Chapter 5: The Daughter's Secret
The rain began just after midnight.
It tapped against the tall windows of the Laurent mansion while the guests were quietly escorted toward their vehicles.
The string quartet had packed away its instruments.
The champagne glasses had been cleared.
The terrace, where Camille had laughed as Sophie fell into the pool, was almost empty.
But inside the mansion, nobody was celebrating.
Richard Laurent sat alone in his office.
His tie was loosened, and his expensive watch lay beside a half-empty glass of water.
On his desk were three things.
A copy of the acquisition agreement.
The Northbridge Holdings transfer records.
And a photograph of his daughter at a charity gala.
He stared at the photograph for a long time.
Camille was smiling in it.
She looked beautiful, confident, and completely unaware of the damage she would eventually cause.
Richard picked up his phone.
"Get me Victor.""
The call connected after several rings.
"Richard?""
Victor Morel sounded relaxed.
Too relaxed.
"Where are you?""
"At home. Why?""
"We have a problem.""
A pause.
"What kind of problem?""
"Alexandre's daughter knows about Northbridge.""
The silence on the other end lasted several seconds.
Then Victor laughed softly.
"How?""
"Because your company's name is all over the transfer records.""
"That's impossible.""
"Don't tell me what's impossible. Tell me what happened.""
Victor sighed.
"Richard, calm down.""
"Calm down? Twelve million dollars is sitting in an account that has no legitimate project behind it.""
"It was always intended to be temporary.""
"That's what you said six months ago.""
"And I told you it would be resolved.""
Richard leaned back.
"The acquisition has been suspended.""
Victor stopped laughing.
"What?""
"Sophie Morel has frozen the process.""
"Then talk to her.""
"I can't talk to her. She thinks we're hiding something.""
Victor was quiet.
Then he asked:
"Does she know about the other agreement?""
Richard stared at the desk.
"No.""
"Good. Keep it that way.""
Richard's voice dropped.
"Victor, I need you to understand something. If this becomes public, we're finished.""
Victor answered calmly.
"Then make sure it doesn't.""
The call ended.
Richard sat motionless.
For the first time, he wondered whether Victor had ever intended to protect him.
Across the mansion, Camille was in her bedroom.
She had changed into a silk robe and was sitting at her vanity, removing her earrings.
Her phone vibrated.
A message appeared from an unknown number.
You need to stop talking to Sophie Morel.
Camille frowned.
Another message arrived.
Your father cannot protect you from what is coming.
She stared at the screen.
Then typed:
Who is this?
The reply came almost immediately.
Someone who knows what you signed.
Camille's stomach tightened.
She stood and locked her bedroom door.
A third message appeared.
Check the second page of the agreement.
Camille opened her laptop.
She searched through her files until she found a scanned copy of the documents her father had asked her to sign the previous afternoon.
The first page contained routine authorization language.
The second page was different.
She read it once.
Then again.
Her fingers began to tremble.
The document gave her authority over a newly established company called Laurent Private Ventures.
It also listed her as the sole beneficiary of a financial arrangement connected to Northbridge Holdings.
She scrolled down.
There was a clause she hadn't noticed before.
If Laurent Estates entered financial distress, certain assets would be transferred to Laurent Private Ventures under an agreement signed by Richard Laurent and Victor Morel.
Camille stared at the screen.
She had been made the beneficiary of a company that was supposed to receive money from Laurent Estates.
But she had never been told the full arrangement.
She grabbed her phone.
"Dad?""
Richard answered after the fourth ring.
"What?""
"Why am I listed as the beneficiary of Laurent Private Ventures?""
Silence.
Then Richard asked:
"Where did you get that?""
"From the documents you made me sign.""
"Camille, listen to me.""
"No. You listen to me. What is this?""
He exhaled.
"It's complicated.""
"Then explain it.""
"Not over the phone.""
"Why am I the beneficiary?""
Richard's voice became quieter.
"Because I was trying to protect you.""
Camille felt cold.
"From what?""
He didn't answer.
"From what, Dad?""
"Come to my office.""
He ended the call.
Camille stared at her phone.
For the first time, she wondered whether her father had used her name to protect himself.
She pulled on a coat and hurried downstairs.
Richard was waiting in his office.
The moment she entered, he closed the door.
"Sit down.""
Camille remained standing.
"Tell me the truth.""
Richard rubbed his face.
"Victor and I created a financial structure to protect certain assets before the acquisition.""
"Why?""
"Because the company was in a difficult position.""
"How difficult?""
He looked away.
"Very.""
Camille felt her chest tighten.
"Are we bankrupt?""
"No.""
"Then why are you moving money?""
"Because Laurent Estates has liabilities you don't understand.""
"How much?""
Richard didn't answer.
Camille stepped closer.
"How much, Dad?""
"More than the company can comfortably manage.""
"How much?""
He finally looked at her.
"Nearly forty million dollars.""
Camille stumbled backward.
"What?""
Richard stood.
"Listen to me. I was trying to save everything.""
"By putting my name on a company?""
"By giving you an interest in the structure.""
"You told me those documents were routine!""
"I didn't have time to explain.""
Camille laughed in disbelief.
"You made me sign something I didn't understand.""
Richard looked exhausted.
"I thought you trusted me.""
"You're my father!""
"And you're my daughter. I was trying to protect you.""
"From what? The consequences of your own decisions?""
Richard slapped his hand against the desk.
"Enough!""
Camille fell silent.
He walked toward the window.
"You have no idea how much pressure I've been under.""
She looked at him.
"Then why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I didn't want you involved.""
"But you put my name on the paperwork!""
Richard said nothing.
Camille looked down at her phone.
The anonymous messages were still visible.
"Someone knows about this.""
Richard turned sharply.
"Who?""
"I don't know.""
"Did you tell anyone?""
"No.""
"Show me.""
She handed him the phone.
Richard read the messages.
His face changed.
"Did you reply?""
"Only once.""
He looked up.
"Camille, you need to listen to me very carefully. Do not answer any more messages. Do not discuss these documents with anyone.""
"Why?""
"Because someone is trying to use you.""
Camille pulled her phone back.
"Who?""
Richard didn't answer.
Instead, he opened a drawer and removed a small black folder.
He placed it on the desk.
"This is a copy of the original agreement.""
Camille opened it.
The first page was familiar.
The second page contained an additional signature.
She stared.
It was Alexandre Morel's signature.
Camille looked up.
"Why did Sophie say her family didn't approve this transfer?""
Richard's expression hardened.
"Because Alexandre doesn't know about it.""
"Then why is his signature here?""
Richard closed the folder.
"Because Victor arranged it.""
Camille felt her knees weaken.
"Did he forge it?""
Richard looked at her.
And for the first time, he didn't deny anything.
Before she could ask another question, his phone rang.
The caller's name appeared on the screen.
VICTOR MOREL.
Richard answered.
"What?""
Victor's voice came through loudly enough for Camille to hear.
"Richard, we have a serious situation.""
"What now?""
"Alexandre knows about the transfer.""
Richard closed his eyes.
"How?""
"His daughter has contacted him.""
Camille grabbed the edge of the desk.
Victor continued.
"And there's something else.""
Richard's face became rigid.
"What?""
"Alexandre has instructed his lawyers to investigate the original acquisition negotiations.""
"Why?""
Victor paused.
Then he delivered the words that made Richard's entire expression collapse.
"Because the original agreement was never supposed to make Laurent Estates the buyer's property.""
Richard stood frozen.
"What are you talking about?""
Victor lowered his voice.
"The Morel family didn't plan to buy your company.""
A long silence followed.
"They planned to take control of its debt.""
Camille looked at her father.
Richard's hand began to tremble.
Victor continued.
"And if Sophie discovers what you signed before the final acquisition, she'll realize that your father-in-law's old company wasn't the only thing you were trying to sell.""
Richard whispered:
"Victor, what have you done?""
The call disconnected.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Camille looked at the folder on the desk.
She turned to the last page.
A new document had been attached.
It was dated eighteen months earlier.
And at the bottom, beneath a paragraph describing the transfer of Laurent Estates' controlling debt, was a signature that Camille recognized immediately.
Her father's.
But the second signature belonged to someone else.
Someone who had been dead for eleven years.
*Her grandfather.*
Camille stared at the page.
"Dad?""
Richard didn't turn around.
"Dad, why is Grandpa's signature on this?""
He slowly closed his eyes.
May you like
And then he said something Camille had never expected to hear.
"Because your grandfather knew exactly what Victor was planning.""
