Chapter 3 - The Buyout
By nine the next morning, three lawyers were sitting in Bellamy Ridge’s library.
Clara Mendoza represented Sophie.
David Ross represented Ethan in his capacity as chief executive.
Margaret arrived with Thomas Weller, the vineyard’s longtime corporate counsel.
That alone bothered Ethan.
“Thomas works for Bellamy Ridge,” he said.
Thomas adjusted his glasses.
“I represent the company.”
“Then why did you arrive with my mother?”
Margaret answered.
“Because unlike you, I called counsel before making accusations.”
Clara placed the twenty-four-year-old settlement on the table.
“Let’s begin with the Carter Heritage Trust.”
Thomas did not deny its existence.
Instead he produced a later agreement.
Dated eight years ago.
Six days before Evelyn Carter died.
SHARE INTEREST RELEASE AND FULL SETTLEMENT.
Sophie’s stomach tightened.
The signature looked like her mother’s.
Evelyn purportedly accepted $2.8 million to release any remaining claim to Bellamy Ridge.
Sophie stared.
“I never inherited $2.8 million.”
Margaret said, “That is not our problem.”
Clara studied the payment clause.
“Where was the money sent?”
Thomas looked at the document.
“To Carter Legacy Services LLC.”
Sophie frowned.
“I’ve never heard of that company.”
“It was designated by Evelyn.”
Clara asked, “Wire confirmation?”
Thomas hesitated.
“We’ll locate it.”
Sophie turned toward Margaret.
“You told me Mom died with almost nothing.”
“She lived modestly.”
“So where did almost three million dollars go?”
Margaret shrugged.
“Ask her.”
The cruelty landed.
Ethan’s palm hit the table.
“Enough.”
Margaret looked at him.
“You wanted truth.”
“I wanted documents, not contempt.”
Clara examined the notarization.
Notary: Leonard Pike.
Witness: Thomas Weller.
Ethan stared at the company lawyer.
“You witnessed this?”
Thomas’s eyes lowered.
“I did.”
“Did Dad know?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did he write me a letter later saying Sophie owned twenty-two percent?”
No one answered.
Clara looked up.
“When was Richard’s letter written?”
Five years before his death.
Three years after Evelyn’s supposed buyout.
Meaning Richard had clearly believed Sophie’s interest still existed.
Margaret said, “Richard regretted the settlement.”
“That is not the same as believing it invalid,” Thomas added.
Ethan opened his father’s letter.
Richard had written:
Evelyn did not receive what was promised. What was presented as a final settlement was created under circumstances I came to understand too late.
Clara read it aloud.
Margaret’s jaw tightened.
Sophie looked at Thomas.
“What circumstances?”
“I don’t know.”
“You witnessed it.”
“I witnessed Evelyn sign.”
“Was she sick?”
“Yes.”
“How sick?”
Thomas hesitated.
“Cancer.”
Sophie’s throat tightened.
Her mother had died from metastatic ovarian cancer.
“Was she medicated?”
“I’m not a physician.”
“Was she represented by her own attorney?”
The document listed Harold Wynn.
Clara searched.
“He died six years ago.”
Margaret said, “Convenient for you.”
Sophie turned.
“Stop talking as if dead people are helping me.”
Silence.
Clara continued.
“If the release is genuine, we still need proof of payment and proof Carter Legacy Services was authorized to receive it.”
Ethan nodded.
“Get everything.”
Thomas looked at Margaret.
Again.
A tiny glance.
Sophie noticed.
So did Ethan.
The power dynamics were shifting.
At noon, Ethan called an emergency executive finance review.
The company ledger showed no twenty-two-percent Carter stake.
Current voting ownership appeared as:
Margaret Bellamy family trust — 38%.
Ethan Bellamy — 30%.
Employee Stewardship Trust — 10%.
Other family and executive holders — 22%.
No Sophie.
Yet old ledgers from Richard’s archive showed something different.
Before a 2017 recapitalization:
Carter Heritage Trust — 22%.
Margaret’s trust — 28%.
Ethan — 30%.
Employee Trust — 10%.
Other holders — 10%.
Sophie pointed.
“Where did my twenty-two percent go?”
The 2017 entry stated:
RETIRED PURSUANT TO CARTER RELEASE.
Then those shares had been reissued.
Ten percentage points to Margaret’s family trust.
Twelve to selected executives and family holders.
Margaret had personally gained ten percent.
The motive was obvious.
Ethan stared at his mother.
“You benefited from Sophie’s release.”
Margaret did not blink.
“I bought those shares.”
“With what money?”
“My money.”
“Show me.”
Margaret stood.
“I will not be interrogated by my own son in my company.”
Ethan’s face changed.
“Your company?”
She realized the mistake.
Sophie almost heard Richard’s ghost in the silence.
Margaret collected her bag.
Before leaving, she looked at Sophie.
“You think being pregnant makes you the center of this story.”
Sophie touched her stomach.
“No.”
She held up the old settlement.
“This makes my mother part of it.”
Margaret walked out.
An hour later, Clara received the first banking response.
No $2.8 million wire had been found.
But Carter Legacy Services LLC did exist.
It had been created nine days before Evelyn allegedly signed the release.
Registered agent: Thomas Weller.
May you like
And its original manager—
Margaret Bellamy.
