Chapter 6: The Letter My Father Left Behind
The envelope sat in the middle of the boardroom table.
My father's handwriting was unmistakable.
But what frightened me wasn't the letter itself.
It was the fact that Edward Walsh, the man who had helped Harold Bennett destroy my father's legacy, had been holding it for years.
"Give it to me," I said.
Edward hesitated.
"Marcus, there's something you need to understand. Your father gave me very specific instructions.""
"Then I suggest you follow them.""
Harold shifted impatiently in his chair.
"Edward, this is ridiculous. We have more important matters to discuss.""
I turned toward him.
"Like stealing a company?""
His jaw tightened.
"Be careful.""
"That's what my father used to tell me whenever he mentioned your name.""
Harold's face changed.
Richard slowly closed the conference room door.
Margaret Ellis, the audit committee chairwoman, stood beside the screen.
"Mr. Walsh, you will hand over the envelope. Any additional attempt to withhold company or trust documents will be documented.""
Edward finally pushed it across the table.
I picked it up.
For a moment, I couldn't open it.
My father had been dead for four years.
Yet somehow, his handwriting still had the power to make me feel like a twelve-year-old boy waiting for him to come home.
I carefully removed the letter.
My dear Marcus,
If this letter has reached you, then Harold has finally done what I always feared he would do.
I stopped.
Richard pulled out a chair.
"Take your time.""
I continued.
I knew Harold wanted control of Sterling. He approached me several times with offers to buy my shares. I refused because I believed the company belonged to the people who had built it.
I also knew that Edward had become vulnerable to pressure. I warned him that Harold would eventually use his family against him.
I looked up.
Edward stared at the table.
My father continued.
There is one thing I never told you. The original shareholders' agreement contains a protection clause that cannot be activated by an ordinary property transfer.
It can only be activated if someone deliberately falsifies the ownership records or attempts to remove the trust through fraudulent evidence.
I looked at Richard.
"Do we have the original shareholders' agreement?""
Richard shook his head.
"Not yet.""
Harold laughed.
"Daniel was paranoid. He believed everyone was conspiring against him.""
I ignored him.
The letter continued.
If Harold attempts to challenge the trust, do not immediately fight for control. First, establish who has been helping him.
The betrayal will not come from one person.
I read that sentence again.
The betrayal will not come from one person.
My father had known.
He had understood that Harold couldn't accomplish this alone.
At the bottom of the letter was a final paragraph.
There is a second envelope. Edward knows where it is. He was instructed to release it only if Harold's name appeared in an attempt to invalidate the trust.
I looked directly at Edward.
"Where is it?""
His lips parted.
Then Harold slammed his hand against the table.
"Enough!""
Margaret turned.
"Mr. Bennett, sit down.""
"You people are wasting time.""
I leaned forward.
"Where is the second envelope, Edward?""
Edward removed his glasses.
"It's in my personal safe.""
"Why?""
"Your father wanted it protected from corporate access.""
"What's inside?""
He hesitated.
"An independent legal assessment, the original voting agreement, and a recording.""
Harold went completely still.
I noticed.
So did Richard.
"What recording?"" I asked.
Edward swallowed.
"Your father recorded a conversation with Harold shortly before he died.""
Harold stood.
"That recording is inadmissible.""
Margaret raised an eyebrow.
"How would you know what it contains?""
Harold said nothing.
I stood.
"Edward, I want the envelope delivered to independent counsel today.""
He nodded.
"I'll arrange it.""
Harold pointed at me.
"You have no idea what you're doing, Marcus.""
I looked at him.
"Then you should have nothing to fear from the truth.""
The meeting was suspended.
As everyone began leaving, Richard approached me.
"Marcus, there's another issue.""
"What now?""
"Denise.""
I looked toward the door.
"What about her?""
"She's been trying to contact the board secretary. She wants to know whether the chairman appointment is still going ahead.""
I almost laughed.
"She still thinks this is about her promotion?""
Richard lowered his voice.
"I don't think she understands how serious the situation has become.""
I glanced at my phone.
Three missed calls from Denise.
Then a message appeared.
*Denise: Please call me. Harold told me something about your father's final documents. I think you need to hear it before you trust Edward.*
I stared at the screen.
"What did she say?"" Richard asked.
I showed him.
He frowned.
"Do you think she's telling the truth?""
"I don't know.""
I called her.
She answered immediately.
"Marcus?""
"What did Harold tell you?""
Her voice was trembling.
"He said your father changed the trust agreement twice.""
"How do you know?""
"Because Harold showed me a copy.""
"What copy?""
"A document with your father's signature. It supposedly transferred some of the voting rights to a private company.""
I closed my eyes.
"Did you see the original?""
"No.""
"Where is the copy?""
"Harold has it.""
I looked toward Edward's empty chair.
"Did he tell you when it was signed?""
"Four months before your father died.""
I shook my head.
"That's impossible.""
"Why?""
"Because my father was in the hospital recovering from surgery during that period. He wasn't signing corporate agreements.""
Denise went quiet.
Then she whispered something that made my blood run cold.
"Harold said Edward witnessed it.""
I looked at Richard.
He heard every word.
I ended the call.
Richard slowly sat down.
"Marcus, if that document exists, we need to see it.""
I nodded.
Then my phone rang again.
This time, it was Edward.
"Marcus, I've found the second envelope.""
"Good.""
His voice sounded different.
Urgent.
"There's a problem.""
"What?""
"The recording isn't the only thing your father left.""
I tightened my grip on the phone.
"What else?""
Edward took a breath.
"A handwritten list of everyone who received money from Harold before the attempted takeover.""
I looked at Richard.
"Who is on the list?""
Edward hesitated.
Then answered.
"Your wife.""
I stared at the empty boardroom.
"How much?""
"Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.""
I closed my eyes.
Denise had told me the truth about the payment.
But she had never told me that my father had known about it before he died.
And then Edward added one final sentence.
"Marcus, there's another name on this list. Someone you have trusted even more than Denise.""
May you like
"Who?""
"Richard Coleman.""
