Chapter 3 - The NotaryThe notary's office was located on the twenty-third floor of a glass building downtown.
My father arrived first.
My mother followed.
Natalie walked in carrying her handbag like she was already the owner of an empire.
Clara stayed beside me.
Daniel Mercer was waiting.
My father frowned when he saw him.
“I thought this was a family matter.”
“It is,” I replied.
Daniel smiled.
“That's why I'm here.”
The notary entered.
Everyone sat down.
My father placed the folder on the table.
“Andrew understands that this is necessary.”
I looked at him.
“Explain it again.”
He cleared his throat.
“The power of attorney allows me to manage certain corporate matters while you're traveling.”
“For how long?”
“Until your return.”
I smiled.
“And the shares?”
My father hesitated.
“That's separate.”
Natalie interrupted.
“We've discussed it.”
I looked at her.
“Have we?”
She swallowed.
“You said you trusted us.”
“I do.”
My mother smiled.
“Then sign.”
I opened the folder.
The document inside wasn't the one they expected.
It was the legal activation of the protective trust.
I didn't sign it yet.
Instead, I pushed a different page toward them.
“Before I sign anything, I want everyone to confirm one thing.”
My father frowned.
“What?”
“That you have never threatened Clara.”
Nobody spoke.
“That you have never deprived her of food.”
Silence.
“That you never forced my son to sleep in the storage room.”
My mother's eyes moved toward Natalie.
I continued.
“And that you never intended to transfer my company shares without my informed consent.”
My father stood.
“This is ridiculous.”
The notary looked at him.
“Please sit.”
My father slowly sat down.
I pressed a button on my phone.
The recording played.
Natalie's voice filled the room.
“She should get used to scraps.”
Then my mother's voice.
“Tomorrow, after Andrew signs the power of attorney, we'll throw her out.”
Then my father's voice.
“Once the paperwork is done, we'll transfer the company shares too.”
The room became completely silent.
Natalie stared at me.
“You recorded us?”
“Yes.”
My father looked furious.
“You set us up.”
“No.”
I looked at Clara.
“They set themselves up.”
Daniel opened his briefcase.
“Now we can proceed.”
My father looked confused.
“Proceed with what?”
Daniel placed a document on the table.
“The activation of the Bennett Protective Trust.”
My father read the first paragraph.
Then the second.
His face drained of color.
“What is this?”
May you like
I answered quietly.
“The end of your control.”
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