Chapter 8: The Woman My Mother Trusted
Dad read my mother's note three times.
"Eleanor Brooks," he murmured.
I opened the company filing again.
The buyer's name appeared in the supporting documents, alongside a business address and a telephone number.
Dad called Margaret.
She answered immediately.
"Mr. Bennett?""
"Margaret, there's a name in my wife's letter. Eleanor Brooks. Do you know her?""
There was a long pause.
"Yes.""
"Who is she?""
"She was your wife's closest business associate before Jasmine was born.""
Dad looked at me.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because you never asked about her, and she was not involved in the day-to-day administration of the trust.""
I held the letter closer.
"Was she involved in setting up my mother's company?""
"Yes. Eleanor helped your mother establish Bennett Family Holdings and arrange the original property structure.""
Dad's eyebrows rose.
"Then why is she listed as the prospective buyer?""
Margaret sighed.
"That's something I would very much like to understand.""
I looked at the note.
"Can we contact her?""
Margaret hesitated.
"I can provide the contact information from the original trust file. But I recommend you speak with her before making assumptions.""
Dad agreed.
A few minutes later, an email arrived with Eleanor's phone number.
Dad dialed.
The call rang twice.
A woman's voice answered.
"Hello?""
"Ms. Brooks, my name is Marcus Bennett. I'm married to Monica Bennett. I believe you knew my late wife, Laura.""
The silence was immediate.
Then the woman asked:
"Is Jasmine with you?""
I stepped closer.
"Yes.""
Her voice softened.
"Put her on the phone, please.""
Dad handed me his phone.
"Hello?""
"Jasmine?""
"Yes.""
"This is Eleanor. I've been waiting a long time for you to contact me.""
My stomach tightened.
"Why?""
She exhaled.
"Because your mother asked me to look after something important.""
I glanced at Dad.
"What?""
"Not over the phone. Can you meet me tomorrow morning?""
Dad took the phone back.
"Before we agree to anything, I need to know why your name appears on a proposed sale of our house.""
Eleanor became quiet.
"Your house?""
"Yes. Richard Bennett says you're the buyer.""
"Richard told you that?""
"He did.""
Eleanor gave a short, disbelieving laugh.
"Mr. Bennett, I have never agreed to purchase your home.""
Dad looked at the documents.
"Then why is there a purchase agreement with your company name?""
"Because someone has been using my company's name without authorization.""
My heart started pounding.
"Who?""
"I believe the answer is the same person who contacted my office claiming to represent Jasmine's interests.""
Dad's eyes narrowed.
"Monica?""
"Yes.""
From behind us, Monica suddenly shouted.
"She's lying!""
Eleanor heard her.
"Is Monica there?""
Dad looked toward his wife.
"Yes.""
Eleanor's voice became cold.
"Then please put me on speaker.""
Dad did.
Eleanor continued.
"Monica, you told me Jasmine had agreed to the transfer.""
Monica folded her arms.
"That's not what happened.""
"You sent me a signed authorization.""
"It was legitimate.""
"Then why did the handwriting expert I consulted tell me the signature was not authentic?""
The room went silent.
Dad stared at his wife.
I felt my knees weaken.
Eleanor continued.
"I refused to proceed. I told you I would not participate in anything involving a minor's inheritance without independent legal verification.""
Monica's voice trembled.
"You were supposed to help me.""
"I was supposed to help Laura's daughter.""
Dad gripped the phone.
"What exactly did my wife ask you to do?""
Eleanor took a breath.
"She wanted me to purchase the property through my company and then transfer it to another entity. She claimed you had agreed to the sale and that Jasmine had voluntarily surrendered her rights.""
Dad looked at me.
"Who was supposed to receive the property?""
Eleanor hesitated.
"An entity registered under Daniel Price's name.""
I felt sick.
"Why?""
"Because the property was going to be sold again. The first transfer would make it easier to conceal the original ownership.""
Dad shook his head.
"How much money was involved?""
"The proposed purchase price was seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars.""
I looked at the company valuation.
The number was higher than the amount Monica had told us about.
"Where was the money going?""
"Most of it was supposed to go through several accounts. I never authorized the transaction, so I don't know where the final proceeds were intended to end up.""
Dad asked, "Do you have proof?""
"I have the emails, the proposed contracts, and the authorization Monica sent.""
"Can you preserve them?""
"Already done.""
Monica suddenly stepped forward.
"You're making this sound criminal!""
Eleanor answered calmly.
"I'm not making anything sound like anything. I'm telling them what happened.""
Then she said something that made my heart stop.
"Jasmine, your mother specifically instructed me to keep the original company records in case someone tried to take control of the property.""
I swallowed.
"Why did she think someone would do that?""
"Because she discovered that someone close to her had been asking questions about the trust.""
Dad looked toward Monica.
"Who?""
Eleanor paused.
"She never told me the person's name. She said she wanted to be certain before making an accusation.""
I opened the letter again.
"Did Mom know Monica?""
"Yes. Your mother knew her socially before you were born.""
I looked at my stepmother.
She was staring at the floor.
Eleanor continued.
"Your mother also asked me to keep a sealed envelope for you. She said it should only be given to you when you turned eighteen or if someone attempted to interfere with your inheritance.""
My heart started racing.
"Where is it?""
"At my office.""
Dad spoke immediately.
"We'll meet you tomorrow.""
"Of course. But there's something you should know before you come.""
"What?""
Eleanor lowered her voice.
"Your mother's original company records show that the ownership structure was changed once before.""
Dad frowned.
"When?""
"Approximately one year before Laura died.""
I looked at him.
"Who changed it?""
Eleanor didn't answer immediately.
Then she said:
"Your father.""
Dad went completely still.
"What?""
"Your signature appears on the amendment.""
He shook his head.
"I never signed an amendment.""
"That's what I thought. Laura contacted me because she believed someone had copied your signature.""
I stared at Dad.
"Does that mean someone tried to take the company before Mom died?""
"Yes," Eleanor replied.
"Did Mom know who?""
Another pause.
"She had a suspicion. But she never had enough evidence to prove it.""
Dad looked toward Monica.
She had become completely silent.
Eleanor continued.
"There's one more thing. The original amendment contains the name of the person who submitted the paperwork.""
Dad asked, "Who?""
Eleanor answered:
"Richard Bennett.""
Dad closed his eyes.
His own brother had apparently been involved years before Monica entered our family.
The call ended with an agreement to meet the following morning.
For several minutes, Dad and I sat quietly in my bedroom.
Then he turned toward me.
"Jasmine, I'm sorry.""
I looked at him.
"For what?""
"For not seeing what was happening.""
I shook my head.
"You didn't know.""
"I should have noticed.""
I leaned against his shoulder.
For the first time that day, I allowed myself to cry without trying to hide it.
Then I heard footsteps in the hallway.
Olivia appeared at the doorway.
Her eyes were swollen.
"Can I talk to Jasmine?""
Dad stood.
"Not right now.""
"Please. I need to tell her something.""
I looked at her.
"What?""
Olivia glanced toward Monica's bedroom.
Then she whispered:
"Mom wasn't the only person who knew about the original company.""
I frowned.
"What are you talking about?""
Olivia swallowed.
"Uncle Richard came here last month. He gave Mom a key.""
"What key?""
She looked directly at me.
"The key to Grandma Laura's old storage unit.""
My heart began pounding.
"Why?""
May you like
Olivia's voice broke.
"Because he said there was something inside that could make your mother look like she never owned the company at all.""
Related Stories
