Chapter 3: What Hargrove Knew
The phone rang four times before the receptionist picked it up.
She listened for three seconds.
Then she set the receiver down very carefully, as though it might break.
"Ms.
Holt," she said.
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"It's Mr.
Hargrove's office.
They're asking to speak with — " She paused.
"They're asking to speak with Ms.
Vale."
Vivienne's head turned slowly toward Charlotte.
"That's not possible," Vivienne said.
"Give me the phone," Charlotte said.
The receptionist looked at Vivienne.
Vivienne said nothing.
The receptionist slid the receiver across the desk.
Charlotte picked it up.
"Mr.
Hargrove," she said.
"Charlotte." The voice on the other end was old and careful and very steady.
"I've been waiting for this call for eight months.
Are you safe?"
"I'm standing in the lobby of the Solmere.
I'm fine."
A pause.
"Is Vivienne Holt present?"
"She's standing three feet away from me."
Another pause — longer this time.
"Put me on speaker."
Charlotte pressed the button.
The small speaker crackled.
Every person within ten feet of the front desk went still.
"Ms.
Holt," Hargrove said.
Vivienne straightened.
"Edmund.
This woman walked in off the street with a forged document —"
"The document is not forged," Hargrove said.
"I prepared it myself.
I witnessed the signature.
I filed the original with the court fourteen months ago."
The lobby was so quiet that the faint hum of the chandeliers became audible.
"That's — " Vivienne stopped.
Started again.
"That's not what the board was told."
"I'm aware of what the board was told," Hargrove said.
"I'm also aware of who told them.
We will be addressing that in detail.
Today."
Vivienne's jaw tightened.
"Edmund, you need to think very carefully about what you're doing."
"I've been thinking carefully about it for eight months, Ms.
Holt.
Since the night Eleanor Vale died and someone made sure I couldn't reach her daughter." His voice didn't rise.
It didn't need to.
"Charlotte Vale is the sole legal owner of the Solmere Empire.
Every property.
Every account.
Every share.
I have the paperwork, the court filing, and three witnesses prepared to testify."
Charlotte watched Vivienne's face.
The color had not come back.
"This will not hold," Vivienne said.
Quieter now.
Almost to herself.
"It already has," Hargrove said.
"Charlotte — I'm sending my associate to the lobby now.
He has the full file.
Don't leave the building."
"I won't," Charlotte said.
She set the receiver down.
The two security guards had not moved since Hargrove started speaking.
One of them was looking at the floor.
The other was looking at Charlotte with an expression she hadn't seen from anyone in this building yet.
Something close to recognition.
Vivienne took one step toward her.
Her voice dropped so only Charlotte could hear.
"You think a phone call and a piece of paper ends this?" she said.
"Your mother trusted the wrong people her entire life.
Don't make the same mistake."
Charlotte looked at her steadily.
"My mother trusted you."
Vivienne said nothing.
"That's what I thought," Charlotte said.
Across the lobby, the elevator doors opened.
A man in a dark suit stepped out carrying a leather briefcase.
He scanned the room, found Charlotte's face, and walked directly toward her.
Vivienne watched him come.
Then she turned and walked toward the far corridor — fast, but not fast enough to look like running.
Charlotte let her go.
For now.
The man reached her and extended his hand.
"Ms.
Vale.
My name is Daniel Reeves.
I work with Mr.
Hargrove." He set the briefcase on the reception desk and clicked it open.
"We have a great deal to go through."
Charlotte looked down at the stack of documents inside.
On the top page, in her mother's handwriting, was a single line she had never seen before.
*If they find a way to silence me, give this to Charlotte.
She will know what to do.*
Charlotte's hand went to the edge of the desk.
She didn't pick up the page yet.
"How long have you had this?" she asked.
Daniel Reeves looked at her carefully.
"Since the night your mother died," he said.
May you like
"Ms.
Vale — there's something in that file that changes everything you think you already know."
