Chapter 7 - The Recording Rebecca Feared
Nathan wanted security posted at Grace’s cottage immediately.
Priya insisted they preserve the threatening message first.
“Screenshots, export, carrier preservation request.”
Nathan paced.
“They photographed her house.”
“And if you rush out accusing Miles without proof, you help him.”
Grace sat at Eleanor’s workbench.
“I’m not leaving.”
Nathan looked at her.
“That wasn’t a question.”
“Hawthorne is my home too.”
“You could be in danger.”
“So could Emma.”
Nathan had no answer.
Daniel Ko spent the night reconstructing the financial chain.
By morning, he found something Rebecca had overlooked.
R.C. Strategies had paid $86,000 to a media-security contractor called North Vale Analytics.
North Vale had conducted the “independent forensic review” that allegedly linked Olivia to the Meridian account.
Nathan almost admired the arrogance.
“They paid the investigator who accused her.”
Priya corrected him.
“Rebecca’s company paid an investigator. We still need evidence that the payment purchased a false conclusion.”
Grace pointed toward Olivia’s phone.
“What about the recording?”
The device contained a deleted file recoverable from storage.
An audio specialist extracted most of it.
Two voices became clear.
Miles first.
“This ends when she signs the resignation.”
Rebecca answered.
“What if she refuses?”
“Then the account becomes the story.”
“And Nathan?”
“He believes documents.”
Rebecca laughed softly.
“He believes you.”
Nathan listened without moving.
Miles continued.
“Once Olivia is out of the trust, I control the voting block until Emma reaches the designated age or a successor is appointed.”
Rebecca said, “And once Nathan and I are married?”
“Do not get greedy.”
“He loves that estate.”
“He loves being seen as the man protecting his family. Use that.”
A chair scraped.
Then Rebecca’s voice came closer.
“What happens if he ever finds out?”
Miles replied, “By then, he’ll have too much to lose.”
The recording ended.
Nathan stood.
Priya watched him carefully.
“Do not call either of them.”
“I want to hear her deny it.”
“She will.”
“I want to hear Miles explain it.”
“He will.”
Nathan looked at the black screen.
“How long were they planning this?”
Daniel answered quietly.
“At least eleven months before Olivia left.”
Nathan called his sister instead.
Caroline arrived at Hawthorne that afternoon.
She listened to the recording twice.
When it ended, tears stood in her eyes.
“I recommended Miles to Mom as trust counsel.”
Nathan looked at her.
“We all trusted him.”
Caroline shook her head.
“No. You trusted him. I defended him.”
She walked to the window.
“The board still needs authentication.”
Priya nodded.
“We’re doing that.”
“And Rebecca will say it was edited.”
“She probably will.”
Caroline turned.
“Nathan, there’s something else.”
He waited.
“The board received a proposal this morning.”
“For what?”
“To sell Cole Heritage’s hospitality-development division.”
Nathan stared at her.
“That division is worth at least two hundred million.”
“The offer is one hundred forty-eight.”
“From whom?”
“Northstar Heritage Partners.”
Nathan had never heard the name.
Caroline continued.
“Miles says the domestic scandal and liquidity concerns make this the right time to simplify the company.”
Nathan felt his pulse accelerate.
“Who owns Northstar?”
“Private investment structure. Delaware entities.”
Daniel immediately began searching.
Nathan said, “Miles is trying to sell company assets while he controls Emma’s votes.”
Caroline looked sick.
“The shareholder vote would be in three weeks.”
Priya asked, “Can you block it?”
Nathan answered.
“With my twenty-nine percent? Not if he has Emma’s thirty-one and enough outsiders.”
Caroline said, “I have fifteen.”
Nathan looked at her.
“Then stand with me.”
She did not answer immediately.
The silence hurt.
“Nathan, if this evidence collapses, I cannot destroy the company based on family accusations.”
“He framed Olivia.”
“I believe something happened. Believing and proving are not the same.”
Nathan stared at his sister.
Caroline whispered, “That distinction is going to matter.”
After she left, Daniel called from the library.
“I found Northstar.”
Nathan hurried in.
Daniel turned his screen.
Northstar’s principal investment vehicle was funded by a Cayman partnership.
One disclosed advisory payment led to a familiar American LLC.
Dane Advisory Partners.
Miles.
Nathan’s stomach tightened.
Then Daniel scrolled farther.
A second investor had committed $3 million.
R.C. Strategies LLC.
Rebecca.
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They were not merely stealing from Cole Heritage.
They were preparing to buy part of it with the company’s own missing money.
