Chapter 2 - The Audit of Blood
Robert grabbed the paper with shaking, cream-covered fingers. His eyes scanned the legal header, down through the corporate structure, until they locked onto the bottom right corner.
Thomas Edward Vane — Founder & Chief Executive Officer.
"No..." Helen whispered, rushing to Robert’s side and staring at the paper. "No, this is a forgery! A trick! He’s a failed engineer! He’s been living off our crumbs for two years!"
"I let you believe that," Thomas said, turning his back on them to gently wipe a streak of dirt off Rebecca’s cheek with his thumb. "Because seven years ago, when Sarah died in the hospital, you told me that a man who couldn't keep his wife alive didn't deserve a seat at the Vane table. You stripped my trust fund, took my inheritance, and tried to starve my children so I would surrender custody to your legal firm."
Rebecca held Thomas’s hand tightly, her small frame still trembling, but her eyes reflecting her father's iron strength. "Dad... we don't have to carry the trays anymore?"
"Never again, sweet pea," Thomas whispered, kissing her forehead. He turned back to Samuel and Jacob. "Drop the rags, boys."
Samuel threw his stained dishcloth straight onto the ground. Jacob, wiping his nose with his sleeve, kicked a silver platter right into the bush.
"Security!" Robert roared, his voice cracking with desperation as he turned to the four large men standing by the grand iron gates. "Throw him out! Call the police! He’s trespassing!"
The head of security, a broad-shouldered man named Marcus Vance, stepped forward. But instead of marching toward Thomas, Marcus stopped three paces away, turned ninety degrees, and faced Robert.
"Mr. Robert Vane," Marcus said cleanly. "Our private security contract is held directly by Apex Security Solutions. As of 4:00 PM today, Mr. Thomas Vane is our sole employer. If anyone is trespassing on this property, sir, it is you."
"What?!" Helen shrieked. "This is our house! This house has been in the Vane family for four generations!"
"And you put it up as collateral for the riverfront expansion project eight months ago," Thomas said, pulling a secondary deed from his coat. "A project that failed because your chief financial officer—your favorite nephew, Julian—was embezzling two million dollars a month into a Swiss account."
Julian, standing near the punch bowl holding a phone, froze. His face drained of all color as twenty pairs of eyes snapped directly toward him.
May you like
"You're lying!" Julian stuttered, backing away. "Uncle Robert, he's bluffing!"
"The forensic audit was completed at noon today, Julian," Thomas said calmly. "Federal agents are waiting at the end of the driveway. They just needed me to confirm you were present at the party."
