Chapter 6 - THE COURTSHIP PLAN
Mona did not cry when Rachel described the second page.
She wished she could.
Crying would have made the pain feel simple.
Instead, she sat in Michael's conference room with both hands flat on the table while Rachel reconstructed a document she had seen years earlier.
"What was on the list?" Mona asked.
Rachel looked toward her attorney on the video screen.
The attorney nodded once.
Rachel swallowed.
"Your father."
"What about him?"
"It said Daniel should never criticize him."
Mona almost laughed.
Daniel had adored stories about Richard Carter.
He used to ask Mona what her father would have thought about new business ideas.
Mona had believed that meant he respected the man she missed most.
"What else?"
"Your work."
"It said you hated men who acted threatened by your career."
Mona's stomach turned.
Daniel had told her on their second date that ambitious women made insecure men uncomfortable.
She had repeated that line to friends for years.
"What else?"
Rachel stared at the table.
"That you didn't like flashy gifts early in relationships."
Mona remembered Daniel bringing her a paperback novel on their fourth date instead of flowers.
He had underlined a passage he thought she would like.
She still owned the book.
"What else?"
"That you had trouble trusting people after your father died."
Mona's voice changed.
"How would they know that?"
Rachel looked up.
"I don't know."
"Was that in the report?"
"Yes."
Mona stood suddenly.
The chair rolled backward and hit the wall.
Michael started to rise.
Mona held up one hand.
"Don't."
She walked to the far side of the room.
Her lungs felt too small.
Daniel had known exactly where she was vulnerable.
He had used patience as a tool.
He had used kindness as a tool.
He had used restraint as a tool.
Even the things she had loved most about him might have been chosen from a list.
Rachel spoke behind her.
"Mona, I didn't know what Daniel planned to do."
Mona turned.
"You saw the file."
"After they had already started dating you."
"And you said nothing."
Rachel looked ashamed.
"No."
"You attended my wedding."
"Yes."
"You stood behind me while I got dressed."
Rachel's eyes filled.
"Yes."
"You told me your brother had never looked at anyone the way he looked at me."
Rachel began crying.
"I know."
Mona's voice stayed quiet.
"Was that on the list too?"
Rachel shook her head.
"No."
"Then why did you say it?"
"Because by then I thought he actually loved you."
Mona stared at her.
"Did he?"
Rachel did not answer.
That silence hurt more than a lie would have.
Michael gave Mona time before continuing.
"Rachel, who created the background report?"
Rachel wiped her face.
"I don't know the person."
"Company name?"
"There was a logo."
"What did it look like?"
"Gray triangle."
Marcus Bell searched databases from his laptop.
After several minutes, he turned the screen.
"Ever seen this?"
The logo belonged to a private intelligence and due-diligence firm called Graymark Advisory.
Rachel nodded immediately.
"That's it."
Mona felt disgusted.
"They hired investigators to research me."
Michael looked at Marcus.
"Graymark also performs litigation support and asset tracing."
"Can we find out who paid them?"
Marcus nodded.
"We can try."
It took less time than anyone expected.
By late afternoon, Michael received a response from counsel representing Graymark.
The firm would not disclose client information voluntarily.
But one sentence in the response mattered.
The engagement they referenced had been opened under Whitmore Legacy Holdings.
Mona had never heard of the company.
Anthony had.
"It owns the family's older real estate assets."
"Who controls it?"
"Evelyn."
Mona stared at the wall.
Of course.
Daniel had carried out the courtship.
Evelyn had funded the research.
Rachel had known enough to stay silent.
The entire family had benefited.
Michael placed a hand on the conference table.
"Mona, there is one thing I need you to decide now."
"What?"
"Whether you want to pursue immediate divorce filings with emergency financial relief."
The word divorce no longer shocked her.
It sounded like a door she had finally reached.
"Yes."
Michael nodded.
"Then we file today."
Rachel looked at Mona.
"Daniel is going to lose his mind."
Mona met her eyes.
"That is no longer my responsibility."
The petition was filed at 4:47 p.m.
By 5:15, Daniel had been served electronically through counsel.
At 5:19, Mona's phone began ringing.
She ignored the first call.
Then the second.
Then the third.
At 5:24, he sent a message.
You filed for divorce without even speaking to me?
Mona stared at it.
Then she typed.
I spoke to you for three years.
The response came immediately.
This is Michael manipulating you.
Mona typed again.
Did Michael write the courtship plan?
There was no response for nearly a minute.
Then Daniel called.
Mona answered on speaker with Michael present.
"What courtship plan?"
His voice was controlled.
Too controlled.
Mona looked at Rachel.
Rachel shook her head slightly, silently asking Mona not to reveal her source.
"The one with my name on it."
Daniel paused.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Museum fundraiser."
Another pause.
"Do not mention Thomas/Richard connection."
Silence.
Mona continued.
"Let her bring up the trust first."
Daniel inhaled.
"Where did you get that?"
Mona closed her eyes.
There it was again.
Not denial.
Source hunting.
"You always ask the wrong question."
"Mona, listen to me."
"No."
"That note is not what you think it is."
"Then tell me what it is."
Daniel hesitated.
"My mother was paranoid about your father's estate."
"Why?"
"Because our fathers had business history."
"History you never told me about."
"It was complicated."
"You researched me before we met."
"My mother did."
Mona looked at Rachel.
Rachel stared at the table.
"And you used the report."
"I read it."
Daniel's voice rose.
"That is not the same as using it."
"You bought a ticket to the fundraiser after the report was created."
Silence.
"You lied and said a friend dragged you there."
"I was embarrassed."
Mona almost admired the creativity.
"About what?"
"About wanting to meet you."
Mona stared at the speakerphone.
"You expect me to believe this was romantic?"
"I was interested in you."
"Before meeting me?"
"I knew who you were."
"Because of my money."
"Because of your father."
The answer surprised her.
"What does my father have to do with this?"
Daniel's tone changed.
"Ask Michael about the Carter note."
Michael's eyes sharpened.
Mona looked at him.
"What Carter note?"
Daniel continued.
"Ask your attorney why your father owned leverage over my family for years."
Michael leaned closer to the phone.
"Daniel, do not confuse a lawful debt with leverage."
Daniel laughed bitterly.
"There he is."
Mona's pulse quickened.
"You knew about the loan?"
Michael looked at her.
"I learned about it yesterday."
Daniel spoke before Mona could ask more.
"Your father nearly took everything from mine."
"My father never mentioned Thomas Whitmore."
"Maybe ask yourself why."
"Tell me."
Daniel's voice dropped.
"Because Richard Carter knew exactly what he was doing."
Mona felt anger rise.
"Do not talk about my father like that."
"Why not?"
Daniel snapped.
"Your family wasn't innocent either."
Michael reached for the phone, but Mona held up a hand.
"Explain."
"Your father gave mine a rescue loan when Whitmore Legacy was close to collapse."
"And?"
"And the terms gave Carter's trust the right to convert unpaid principal into an ownership interest in certain Whitmore entities."
Mona looked at Michael.
His face confirmed it.
Daniel continued.
"When both fathers died, that debt didn't disappear."
Mona's mouth went dry.
"How much is still owed?"
Daniel laughed once.
"Ask your lawyer."
The line went dead.
Mona turned toward Michael.
"How much?"
Michael did not answer immediately.
That frightened her.
"Michael."
"We are still calculating accrued interest and credits."
"How much principal?"
"About one point nine million dollars."
Mona stared at him.
"And the conversion rights?"
"Potentially significant."
"How significant?"
Michael folded his hands.
"If the note is enforceable and currently in default, your trust may have rights to shares beyond the thirty-eight percent you already own."
Mona felt the room become completely still.
"How many shares?"
Michael looked toward Anthony.
Anthony turned his laptop around.
On the screen was a preliminary cap table.
Mona read the percentage beside Carter Trust - Conversion Scenario.
Fifty-one point six percent.
She stared at it.
For three years, Evelyn had treated Mona like a guest in the Whitmore empire.
If the old note was valid, Mona's trust might legally control it.
Rachel whispered one word.
"Oh, God."
Then Michael's assistant rushed into the room.
"Daniel just called an emergency board meeting for tomorrow morning."
Michael stood.
"Purpose?"
The assistant handed him a printed notice.
Michael read it once.
His expression darkened.
"They're issuing new shares."
Mona understood immediately.
"To dilute me."
Anthony nodded.
"And to dilute the conversion rights."
Mona looked at the clock.
Daniel had finally stopped pretending the marriage could be saved.
May you like
Now he was trying to save the company from his wife.
