Chapter 7 - The Contract Beneath the Flowers
Sophia’s attorney arrived eight minutes before the ceremony.
Rebecca Cho entered through the hotel lobby carrying a black document case and wearing the same dark suit she had worn during an earlier court hearing. Security attempted to stop her, but Sophia met her near the ballroom doors.
“You said this was urgent,” Rebecca said.
Sophia led her into a private dressing room.
“Daniel told me the investment agreement was delayed. His mother placed a final contract on the head table.”
Rebecca’s expression sharpened.
“Have you signed anything?”
“Only the marriage license paperwork this morning.”
“Did you read every page?”
“Yes.”
“Did Daniel or Margaret give you additional documents?”
“Not yet.”
Rebecca opened her case and removed a tablet.
“I received a message from Bennett Capital’s compliance office twenty minutes ago. Someone attempted to file a transfer authorization using your digital signature.”
Sophia felt the room tilt.
“Transfer of what?”
“Your voting rights.”
“To whom?”
“An entity controlled by Daniel.”
Sophia sat slowly.
“That is impossible.”
“The authorization was rejected because it did not include my certification.”
“Daniel would not do that.”
Rebecca did not argue.
She simply placed the tablet in Sophia’s hands.
The document appeared on the screen.
Sophia recognized her name, her company and Daniel’s development corporation. Her electronic signature appeared at the bottom.
She had never seen it before.
“He said the agreement protected both companies,” she whispered.
“This agreement would give him temporary control over Bennett Capital’s property votes. The temporary period could be extended indefinitely after marriage.”
Sophia read the clause again.
“Could he sell the properties?”
“With board support.”
“He has been meeting with three of our board members.”
“I know.”
Sophia looked toward the ballroom.
The orchestra had begun playing.
Guests were taking their seats.
“What happens if I refuse to sign?”
“The investment stops.”
“And Vale Crown loses the expansion deal?”
“Yes.”
Daniel had warned her that hundreds of jobs depended on the expansion.
He had told her hotel employees would benefit from the partnership.
Now she understood why he had spoken so often about responsibility.
He had been preparing her to feel guilty.
Rebecca touched her arm.
“There is more.”
She opened an email containing records from Vale Crown’s legal department.
“Someone forged the authorization of the company’s chief legal officer. Vale Crown has started an internal investigation.”
“Does Elena Vale know?”
“I believe she initiated it.”
Sophia remembered the cleaner’s words.
Someone who hopes you will ask that question again.
Her heart began beating faster.
“What does Elena Vale look like?”
Rebecca searched for the company’s official portrait.
The image showed a woman with brown hair, an elegant black jacket and a calm expression. She looked younger in the photograph, and the hairstyle was different.
The eyes were the same.
Sophia stood.
“The cleaner.”
“What?”
“The woman who warned me about the contract.”
Rebecca looked at the photograph and then toward the ballroom.
“Where is she?”
Sophia opened the dressing-room door.
Elena was mopping a narrow strip of marble near the central aisle while guests entered around her.
Rebecca inhaled sharply.
“That is Elena Vale.”
“You are certain?”
“I met her once at a legal conference.”
Sophia watched Margaret approach Colin near the flowers. Margaret placed one hand over the leather folder and whispered something.
Daniel stood near the officiant.
His eyes were fixed on Elena.
He recognized her too, Sophia realized.
Or he was beginning to.
“Why is the president of Vale Crown cleaning the ballroom?” Sophia asked.
Rebecca closed her document case.
“To discover what people do when they believe no one powerful is watching.”
The wedding planner hurried toward Sophia.
“We are ready.”
Sophia looked at the rows of guests.
Her mother sat in the front row, smiling through tears. Friends had traveled from across the country. Photographers waited near the aisle. Hundreds of people expected her to walk forward.
For several seconds, the weight of their expectation almost carried her out of the room.
Then she thought about Rosa working through the night.
She thought about false signatures and missing wages.
She thought about the way Daniel had asked for trust while hiding a contract beneath flowers.
“I need time,” Sophia said.
The planner looked horrified.
“We are already behind schedule.”
“Then remain behind.”
Margaret appeared in the doorway.
“What is the problem?”
Sophia stepped in front of Rebecca’s case.
“I was feeling nervous.”
Margaret’s expression softened with false affection.
“That is normal. Once you reach Daniel, everything will be fine.”
“I would like to read the final investment contract.”
Margaret’s smile remained in place.
“Tonight?”
“Yes.”
“The attorneys have already reviewed it.”
“My attorney has not.”
Margaret glanced at Rebecca.
“The agreement has nothing to do with your wedding.”
“Then there should be no problem waiting until tomorrow.”
Margaret reached for Sophia’s hands.
“Your father wanted this partnership.”
Sophia pulled away.
“Do not use my father to pressure me.”
For the first time, Margaret’s mask slipped.
“Daniel has spent months preparing this expansion. Investors are already here.”
“Then Daniel should have told me the truth.”
Margaret’s voice became colder.
“Be careful, Sophia. A public scene would embarrass everyone.”
May you like
Sophia looked through the doorway toward Elena.
“I think the people who should feel embarrassed are about to reveal themselves.”
