CHAPTER 8: THE RECORDING
The recording had been made accidentally.
Richard’s second phone contained an application that automatically saved business calls for transcription. He had forgotten to disable it before speaking with Vanessa three weeks earlier.
His voice came through the hospital speaker.
“The baby changes the trust.”
Vanessa answered, “You said Khloe’s inheritance belonged to both of you.”
“It does while we’re married. But once the child is born, part of the Cole family trust transfers directly to the baby.”
“How much?”
“Almost ninety million.”
Khloe closed her eyes.
The Cole trust had been created by her late grandfather. She had never considered its value important. Richard had.
On the recording, Vanessa asked, “So what do we do?”
Richard’s answer was calm.
“We make sure Khloe is declared incompetent before the delivery. I become guardian of her assets and the child’s estate.”
“And if Harrison stops you?”
“He won’t have standing once Khloe’s doctors say she’s unstable.”
The recording continued.
Richard discussed paying Dr. Leland for a psychiatric opinion. He mentioned Judge Pierce. He described Khloe as “an emotional incubator with a signature.”
Harrison stopped the audio.
Khloe turned her face toward the window.
For six years, she had blamed herself for every cold look, every missed appointment, and every night Richard slept in another room.
Now she understood.
He had not fallen out of love with her.
He had married her without ever loving her at all.
“He knew about the trust before our wedding,” she said.
Harrison nodded.
“I believe so.”
Khloe looked toward the neonatal unit.
“He wanted our daughter because of the money.”
“He will never touch her.”
The federal agent explained that the recording could support conspiracy, fraud, bribery, and attempted financial exploitation charges. Richard’s entire company would be searched by morning.
Khloe reached for Harrison’s sleeve.
“Don’t destroy the employees.”
“What?”
“Richard deserves everything coming to him. But thousands of people work for Harrington Commercial. They didn’t push me. They didn’t steal.”
Harrison studied her.
Even from a hospital bed, she was thinking about strangers who might lose their jobs.
“What do you want me to do?”
“Save the company if it can be saved.”
“You almost died because of that company.”
“No. I almost died because of two people.”
Harrison nodded slowly.
The following morning, federal agents entered Harrington Commercial headquarters.
Richard watched from a holding cell as boxes of documents were removed.
Then his attorney arrived with worse news.
May you like
Vanessa had requested a meeting with prosecutors.
And she was ready to talk.
