Chapter 6 - An Early Flight Home
Nathan told the acquisition team he was leaving.
His partners protested. Millions of dollars depended on the final negotiation.
Nathan did not care.
“My daughters need me.”
He boarded the first available flight to Colorado, arriving during a heavy snowstorm on Christmas Eve.
He did not tell Vanessa.
Daniel met him at the private airfield and handed him a sealed envelope. Inside were copies of the financial records, statements from former employees, and an emergency court order temporarily freezing the girls’ trusts.
The black storage device contained the camera recordings.
“There’s something else,” Daniel said. “Vanessa plans to announce a charitable foundation tonight.”
“Using whose money?”
“The girls’. She transferred another three hundred thousand dollars yesterday.”
Nathan looked toward the mountains.
The Christmas Eve celebration had been planned for months. Business leaders, politicians, and wealthy donors were attending. Vanessa intended to present herself as a philanthropist while using stolen money to create the foundation.
“Does she know the accounts are frozen?”
“Not yet.”
Nathan slid the documents and storage device into his coat pocket.
“Keep it that way.”
When his car reached the mansion, the party had already begun. Music floated through the windows. Valets hurried through the falling snow, and expensive vehicles filled the circular driveway.
Nathan entered through the side door.
Paige found him near the kitchen. Relief crossed her face before she lowered her eyes.
“Where are my daughters?” he asked.
“In the ballroom.”
“Have they eaten?”
Paige hesitated.
That hesitation told him everything.
Nathan walked toward the music.
As he reached the ballroom doors, he heard Vanessa laughing into a microphone.
“Tonight, we celebrate generosity, family, and the responsibility to care for children.”
May you like
The guests applauded.
Nathan opened the doors.
