Chapter 7 - My Father Came With a DealDad entered through the front door as if nothing had happened.
Thomas followed.
Both men wore expensive suits.
Both looked calm.
That made me angrier than shouting would have.
Dad smiled.
“Claire.”
I didn't smile back.
“You shouldn't be here.”
Thomas glanced around the foyer.
“Beautiful house.”
“It isn't yours.”
He ignored that.
Dad looked at Vivian.
“We need to talk as a family.”
“No.”
He frowned.
“Excuse me?”
“This isn't a family discussion.”
I placed the ledger on the table.
“It's a criminal investigation.”
Dad's face changed for less than a second.
But I saw it.
Fear.
Then it disappeared.
Thomas stepped closer.
“I think you're misunderstanding the situation.”
“I don't think I am.”
He gestured toward the ledger.
“You have something that doesn't belong to you.”
“My property says otherwise.”
“No.”
His voice was quiet.
“The documents in that book are evidence from a private business dispute.”
“Then why was my house listed as collateral?”
Silence.
Dad looked at Thomas.
Thomas looked at Dad.
I smiled.
“Thought so.”
Dad raised both hands.
“Claire, this can be solved.”
“How?”
“By cooperating.”
“What does cooperating mean?”
He took a folded document from his briefcase.
“A temporary trust authorization.”
I stared at it.
“You've got to be joking.”
“You wouldn't lose the house.”
“You forged my signature once already.”
“We did not forge anything.”
Vivian stepped forward.
“Then I suggest you leave.”
Dad ignored her.
“Claire, you don't understand what you're dealing with.”
“Then explain it.”
Thomas answered.
“Your grandfather had obligations.”
“To whom?”
“To investors.”
“And?”
“He concealed assets.”
My eyes narrowed.
“My grandfather?”
Thomas nodded.
“And this property was one of them.”
“Prove it.”
He smiled.
“That's what we're offering to do.”
Something clicked.
“You want me to sign over temporary control so you can search the house.”
No one answered.
That was an answer.
Dad lowered his voice.
“There are documents inside this estate that could destroy several people.”
“Including you?”
He looked away.
Thomas stepped forward.
“Including me.”
I stared at him.
“Then why would I help you?”
“Because you're related to this.”
“My name is on the deed.”
“Your grandfather left you a problem.”
“He left me a house.”
“No.”
Thomas's expression hardened.
“He left you leverage.”
I glanced at Vivian.
She subtly shook her head.
Don't sign.
I already knew.
Dad sighed.
“You think this is about the wedding.”
“It isn't?”
“No.”
He looked toward the ceiling.
“The wedding is simply the deadline.”
“For what?”
“For the trust.”
My pulse quickened.
“What happens Saturday?”
Thomas said,
“If the asset isn't secured by then, the creditors move.”
“Whose creditors?”
“My father's?” I asked.
Dad remained silent.
Thomas answered.
“Mine.”
So that was it.
The house was worth enough to protect Thomas from collapse.
And Dad had promised it to him.
But why would Dad think he could?
Then I understood.
“The forged documents.”
Dad said nothing.
“The fake power of attorney.”
Nothing.
“The vendor contracts.”
Nothing.
“The surveyors.”
Still nothing.
“You planned to force a property transfer.”
Dad finally looked at me.
“We planned to persuade you.”
I laughed.
“By breaking into my house?”
“It never had to go that far.”
“But it did.”
He looked exhausted.
“You don't understand what happens if Thomas loses everything.”
“I don't care.”
“He'll take everyone with him.”
“That's not my problem.”
Dad's voice cracked.
“You're my daughter.”
I looked at him.
“And you tried to take my house.”
His jaw tightened.
“It isn't really yours.”
The words landed harder than the sauce had.
“Get out.”
“Claire.”
“Get out.”
Thomas moved closer.
“You should reconsider.”
I stepped toward him.
“You should reconsider walking away before I hand that ledger to the authorities.”
His expression changed.
Then he smiled.
“You think the ledger saves you?”
“Yes.”
“It doesn't.”
“Why?”
He looked directly at me.
“Because the missing page contains your grandfather's final instructions.”
I froze.
“You know what's on it?”
“Yes.”
“What?”
Thomas smiled.
“You'll find out Saturday.”
They left.
I waited until the gate closed.
Then Vivian spoke.
“He knows you're going to find the missing page.”
“How?”
“Because he knows where it is.”
We searched the hidden room again.
Hours passed.
Then Daniel found a second compartment beneath the metal cabinet.
Inside was a small brass key.
Stamped with a number.
I stared at it.
Room 7.
Vivian whispered,
“There's another property listed in the ledger.”
“What?”
I opened the pages.
There.
A storage facility.
Unit 7.
May you like
I looked at Daniel.
“Get the car.”
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