Chapter 5: The Other Heir
I couldn't stop staring at the photograph.
My father was standing outside his old repair shop, one arm resting on the shoulder of a young boy.
The boy had dark hair, a narrow face, and a familiar smile.
It was Xavier.
Not the polished businessman I had seen at graduation.
Not the man who had put his arm around Naomi and laughed while I stood holding a ring.
A child.
Standing beside my father.
I turned the photograph over again.
The handwriting was unmistakably old.
*The other heir.*
"Where did you get this?"" I asked the man who had delivered it.
He closed his briefcase.
"I'm only responsible for delivering it.""
"Who sent you?""
"I was instructed not to reveal that unless you agreed to meet.""
"Meet where?""
"Room 814. The old Whitmore building. Tomorrow morning.""
I looked at Naomi.
She was staring at the photograph.
"Do you recognize him?"" I asked.
She nodded slowly.
"Of course. That's Xavier.""
"Did you know he knew my father?""
"No.""
"Are you sure?""
She shook her head.
"I swear.""
I looked back at the messenger.
"Tell whoever sent you that I'll be there.""
He nodded and returned to his SUV.
For several seconds, Naomi and I stood silently on the university steps.
Then she spoke.
"Maybe it's a coincidence.""
I looked at her.
"A photograph of Xavier with my father, labeled 'the other heir,' is a coincidence?""
"I'm just saying we don't know what it means.""
"That's becoming a very familiar excuse.""
She looked down.
I placed the photograph inside the folder.
"We're going to the board meeting.""
The Whitmore headquarters occupied an enormous glass building in downtown Chicago.
The lobby had marble floors, a massive chandelier, and a reception desk staffed by three people in matching gray uniforms.
A digital display showed the company's latest developments.
Electric vehicle platforms.
Commercial transportation systems.
Advanced safety technology.
My father's dream had become a corporation worth billions.
And someone had apparently stolen part of it.
Eleanor met us near the elevators.
She wore a navy suit and carried a stack of documents.
When she saw the photograph in my hand, her expression changed.
"Where did you get that?""
"Someone delivered it.""
She took the picture.
Her fingers trembled.
"Oh, Daniel.""
I stepped closer.
"Tell me who that boy is.""
Eleanor looked at Xavier's younger face.
Then she closed her eyes.
"Your father helped raise him.""
I felt the floor shift beneath me.
"What?""
"Xavier's father worked with us in the early days. His name was Richard Mitchell. He was an accountant and an investor.""
"Was?""
"He died when Xavier was young. Your father felt responsible for making sure the boy wasn't left without support.""
I looked at the photograph again.
"Why would he call him another heir?""
Eleanor returned it.
"Because your father believed Xavier deserved an opportunity. He established an educational trust for him.""
I stared at her.
"An educational trust?""
"Yes. Your father wanted him to have access to the kind of education his own children might receive.""
I swallowed.
"My father didn't have any other children.""
Eleanor didn't answer immediately.
Then she said, "Not that you know of.""
Before I could ask another question, the elevator opened.
Xavier stepped out.
His white suit had been replaced by a charcoal business outfit.
He looked at the photograph in my hand.
For a fraction of a second, his expression changed.
Then he smiled.
"Well, well. The mechanic made it.""
Naomi stiffened.
Xavier glanced at her.
"Baby, what are you doing here?""
Naomi stepped away from him.
"Don't call me that.""
He laughed.
"Still upset?""
I moved between them.
"Do you know my father?""
Xavier's eyes shifted toward the photograph.
"Where did you get that?""
"Answer the question.""
He straightened his jacket.
"Your father was a generous man.""
"Why is your picture beside his?""
"Because he helped my family.""
"How?""
Xavier looked at Eleanor.
"Do we really have to do this here?""
She folded her arms.
"Yes, Richard's son. We do.""
His smile disappeared.
For the first time, I saw genuine anger in his face.
"Don't use my father's name.""
"Then stop using his relationship with Daniel to justify your actions.""
Xavier took a step toward her.
"You have no idea what you're talking about.""
Eleanor didn't move.
"I know exactly what I'm talking about.""
A security officer approached.
"Mr. Mitchell, the board is waiting.""
Xavier looked at me.
"Enjoy the meeting, Cedric. You might learn something about the family you think you know.""
He walked away.
Naomi watched him disappear through the conference room doors.
Then she turned to Eleanor.
"What did he mean?""
Eleanor sighed.
"Let's get inside.""
The boardroom was enormous.
A long walnut table stretched beneath a row of recessed lights. Twelve executives sat around it, each with a folder and a tablet.
At the far end sat Xavier's father.
Richard Mitchell.
He was older than Xavier, with thinning gray hair and a deep scar running along his left cheek.
I recognized him from the photograph.
He looked directly at me.
"Mr. Walls.""
"Mr. Mitchell.""
He gestured toward an empty chair.
"Please sit.""
I remained standing.
"Before we begin, I have a question.""
Richard folded his hands.
"Go ahead.""
"Why does my father's old photograph show your son standing beside him?""
The room became quiet.
Richard's jaw tightened.
"That is irrelevant to today's meeting.""
"Then you won't mind explaining it.""
Xavier leaned back in his chair.
"Can we focus on the actual business?""
Eleanor placed her documents on the table.
"The business is exactly why we're here.""
Richard opened a folder.
"Let's begin with the ownership dispute. We have received documentation indicating that Daniel Walls transferred his original shares before his death.""
He slid a paper toward me.
I recognized the signature.
My father's name.
But something was wrong.
The letter W had an unusually sharp final stroke.
My father never wrote it that way.
I had watched him sign thousands of receipts, invoices, and birthday cards.
"This is forged," I said.
Richard's expression remained calm.
"That's a serious accusation.""
"So is stealing someone's inheritance.""
Xavier laughed.
"You're making emotional claims without evidence.""
I looked at him.
"Funny. That's exactly what your father is doing.""
Several directors exchanged glances.
Eleanor stood.
"We have requested an independent forensic examination of the original agreement. Until that examination is complete, no ownership transfer should be recognized.""
Richard shook his head.
"The board cannot operate indefinitely under uncertainty.""
"Then perhaps we should discuss the documents your son has been circulating," Eleanor replied.
Xavier slammed his palm against the table.
"Enough!""
The room went silent.
He looked at Eleanor.
"You're making a mistake.""
She met his eyes.
"No, Xavier. I made one twenty years ago. I trusted the wrong people.""
I opened my folder.
"I have something the board should hear.""
I connected the flash drive to the conference room computer.
The first recording played.
My father's voice filled the room.
"Someone used my son's name to transfer my shares.""
Richard went pale.
Xavier immediately stood.
"This is inadmissible.""
I turned toward him.
"Why?""
"Because you don't know where it came from.""
"Then explain the conversation.""
Richard leaned toward the microphone.
"Stop this recording.""
But I continued.
The lawyer's voice echoed through the room.
"Your business partner has already agreed to the arrangement.""
My father's answer followed.
"Eleanor would never do that.""
The recording ended.
No one spoke.
Then Richard slowly closed his folder.
"Mr. Walls, I think we should discuss this privately.""
I shook my head.
"Why? You've been happy to discuss my inheritance in front of everyone else.""
Xavier stood.
"You're being manipulated.""
I turned toward him.
"By whom?""
He looked at Naomi.
She had been sitting quietly beside the wall.
"By the woman who brought you here.""
Naomi stood.
"Don't.""
Xavier pointed at her.
"Sit down.""
"No.""
"You have no idea what you've gotten yourself into.""
She took a deep breath.
"I know exactly what I've done. And I know what you asked me to do.""
Richard's face tightened.
"Naomi, this is not the place.""
She reached into her handbag.
Then she placed the proposed acquisition agreement on the table.
"I found this in Xavier's office. He wanted Cedric to sign it without independent legal advice.""
Xavier lunged forward.
"Give me that!""
Security officers moved immediately.
One grabbed his arm.
The other stood between him and the table.
Naomi stepped back.
I picked up the document.
"This agreement would have transferred my intellectual property rights to your father's investment firm.""
Richard stared at his son.
"Xavier?""
Xavier struggled against the guard.
"Father, don't listen to them!""
Richard looked at me.
"Where did you get this?""
"Your son gave it to Naomi.""
"That's a lie!""
Naomi lifted her chin.
"I have the messages. I have the emails. I have everything.""
For the first time, Xavier looked genuinely afraid.
But before the chairman could speak, the boardroom doors opened.
A woman entered carrying a sealed legal envelope.
She was in her forties, wearing a dark green suit and holding a tablet.
"I'm sorry to interrupt," she said.
"But the independent auditor has completed an emergency review of the original ownership records.""
Eleanor stood.
"What did you find?""
The woman looked at Richard.
Then at Xavier.
Finally, she turned toward me.
"Mr. Walls, the disputed transfer agreement was created using a corporate account belonging to Richard Mitchell.""
A murmur spread around the table.
The auditor continued.
"But there's something more concerning.""
She placed another document in front of me.
"The account was accessed using credentials belonging to someone who died eight years ago.""
I stared at the page.
The account holder's name was the lawyer from the recording.
Then I noticed a second authorization.
My father's signature.
May you like
And underneath it was a witness signature.
*Eleanor Whitmore.*
