Chapter 7: The President's Hidden Deal
Raymond slowly closed the notebook.
“Marcus?””
The university president looked uncomfortable.
“Mr. Bennett, I can explain.””
Denise crossed her arms.
“I'm glad you've finally found the documents. Now we can stop pretending this is some innocent family misunderstanding.””
Jada stepped forward.
“Why is your name in Mom's notebook?””
Marcus looked at her.
“I was a junior administrator when those transactions began.””
Raymond held up the notebook.
“Were you involved?””
“I reviewed some financial reports.””
“Did you know money was being transferred out of the educational trust?””
Marcus hesitated.
Denise smiled.
“Of course he did.””
The president turned toward her.
“That's not what I said.””
“You signed the reports.””
“I signed administrative summaries.””
“You approved the transfers.””
Marcus's jaw tightened.
“On your instructions.””
Raymond felt a cold anger building inside him.
“Then why did you tell me you wanted to investigate?””
Marcus looked at him.
“Because I do.””
Denise laughed.
“Don't insult his intelligence, Marcus.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Can we please stop wasting time? We have a board meeting.””
Raymond turned toward him.
“Daniel, is it true that you witnessed my father signing a transfer document?””
Daniel nodded.
“I was there.””
Raymond studied his face.
“When?””
“Two days before he died.””
“Which hospital?””
Daniel hesitated.
“St. Mary's.””
“My father died at Westbridge Medical Center.””
Daniel's expression changed.
Denise quickly interrupted.
“It's possible he remembered the hospital incorrectly.””
Raymond looked directly at him.
“Daniel, you visited my father once. One time. You stayed for twenty minutes.””
“I remember what I saw.””
“My father couldn't speak.””
“He was able to write.””
Raymond took a step closer.
“Then show me the document.””
Daniel pulled a folder from his briefcase.
He handed it to Marcus.
The president opened it.
The document contained a statement claiming that Elijah Bennett had voluntarily transferred all authority over the educational trust to Denise Whitmore.
The date was November 6.
Elijah had died on November 8.
Raymond examined the signature.
It looked similar to his father's.
But there was something wrong with the date.
“Who prepared this?””
Daniel answered.
“Your father signed it.””
“Who prepared it?””
“I don't know.””
Raymond looked at the final page.
There was a witness signature.
Daniel Whitmore.
And beneath it was the signature of a notary public.
Raymond frowned.
“Why would my father transfer control of the trust two days before he died?””
Daniel looked away.
“Because he wanted Denise to manage it.””
“My father barely trusted Denise with a lawn mower.””
Denise's voice sharpened.
“That's enough.””
Raymond ignored her.
“Daniel, did you see him sign this?””
“Yes.””
“Did you see him read it?””
Daniel remained silent.
“Did you see him understand what he was signing?””
Daniel's hands tightened around his briefcase.
“Your father knew what he wanted.””
Raymond nodded slowly.
“Then you'll have no problem answering questions under oath.””
The board meeting began at nine.
Twenty-three board members sat around a long conference table.
Several university attorneys occupied the seats along the wall.
Marcus Ellison stood near the head of the table.
Denise sat beside Daniel.
Raymond and Jada were seated opposite them.
A large screen displayed the disputed transfer document.
Board chairwoman Margaret Collins opened the meeting.
“Today's emergency session concerns the succession authority of the Elijah Bennett Educational Trust and the disputed redevelopment agreement.””
Denise immediately raised her hand.
“Before we begin, I want the board to understand that this matter has been unnecessarily politicized.””
Margaret looked at her.
“Please wait until you've been recognized.””
Denise lowered her hand.
Patricia Cole, the university's general counsel, presented the original property records.
She explained the charitable covenant.
She showed the board the demolition authorization.
Then she presented the document bearing Raymond's alleged signature.
Raymond watched quietly.
He had spent most of his life avoiding rooms like this.
Rooms where people measured importance by titles and expensive watches.
But today he wasn't going anywhere.
Patricia displayed the disputed transfer agreement.
“This document is being offered as evidence that Elijah Bennett transferred control of the trust to Denise Whitmore.””
Margaret examined it.
“Has the signature been authenticated?””
“Not yet.””
Denise interrupted.
“The witness is present.””
Patricia looked toward Daniel.
“A witness statement alone does not establish authenticity.””
Daniel stood.
“I knew Elijah Bennett personally. I watched him sign the document.””
Margaret nodded.
“Please explain the circumstances.””
Daniel cleared his throat.
“He was ill. He wanted Denise to take over the trust because Raymond had shown little interest in university affairs.””
Raymond looked at him.
Daniel continued.
“Denise had the experience and the professional relationships needed to manage the fund.””
Jada shook her head.
“That's not true.””
Margaret raised a hand.
“Miss Bennett, please allow the witness to finish.””
Daniel continued.
“Elijah wanted the university to grow. He believed private investment was necessary.””
Raymond finally spoke.
“My father believed education should be available to people who couldn't afford it.””
Daniel turned.
“People change their minds.””
Raymond nodded.
“They do. But did my father?””
Daniel looked away.
Margaret asked another question.
“Mr. Whitmore, did Elijah explain the document to you?””
“Yes.””
“Did he sign in your presence?””
“Yes.””
“Was a medical professional present?””
Daniel hesitated.
“No.””
“Was an attorney present?””
“No.””
“Was a notary present?””
Daniel pointed toward the signature.
“Yes.””
Patricia examined the page.
“According to the notary's official register, this document was notarized on November 9.””
The room became silent.
Daniel blinked.
“That can't be right.””
Patricia turned the document toward him.
“Your statement says Elijah signed it on November 6. But the notary's seal is dated November 9.””
Raymond leaned forward.
“My father died on November 8.””
Margaret slowly removed her glasses.
“Mr. Whitmore, how do you explain that?””
Daniel opened his mouth.
No words came out.
Denise stood abruptly.
“This is a clerical error.””
Patricia looked at her.
“The notary's register also identifies the person who appeared before the notary.””
She displayed another page.
The name was clearly printed.
Denise Whitmore.
Not Elijah Bennett.
Daniel's face turned pale.
Margaret looked toward the university's legal team.
“Are you suggesting this document was executed after Mr. Bennett's death?””
Patricia nodded.
“That's one possibility. We are requesting a forensic examination.””
Denise slammed her hand on the table.
“This is a witch hunt!””
Raymond stood.
“No. It's a question about a promise my father made.””
He looked at Daniel.
“You told me you stood beside my father when he signed this.””
Daniel lowered his eyes.
Raymond continued.
“But the notary's records say you weren't even there.””
Denise grabbed her handbag.
“This meeting is over.””
Margaret's voice stopped her.
“Sit down, Denise.””
Denise froze.
The chairwoman looked at Patricia.
“Is there anything else?””
Patricia nodded.
She opened another folder.
“Yes. We obtained the original bank records for the educational trust.””
The room went quiet.
Patricia displayed a spreadsheet.
“Over twelve years, approximately eight million dollars were transferred into entities connected to Whitmore Development Partners.””
Denise's face went white.
Raymond stared at the figure.
Eight million.
His father's money.
Elaine's money.
The money that was supposed to help students.
Margaret looked at Denise.
“Can you explain these transfers?””
Denise slowly stood.
“I want my attorney.””
Then she turned toward Raymond.
“You think you've won something today?””
Raymond didn't respond.
She leaned closer.
“You have no idea what your wife did before she died.””
Jada rose.
“Stop bringing my mother into this!””
Denise smiled coldly.
“Ask your father why Elaine wanted to divorce him.””
The room went silent.
Raymond felt as though someone had struck him.
Jada looked at him.
“Dad?””
He stared at Denise.
“What are you talking about?””
Denise picked up her handbag.
“Maybe the truth isn't as simple as you want it to be.””
Then she walked out.
But before Daniel followed her, he quietly approached Raymond.
“There's something you need to know.””
Raymond turned.
Daniel swallowed.
“Elaine didn't discover the money transfers by accident.””
May you like
He glanced toward the doorway where Denise had disappeared.
“She was the one who originally helped Denise open the company.””
