Chapter 13 - HIS FATHER’S CHOICE
Ruth led Daniel into her kitchen and made coffee neither of them drank.
“When the company was young,” she said, “your father borrowed money from Victor. More than he told anyone.”
Daniel waited.
“Business was bad. Victor wanted the first store as collateral. Your father signed because he thought he had no choice.”
“Did Victor own it?”
“He nearly did.”
Ruth opened the photo box again and took out a worn envelope. Inside was a receipt showing the debt had been paid in full, along with a later letter from Victor claiming it had not.
“Your father spent years making sure Victor couldn’t use that old loan against the company,” Ruth said. “He gave me a vote so Victor couldn’t push through a sale after he was gone.”
“Why hide it from me?”
“He was ashamed he’d risked the store in the first place.”
Daniel sat back. His father had taught him to ask for help before a problem grew too large. Apparently, he’d learned that lesson the hard way.
“Caroline found out about the loan,” Ruth said. “She called me last month. She thought the debt was still open.”
“Victor must have told her it was.”
“Or he let her believe it.”
Daniel studied the paid receipt. Caroline had used the secret to make him doubt his father, but the truth would help him protect the company.
The next morning, Naomi brought the old loan papers to the independent board review. Victor insisted the payoff receipt was invalid. The bank’s records confirmed it was real.
Without a claim on the first store, Victor had no leverage. Without Ruth’s vote and Daniel’s signature, Whitlock couldn’t buy the warehouse under the terms it wanted.
Caroline’s attorney called Naomi that afternoon. Caroline wanted a private agreement: Daniel would withdraw his accusation about the staircase, and she would give up her interest in the warehouse deal.
“No,” Daniel said.
Naomi studied him. “She may try to make the rest of this ugly.”
“She already has.”
He told Naomi to send the offer to Bennett.
That night, Lily asked whether she would have to speak in court.
“Maybe,” Daniel said. “If you do, someone will help you, and I’ll be nearby.”
“Will Mom be there?”
“I don’t know.”
Lily thought for a moment. “I want her to know I remember.”
Before Daniel could answer, Bennett called.
May you like
“We found another video,” she said. “A guest was filming from the balcony.”
This one showed the staircase.
