She opened the tin and removed a tiny cassette recorder.
I looked at it.
“What is that?””
“Your mother's final recording.””
My breath caught.
“You have a recording of her?””
“She made it shortly before she died. She wanted evidence in case anyone disputed her instructions.””
“Have you listened to it?””
“Many times.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
Linda's eyes filled.
“Because I was afraid of what it would do to you.””
I reached for the recorder.
“Play it.””
Then she pressed the button.
A faint crackling sound filled the room.
And then I heard my mother's voice.
“Linda, if you're listening to this, it means I didn't get the chance to fix what Thomas and Margaret have done.””
I covered my mouth.
Her voice was weaker than I remembered, but unmistakably hers.
“I know Richard believes he can negotiate with them. He thinks he can protect Evelyn by giving them temporary control.””
“But I don't think he understands what Margaret wants.””
My heart began pounding.
“She doesn't want the stores. She doesn't want the money. She wants something that belonged to my family long before Sterling & Rowe existed.””
The recording crackled.
Then my mother said something that made Linda close her eyes.
“Richard knows about the original inheritance. He knows what my father left me. If Margaret discovers the location of those documents, she will never stop.””
I looked at Linda.
“What inheritance?””
She shook her head.
The recording continued.
“If Richard has already signed the temporary transfer, don't blame him immediately. Margaret has something over him. I don't know what it is, but I've seen the fear in his eyes.””
Then came the final words.
“Evelyn, sweetheart, if you ever hear this, remember one thing. I didn't build Sterling & Rowe to make people feel small. I built it so ordinary women could walk into a beautiful store and feel they belonged.””
The recording ended.
For a long time, neither of us moved.
I wiped my eyes.
Then I looked at Linda.
“My mother mentioned an inheritance from her family.””
“Her father owned several commercial properties before he died. One of them was the original Sterling & Rowe flagship building.””
“Wasn't that property transferred to the company?””
“That's what everyone believes.””
I looked at the recorder.
“But it wasn't?””
Linda shook her head.
“Your mother placed it in a separate family trust. She believed it would always remain hers.””
“Then Margaret is trying to get control of that trust too.””
My phone rang.
Richard Carter.
His voice was urgent.
“Evelyn, where are you?””
“Margaret has filed another document. This time, she's claiming the original family trust was invalid.””
“Her lawyers are saying your mother lacked the legal capacity to establish it.””
“When did she establish it?””
“Twenty-six years ago.””
“Then how could she have lacked capacity?””
My father went quiet.
“Because they've produced a medical report.””
I felt my knees weaken.
“Dad, what medical report?””
“One that claims your mother was already suffering from a neurological condition when she signed the original trust.””
I stared at Linda.
She looked horrified.
My father continued.
“Evelyn, I need you to come home. There's something else you need to know.””
“Margaret has named me as a witness to that medical assessment.””
I closed my eyes.
The truth was getting uglier.
And my father was no longer standing outside the story.
He was right in the middle of it.
Chapter 9: The Company Was Never the Real Prize
For a moment, I thought I had misunderstood Victor.
“You purchased what?””
He placed his briefcase on the desk.
“The holding company that owns the original estate properties.””
I looked at the document.
The company name was unfamiliar, but the acquisition date was unmistakable.
Three days earlier.
The purchase price was listed in the millions.
She had gone completely still.
“That's impossible,” she whispered.
Victor smiled.
“Not at all, Mrs. Reed. Everything was done legally.””
“Who sold it to you?”” I demanded.
“An authorized representative.””
“Who?””
He ignored the question.
Instead, he walked toward the filing cabinet and examined the open folders.
“Eleanor was always very careful with her records. She understood that information could be more valuable than money.””
I stepped in front of him.
“Don't touch anything.””
He raised both hands.
“Relax. I'm not here to steal your papers.””
“Then why are you here?””
“To prevent a misunderstanding.””
He pointed toward the trust declaration.
“You believe this document gives you control over the estate. But it doesn't.””
“It identifies me as the beneficiary.””
“Under an agreement that was never properly completed.””
“That's for the court to decide.””
Victor chuckled.
“Your lawyers will have a difficult time proving that.””
“Did you know about this company?””
Victor adjusted his jacket.
“Perhaps you should ask your father.””
I felt my anger rise.
“Stop using my father as an excuse. You were involved in these transactions long before he acquired Sterling & Rowe.””
“Your father was aware of certain arrangements.””
“Which arrangements?””
“The ones that kept your family from losing everything.””
I stepped closer.
“You've been selling my mother's assets.””
“Your mother is gone, Ms. Carter. The business world doesn't stop because someone dies.””
Linda made a small sound.
Victor turned toward her.
“Mrs. Reed, you really should have stayed out of this.””
Linda's face hardened.
“Your mother didn't build this company,” she said.
“Eleanor did.””
Victor looked almost amused.
“Your loyalty is touching.””
He picked up a folder.
“Do you know what happens when a company becomes too sentimental? It stops being profitable. Eleanor understood design.
Thomas understood business. Margaret understood power.””
“And what do you understand?”” I asked.
Victor met my eyes.
“Opportunity.””
I stared at him.
“You've spent twenty years exploiting people who trusted you.””
He gave a shrug.
“That's one interpretation.””
He placed the folder back on the cabinet.
“Here's another. I took a failing retail company and turned it into an attractive acquisition target. I created value.””
“By stealing assets?””
“By recognizing value others couldn't see.””
I looked toward the two security officers.
“Are you going to remove us?””
Victor shook his head.
“There's no need. You may leave voluntarily.””
“And if we don't?””
He pulled out his phone.
“Then I'll contact the authorities and report unauthorized access to private property.””
“You're standing inside a building that belongs to my mother's estate.””
“Not anymore.””
He turned the phone toward me.
A photograph showed a newly registered ownership certificate.
The company that held the property rights had indeed been transferred.
But I noticed something.
The document listed the previous owner as L.H. Capital Partners.
Margaret's company.
And the buyer was a newly established corporation.
Its director was Victor Hale.
I read the date again.
The sale had been completed only hours before Margaret filed the injunction against my ownership.
It was coordinated.
They had known exactly what they were doing.
I gathered the documents from the desk.
Victor didn't stop me.
He simply smiled.