Chapter 11 - The Name on the Trust
Emily spent the afternoon with Eleanor.
They sat in Mark's conference room.
No cameras.
No executives.
No Daniel.
Just family history.
Eleanor explained that Emily's father had feared the company would become too powerful for any single person.
He had built layers of protection.
But the most important layer had never been disclosed.
Emily listened.
“What did my father want?”
“Control to remain with the family.”
“I am family.”
“Yes.”
“Then why hide everything from me?”
“Because you were young.”
“I wasn't young forever.”
Eleanor looked away.
“Your father hoped Daniel would change.”
Emily laughed softly.
“He didn't.”
“No.”
Eleanor opened another folder.
“There is something else.”
She placed an old legal document on the table.
Emily read it.
Her name appeared.
Then another.
Then another.
“What am I looking at?”
“A succession agreement.”
Mark studied it.
“This predates the company merger.”
Eleanor nodded.
“Your father prepared for several possibilities.”
Emily's eyes moved down the page.
Then stopped.
“There's a second beneficiary.”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
Eleanor didn't answer.
Emily looked at her.
“Who?”
Eleanor finally said,
“You.”
Emily frowned.
“I already know I'm a beneficiary.”
“No.”
Eleanor pointed to the next line.
“Read the name carefully.”
Emily did.
Her expression changed.
The second beneficiary had the same surname.
But it wasn't her.
It was a name she had never seen.
A name connected to a secret branch of the family.
Mark sat back.
“That person is still alive?”
Eleanor nodded.
Emily whispered,
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
“Then how can they be a beneficiary?”
“Because your father made sure the trust could survive without them.”
Emily stared at the document.
Suddenly, her phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
No one spoke.
Then a voice said,
“You should stop looking.”
Emily recognized it.
The same voice that had called Daniel.
“Who are you?”
A pause.
Then:
“You'll know soon.”
The call ended.
Mark immediately traced the number.
“It's masked.”
Eleanor stood.
“It's time.”
Emily looked at her.
“For what?”
Eleanor picked up her coat.
“To open the second file.”
“What second file?”
“The one your father told me never to open unless Daniel betrayed you.”
Emily's heart pounded.
“Where is it?”
Eleanor looked toward the door.
“Not here.”
“Where?”
“Inside the original Carter headquarters.”
Emily stared.
“That's been renovated.”
“Not the basement.”
Mark looked at Emily.
“Then we go tonight.”
Eleanor nodded.
“But there's something you need to know.”
May you like
“What?”
“The person guarding that file may already know you're coming.”
