Chapter 7: The Four Million Dollar Secret
The next morning, I sat in the conference room at Bennett Holdings.
The room overlooked Manhattan.
Glass walls.
A long black table.
A silver clock above the entrance.
It was the first time I had entered the company's headquarters as its controlling director.
And I wasn't alone.
Daniel Foster sat across from me.
Beside him were two forensic accountants and the company's chief financial officer, Robert Hayes.
A thick financial report lay between us.
“Start from the beginning,” I said.
Robert opened the report.
“After your father's death, Vanessa was granted limited authority to manage household expenses and certain administrative matters.””
I nodded.
“I know.””
“However, between the second and third year after his death, several transfers were made from the estate's operating accounts.””
“How much?””
“Approximately $4.8 million.””
I looked at the report.
“Where did the money go?””
Robert turned the page.
“Several private accounts. Most were connected to a company called Bellamy Lifestyle Group.””
I frowned.
“Who owns it?””
Robert hesitated.
“Brielle Bennett.””
I sat back.
“Brielle owns a company?””
“According to the registration documents, yes.””
“Who funded it?””
Robert looked at Daniel.
Daniel answered.
“Initial capital came from the estate's operating accounts.””
I stared at them.
“So Vanessa used my father's money to establish a company for Brielle?””
“That appears to be the case.””
I looked at the financial records.
The transfers had been disguised as consulting fees, event expenses, property maintenance, and investment advances.
There were payments for luxury vehicles.
Designer purchases.
Private travel.
And a substantial amount paid to an account in the Cayman Islands.
I turned another page.
“What's this?””
Robert leaned forward.
“An investment transfer. Approximately $1.2 million.””
“To whom?””
“The receiving company is registered to an individual named Leonard Cross.””
I recognized the name.
Leonard had been my father's former financial adviser.
He had disappeared from Bennett Holdings shortly after my father's death.
“Why was he receiving money?””
“We don't know yet.””
Daniel closed the folder.
“We've referred the suspicious transactions to independent investigators. We also need to establish whether any of these transfers were authorized under the trust.””
I looked at him.
“Were they?””
“No.””
I took a slow breath.
“Then I want everything documented.””
Robert nodded.
“We're already working on it.””
At noon, I received a call from Brielle.
I almost let it go to voicemail.
But something made me answer.
“Hello?””
“Camille?””
Her voice sounded different.
Smaller.
“What's wrong?””
“Mother is furious.””
I looked out the window.
“I imagine she is.””
“She says you're trying to destroy us.””
“I'm not trying to destroy anyone.””
“Then why did the bank freeze the company account?””
I closed my eyes.
“What company account?””
“Bellamy Lifestyle Group.””
I glanced toward Robert.
He had gone still.
“Brielle, where are you?””
“At home.””
“Is Vanessa with you?””
“No. She went to meet someone.””
I sat forward.
“Who?””
“I don't know.””
“Did she tell you anything about the money in your company?””
Silence.
Then Brielle whispered:
“What money?””
I looked at the financial report.
“Brielle, your company received transfers from Bennett Holdings.””
She started breathing faster.
“No.””
“Yes.””
“That's impossible.””
“The records show otherwise.””
“She told me the money came from investments.””
“Who told you?””
“Mother.””
I closed my eyes.
“Did you sign any documents?””
“Some. I thought they were business papers.””
“What kind of business?””
“Fashion, events, sponsorships. Mother said she was helping me build a brand.””
I rubbed my forehead.
“Brielle, listen carefully. Don't sign anything else. Don't transfer any money. And don't let anyone pressure you into deleting messages or documents.””
She began crying.
“Camille, I didn't know.””
I believed she might not have known everything.
But I also remembered her standing in front of the mirror, laughing while wearing my gown.
“Then tell the truth when the investigators ask you.””
“Will you help me?””
I looked at the financial report.
“I'll make sure the truth is established. I won't lie for you.””
She went quiet.
Then she said:
“Mother told me you would never find out.””
My stomach tightened.
“What exactly did she say?””
“She said Dad had left everything to her.””
I stared at the wall.
“And?””
“She said you were too young to understand the business. She said the estate would eventually become hers.””
I closed my eyes.
“Brielle, did she ever mention Leonard Cross?””
A pause.
Then she whispered:
“Yes.””
My fingers tightened around the phone.
“What did she say?””
“She said he was helping her make the final transfer.””
“What final transfer?””
“I don't know.””
I stood.
“Brielle, where is Mother now?””
“I told you. She went to meet someone.””
“Where?””
“I think the old Bennett warehouse.””
I looked at Daniel.
He immediately understood.
“Camille,” Brielle whispered, “I think she's going to destroy something.””
The call disconnected.
At 1:20 p.m., Daniel and I arrived at the old Bennett warehouse.
The building had been part of my father's original fashion business.
He had used it for fabric storage, early production work, and private design presentations.
It had been closed for nearly two years.
The front entrance was locked.
But a black SUV stood near the loading bay.
Vanessa's car.
Daniel called the security manager.
“Do not enter until we have proper authorization.””
I stared at the loading bay.
A light flickered inside.
Then I heard something.
A metallic crash.
Daniel looked at me.
“Stay here.””
But I was already walking toward the entrance.
We found the side door unlocked.
Inside, the warehouse smelled of dust, old wood, and industrial cleaning chemicals.
A single work light illuminated the center of the room.
Vanessa stood beside a large metal cabinet.
Leonard Cross was with her.
He looked older than I remembered.
His hair was gray.
His expensive suit was wrinkled.
And he was holding a cardboard box.
Vanessa turned when she heard us.
Her expression froze.
“Camille.””
I looked at the box.
“What are you doing here?””
Leonard stepped forward.
“This is private property.””
I stared at him.
“Owned by Bennett Heritage Holdings.””
He looked at Vanessa.
She said nothing.
I approached the cabinet.
Inside were old company files.
Bank statements.
Contract copies.
And several original documents bearing my father's signature.
“What are you taking?””
Vanessa grabbed the box.
“Nothing that concerns you.””
I looked at Leonard.
“Does the name Bellamy Lifestyle Group mean anything to you?””
His jaw tightened.
Vanessa stepped between us.
“You have no idea what you're talking about.””
“Then explain the transfers.””
Leonard placed the box on the floor.
“Vanessa, I told you this was a bad idea.””
She turned on him.
“Shut up.””
I looked between them.
There it was.
The first crack in their alliance.
“Four point eight million dollars,” I said.
Vanessa's face went pale.
“You've been investigating me?””
“It's my company.””
“You have no idea what your father owed!””
“Then show me the debt.””
She looked away.
Leonard sighed.
“Camille, there's something you should know.””
Vanessa spun around.
“Don't!””
But he continued.
“Your father discovered the missing transfers before he died.””
I stopped breathing.
“What?””
Leonard looked at me.
“He was preparing to remove Vanessa from the estate administration.””
Vanessa's face twisted.
“That's not true!””
“He had already contacted the lawyers,” Leonard continued.
“He was going to freeze the accounts and conduct a full audit.””
I stared at him.
“Why didn't he?””
Leonard lowered his eyes.
“Because he became ill.””
I felt the warehouse tilt around me.
My father had known.
He had known something was wrong.
And he had tried to stop it.
“Did you help her?”” I asked.
Leonard looked at the floor.
“I made mistakes.””
“Did you help her steal the money?””
He didn't answer.
Daniel stepped forward.
“Mr. Cross, I strongly advise you not to make any further statements without counsel.””
Leonard nodded.
Vanessa suddenly grabbed the cardboard box.
“I'm leaving.””
A security officer appeared at the entrance.
“Ma'am, please put the box down.””
She stared at him.
Then she looked at me.
“You think you've won?””
I didn't answer.
She stepped closer.
“You have no idea what your father promised me.””
I looked directly at her.
“Then tell me.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
For the first time, her anger seemed to disappear.
“He promised me the company.””
I stared.
“What?””
“He promised me I would never have to worry again. He promised Brielle would be taken care of.””
I shook my head.
“He gave you a home. He gave you financial security. He trusted you with his family.””
“He gave everything to you!””
The words burst out of her.
And suddenly, I understood.
This wasn't simply about money.
It was about resentment.
Vanessa had watched my father build an empire.
She had watched him leave it to his daughter.
And she had decided that being his wife entitled her to everything.
“I gave him years,” she whispered.
I looked at her.
“And I gave him a lifetime.””
She flinched.
Daniel signaled to the security officer.
The box was secured.
The files were preserved.
And Vanessa was escorted outside.
But as she passed me, she leaned close.
“You should ask your father what really happened the night he died.””
My blood turned cold.
“What does that mean?””
She smiled.
A small, bitter smile.
“Ask Leonard.””
Then she walked away.
I turned toward him.
“Leonard?””
He wouldn't meet my eyes.
Daniel closed the warehouse door.
“Camille, we need to talk.””
“What happened the night my father died?””
Leonard finally looked up.
His voice was barely audible.
“Your father didn't die thinking everything was fine.””
May you like
He swallowed.
“He died knowing someone in that house had betrayed him.””
