not?””
Nathan looked toward the ballroom doors.
“Because you don't know what else is in that box.””
A?””
Nathan looked toward the ballroom doors.
“Because you don't know what else is in that box.””
Aaliyah suddenly began crying.
“I never opened it,” she whispered.
“I swear I didn't. I couldn'taliyah suddenly began crying.
“I never opened it,” she whispered.
“I swear I didn't. I couldn't find the key, so I put it back where I found it.””
Marcus turned to her.
“Where exactly find the key, so I put it back where I found it.””
Marcus turned to her.
“Where exactly?””
“Behind the loose stone in the fireplace.””
Evelyn closed her eyes.
“I know?””
“Behind the loose stone in the fireplace.””
Evelyn closed her eyes.
“I know the stone,” she whispered.
“Your father showed it to me years ago. He said he kept a spare the stone,” she whispered.
“Your father showed it to me years ago. He said he kept a spare key somewhere nobody would think to look.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Where?””
She shook her head.
“He key somewhere nobody would think to look.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Where?””
She shook her head.
“He never told me.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“Marcus, we should go to the house now. If Nathan never told me.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“Marcus, we should go to the house now. If Nathan knows where the box is, someone may already be on the way to retrieve it.””
Nathan moved toward the aisle.
knows where the box is, someone may already be on the way to retrieve it.””
Nathan moved toward the aisle.
“You're not going anywhere.””
Daniel blocked him.
“You don't get to decide“You're not going anywhere.””
Daniel blocked him.
“You don't get to decide that.””
Nathan's face twisted.
“Do you think you're protecting him? You're helping him destroy this family!””
Daniel that.””
Nathan's face twisted.
“Do you think you're protecting him? You're helping him destroy this family!””
Daniel held his ground.
“No. I'm helping him stop you from destroying it.””
Marcus turned to held his ground.
“No. I'm helping him stop you from destroying it.””
Marcus turned to his brother.
“Come with us.””
Nathan blinked.
“What?””
“If his brother.
“Come with us.””
Nathan blinked.
“What?””
“If you're telling the truth, come with us. We'll open the box together. We'll take everything to the attorney and let the you're telling the truth, come with us.
We'll open the box together. We'll take everything to the attorney and let the evidence speak for itself.””
For the first time, Nathan looked genuinely frightened.
“I can't.””
“Why?””
evidence speak for itself.””
For the first time, Nathan looked genuinely frightened.
“I can't.””
“Why?””
He lowered his voice.
“Because if that agreement is what I think it is,He lowered his voice.
“Because if that agreement is what I think it is, you'll understand why I had to do what I did.””
Marcus stared at him.
“Had to?””
Nathan looked down.
Then he said the words Marcus had been you'll understand why I had to do what I did.””
Marcus stared at him.
“Had to?””
Nathan looked down.
Then he said the words Marcus had been waiting years to hear.
“Dad promised me the company.””
The room seemed to hold its breath.
Marcus waiting years to hear.
“Dad promised me the company.””
The room seemed to hold its breath.
Marcus studied his brother's face.
“Did he?””
Nathan nodded.
“He told me I would run it. He said studied his brother's face.
“Did he?””
Nathan nodded.
“He told me I would run it. He said I was the son who understood business, the son who could grow it. Then I was the son who understood business, the son who could grow it. Then, when he became ill, he changed his mind.””
“Why?””
“Because he found out about the transfers.””
Marcus waited, when he became ill, he changed his mind.””
“Why?””
“Because he found out about the transfers.””
Marcus waited.
Nathan's shoulders sagged.
“I thought I could replace the money before.
Nathan's shoulders sagged.
“I thought I could replace the money before anyone noticed. I thought if the overseas acquisition succeeded, everything would balance out anyone noticed. I thought if the overseas acquisition succeeded, everything would balance out. But the deal failed, and I couldn't recover the losses.””
“How much money?””
Nathan. But the deal failed, and I couldn't recover the losses.””
“How much money?””
Nathan looked away.
“Enough.””
“Give me a number.””
“Nearly four million dollars.””
Evelyn made looked away.
“Enough.””
“Give me a number.””
“Nearly four million dollars.””
Evelyn made a choking sound.
Marcus felt the room tilt.
Four million dollars.
The amount was staggering, but what a choking sound.
Marcus felt the room tilt.
Four million dollars.
The amount was staggering, but what hurt most was how calmly Nathan said it.
“You took four million dollars from the company?””
hurt most was how calmly Nathan said it.
“You took four million dollars from the company?””
“I borrowed it.””
“Without permission.””
“I intended to repay it.””
“And when Dad found out?””
Nathan's“I borrowed it.””
“Without permission.””
“I intended to repay it.””
“And when Dad found out?””
Nathan's face tightened.
“He said he would tell the board. He said he would remove me from my position.””
“So you forged documents to transfer the company.””
“I face tightened.
“He said he would tell the board. He said he would remove me from my position.””
“So you forged documents to transfer the company.””
“I was trying to protect myself!””
“By making me look like a criminal?””
Nathan was trying to protect myself!””
“By making me look like a criminal?””
Nathan's eyes filled with angry tears.
“You had everything! The's eyes filled with angry tears.
“You had everything! The shares, the trust, Dad's confidence. You had the right to make mistakes without losing shares, the trust, Dad's confidence.
You had the right to make mistakes without losing your future. I had one bad year, Marcus. One!””
“You had years of opportunities to tell me the truth.””
your future. I had one bad year, Marcus. One!””
“You had years of opportunities to tell me the truth.””
“And you would have judged me.””
“I would have helped you.””
Nathan shook his head.
“No. You would have“And you would have judged me.””
“I would have helped you.””
Nathan shook his head.
“No. You would have done what Dad did. You would have looked at me with disappointment and told me I wasn't done what Dad did. You would have looked at me with disappointment and told me I wasn't ready.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“I would have helped you repay the money. ready.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“I would have helped you repay the money. I would have helped you face the board. I would have stood beside you if you had told me the truth.””
Nathan I would have helped you face the board. I would have stood beside you if you had told me the truth.””
Nathan's expression crumpled for a moment.
Then he looked toward the ballroom doors again.
“I didn't have's expression crumpled for a moment.
Then he looked toward the ballroom doors again.
“I didn't have a choice.””
Marcus felt the last of his sympathy harden.
“You always had a choice. a choice.””
Marcus felt the last of his sympathy harden.
“You always had a choice. You just didn't like the consequences.””
He turned toward Daniel.
“Get the car.””
Daniel You just didn't like the consequences.””
He turned toward Daniel.
“Get the car.””
Daniel nodded.
Marcus looked back at Nathan.
“You're coming with us.””
Nathan didn't move.
Then, as nodded.
Marcus looked back at Nathan.
“You're coming with us.””
Nathan didn't move.
Then, as Marcus approached the doors, his brother called after him.
“Marcus!””
He stopped.
Nathan's Marcus approached the doors, his brother called after him.
“Marcus!””
He stopped.
Nathan's voice broke.
“If you open that box, you won't just find the voice broke.
“If you open that box, you won't just find the agreement.””
Marcus turned.
“What else is in there?””
Nathan stared at him.
“Evidence of what happened the agreement.””
Marcus turned.
“What else is in there?””
Nathan stared at him.
“Evidence of what happened the night Dad died.””
The words settled over the ballroom like a winter fog.
Evelyn gr night Dad died.””
The words settled over the ballroom like a winter fog.
Evelyn gripped the back of a chair.
Aaliyah stopped crying.
Marcus looked at his brother for aipped the back of a chair.
Aaliyah stopped crying.
Marcus looked at his brother for a long, terrible moment.
Then he walked out.
Behind him, Nathan finally began to cry long, terrible moment.
Then he walked out.
Behind him, Nathan finally began to cry.
May you like
But Marcus couldn't tell whether his brother was mourning their father, his stolen.
But Marcus couldn't tell whether his brother was mourning their father, his stolen inheritance, or the life he had spent years building on a lie.
