Chapter 4 - THE MAN MY FATHER TRUSTED
Bennett Holdings occupied twelve floors of a glass building overlooking the river.
Mark had grown up walking through those offices.
As a teenager, he spent summers carrying blueprints between departments.
As an adult, he had deliberately chosen not to become chief executive because he wanted a life outside his father's shadow.
Samuel Price always told him he respected that decision.
Now Mark wondered how many of Samuel's compliments had been calculated.
Detective Chen waited downstairs with two officers.
Daniel remained in the parking garage.
Mark entered Samuel's office alone.
Samuel stood behind the desk.
He was sixty-one, perfectly groomed, and calm enough to look almost bored.
"Close the door."
Mark did.
Samuel gestured toward a chair.
Mark stayed standing.
"What did you want to show me?"
Samuel opened a folder.
Inside were bank statements.
"Your father had concerns before he died."
"I know."
Samuel's eyes sharpened.
Mark immediately realized he had answered too quickly.
"Concerns about what?"
"Victoria."
Samuel relaxed slightly.
"Exactly."
He pushed the statements across the desk.
"She was stealing."
Mark examined them.
The documents showed transfers to accounts in Victoria's name.
Too obvious.
Too neat.
They looked like evidence prepared by someone who wanted all suspicion to stop with her.
Samuel sat down.
"Harold was devastated."
"Why didn't he report her?"
"Because she was his daughter."
Samuel gave a sad smile.
"You know your father."
Mark did know him.
That was why the explanation felt wrong.
Harold loved Victoria, but he also considered Bennett Holdings responsible for thousands of employees.
He would not have ignored millions in theft forever.
Mark placed the papers down.
"Anything else?"
Samuel studied him.
"The inheritance."
Mark waited.
"Victoria's forged amendment won't survive probate."
"I know."
"But there may be another problem."
Samuel opened a second folder.
Inside was a document bearing Mark's signature.
It authorized a five-million-dollar transfer from one of Sophie's trusts to a private investment account.
Mark stared at it.
"I've never seen this."
Samuel folded his hands.
"Your signature is on it."
"It's forged."
"Perhaps."
Mark looked up.
"You seem very calm about someone stealing five million dollars."
Samuel's smile disappeared.
"I've managed this company's finances for two decades."
"Then how did Victoria steal millions without you noticing?"
Silence.
Samuel leaned back.
"Be careful, Mark."
"Why?"
"Because grief can make people paranoid."
Mark almost laughed.
"My father's video made me paranoid."
Samuel went completely still.
The mistake was immediate.
Mark had not planned to say it.
But now he saw the truth in Samuel's face.
He knew about the video.
Samuel stood.
"What video?"
Mark took one step backward.
"The one you just confirmed you knew existed."
Samuel moved around the desk.
"Where did you find it?"
Mark said nothing.
Samuel's voice lost its warmth.
"Was it in the bank?"
Mark reached for the door.
Samuel grabbed his arm.
"Answer me."
The door opened from the outside.
Detective Chen stood there.
"Take your hand off him."
Samuel released Mark instantly.
His expression became professional again.
"This is a misunderstanding."
Chen entered.
"Samuel Price, we need to speak with you regarding financial records connected to Bennett Holdings."
Samuel smiled.
"Then contact corporate counsel."
"We already did."
Samuel looked at Mark.
Something cold passed between them.
"You have no idea what your father started."
Mark answered quietly.
"No."
"But I'm going to finish it."
Samuel picked up his jacket.
As Detective Chen escorted him downstairs for questioning, Mark remained in the office.
He noticed a framed photograph on Samuel's shelf.
Harold and Samuel stood together at a groundbreaking ceremony fifteen years earlier.
Behind the photograph was a small envelope.
Mark pulled it free.
Inside was a single photograph of Sophie leaving school.
Taken from across the street.
On the back someone had written four words.
THE CHILD CONTROLS EVERYTHING.
Mark felt the air leave his lungs.
May you like
He ran toward the door.
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