Chapter 10 - One Hundred and Twelve Million
Emma returned to her office before sunrise.
She hadn't slept.
Marcus was already there.
He looked exhausted.
"You heard?"
Emma nodded.
"One hundred and twelve million."
Marcus opened a file.
"That's only the beginning."
Emma stared at him.
"What?"
"The debt is divided across multiple entities."
"How many?"
"Seven."
Emma sat.
"Who borrowed it?"
Marcus hesitated.
"That's unclear."
"Trace it."
"We are."
He opened another document.
"The funds moved through several companies."
Emma studied the transfers.
"Where did the final money go?"
Marcus pointed.
"Here."
Emma stared.
A private foundation.
A foundation she recognized.
Her father's.
She looked at Marcus.
"My father died before this debt existed."
"Exactly."
Emma stood.
"Then someone revived his foundation."
Marcus nodded.
"Six years ago."
"Who?"
"We don't know."
Emma looked at the records.
Six years ago.
That was the year she met Daniel.
The year everything changed.
She remembered their first conversation.
His charm.
His kindness.
His insistence that he wanted a simple life.
She remembered how quickly Vivian had welcomed her.
Too quickly.
Emma whispered:
"It was never an accident."
Marcus looked at her.
"What?"
"Daniel didn't marry me because he loved my work."
She stopped.
She hated the thought.
But the evidence was beginning to form a pattern.
"Someone knew about my father's assets."
Marcus said nothing.
Emma continued.
"Someone knew I would inherit."
She looked at the documents.
"And someone needed access."
Her phone rang.
A private number.
She answered.
A woman spoke.
"Emma?"
"Who is this?"
"You shouldn't trust Marcus."
Emma froze.
Marcus looked at her.
The woman continued.
"He doesn't know everything."
Emma asked:
"Who are you?"
"You'll find out."
"Why are you calling me?"
"Because your father left you something the Mercers have spent twenty years trying to find."
Emma's pulse quickened.
"What?"
"The original trust."
The call ended.
Marcus stared.
"What did she say?"
Emma looked at him.
"The original trust."
Marcus's face changed.
"That's impossible."
"Why?"
"Because according to every record, it was destroyed."
May you like
Emma looked toward the city.
"Then someone lied."
