Chapter 4 - MY FATHER'S LAST WARNING
Samuel Pierce's office smelled of leather and old paper.
He had worked with my father for thirty years.
When I entered, he stood and hugged me carefully.
“You look like your mother,” he said.
I nearly cried.
He guided me to a chair.
Then placed a sealed envelope on the desk.
My name was written across it.
In my father's handwriting.
I stared.
“What's that?”
“A letter he asked me to hold.”
My hands trembled as I opened it.
Inside was a single page.
Maddie,
If you're reading this, someone has tried to make you doubt your right to what we built.
I hope it isn't Graham. I hope I was wrong about him.
But if I wasn't, remember this: the company was never meant to be your cage. It was meant to give you choices.
Trust the people who tell you difficult truths. Be careful with the people who only tell you what you want to hear.
And never confuse a man's confidence with his character.
Love, Dad.
I covered my mouth.
For several minutes, I couldn't speak.
Sam waited.
When I finally looked up, he opened another folder.
“Your father established a protective trust governing certain controlling shares.”
I stared.
“Graham told me everything had been transferred into our joint investment structure.”
Sam shook his head.
“He couldn't legally do that without satisfying the trust's requirements.”
I felt something loosen inside my chest.
“So the company is safe?”
“Not necessarily.”
He leaned forward.
“If Graham forged documents or manipulated financial obligations, there may already be damage.”
I nodded.
“But he can't simply sell the company without you.”
“Not lawfully.”
I looked at the documents.
Then asked:
“What do we do?”
Sam smiled faintly.
“We hire the best corporate litigation team we can find.”
May you like
He paused.
“And we move before Thursday.”
