Chapter 3: The Name on the Paper
1483 Words
Maya followed Daniel back into the house.
He did not say much.
That worried her more than anything else.
Daniel was not the type of man who became quiet when there was nothing to say. When he had something on his mind, he usually kept it there until he was ready to deal with it.
This time, his face told her he had already made up his mind about something.
They entered his study.
Maya had not been inside the room in years.
The furniture had changed, but the large wooden desk was still in the same place. Files were arranged neatly on one side. A laptop sat open near the window.
Daniel closed the door.
Maya remained standing.
"Sit."
She sat in the chair opposite his desk.
Daniel opened a drawer and brought out a brown file.
He placed it in front of her.
Maya looked at it.
"What is this?"
"Your mother's financial records."
She frowned.
"Where did you get them?"
"From my lawyer."
"Why does your lawyer have my mother's records?"
"Because your mother came to me six months before she died."
Maya stared at him.
"My mother came to you?"
"Yes."
"You never told me."
"I didn't know how to reach you."
"You could have tried harder."
Daniel looked down.
"I know."
Maya opened the file.
The first few pages were bank statements.
She read them slowly.
There were payments she did not recognise. Loans. Transfers. Property documents.
Her hands began to shake.
"This can't be right."
"It is."
"My mother didn't take these loans."
"I know."
"Then why is her name here?"
"That's what I have been trying to find out."
Maya turned another page.
Then she stopped.
A signature appeared at the bottom of a document.
She stared at it.
"No."
Daniel watched her.
"What?"
"That's not my mother's signature."
"I know."
Maya looked at him.
"Then why did the bank accept it?"
"Because someone who knew her well submitted the documents."
She turned another page.
There was a name.
Samuel Cole.
Her stepbrother.
Maya's mouth went dry.
"He did this."
"We don't know that yet."
"I know his name when I see it."
Daniel sat down.
"Your stepbrother had access to your mother's accounts."
"He lived with her."
"Exactly."
Maya looked through the papers again.
"How much?"
Daniel didn't answer.
She looked up.
"How much debt?"
"About forty-eight million naira."
Maya almost dropped the file.
"Forty-eight million?"
Daniel nodded.
She laughed once.
It wasn't because anything was funny.
"Where would my mother get that kind of money?"
"She didn't."
Maya closed her eyes.
Everything suddenly made sense.
The phone calls before her mother died.
The arguments between her mother and Samuel.
The documents Samuel had rushed her to sign after the funeral.
The way he had told her there was nothing left for her.
She had believed him.
"What did he tell you?" Daniel asked.
Maya opened her eyes.
"He said my mother had debts. He said the house had to be sold to settle them."
Daniel leaned back.
"And you believed him?"
"I had just lost my mother."
He said nothing.
"I wasn't thinking clearly."
"I know."
Maya looked at the papers again.
"So where is Samuel now?"
"I don't know."
"Of course."
She pushed the file away.
"I need to find him."
"You can't."
"Why?"
"Because he left the country three weeks ago."
Maya stared at him.
"How do you know that?"
"My lawyer found out."
She stood.
"Then help me find him."
"I am."
"Then tell me everything."
Daniel looked at her.
"There is something else."
Maya's stomach tightened.
"What?"
Daniel hesitated.
"The money didn't go into your stepbrother's account."
"Then where did it go?"
He slid another document across the desk.
Maya picked it up.
A company name was printed at the top.
She read it twice.
She knew the name.
Her face changed.
"No."
Daniel watched her.
"You know the company?"
"Yes."
"Whose is it?"
Maya's fingers tightened around the paper.
"Victoria's family."
The room became silent.
Daniel's expression changed.
Maya looked at him.
"Your fiancée's family?"
"That's what the records show."
Maya stood there, trying to understand what she was looking at.
"Are you saying Victoria knew?"
"I'm saying we need proof before accusing anyone."
"But her family received the money."
"According to these records."
Maya laughed bitterly.
"That is proof enough for me."
"It isn't."
"Of course you would say that."
Daniel frowned.
"What does that mean?"
"You still protect her."
"I am protecting the truth."
"Maybe you should have done that five years ago."
Daniel became quiet.
Maya regretted the words immediately, but she did not apologise.
Daniel looked down at the documents.
"I should have."
The answer caught her off guard.
She expected an argument.
Instead, he accepted it.
Maya picked up the file.
"I want copies."
"I'll give you everything."
"Why?"
Daniel looked at her.
"Because your mother trusted me."
Maya swallowed.
"She never told me."
"She didn't want you involved."
"Why?"
Daniel looked toward the window.
"She was afraid."
"Of what?"
He didn't answer.
Maya stepped closer.
"Daniel."
He looked at her.
"She was afraid someone would hurt you."
Maya's heart sank.
"Someone?"
Daniel nodded.
"Your mother believed the people behind the money were dangerous."
Maya stared at him.
For five years, she had thought her mother had died after a long illness.
Now Daniel was telling her there had been something else.
Something she had never known.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I tried."
"When?"
"After the funeral."
Maya shook her head.
"You never came."
"I did."
She stared at him.
"What?"
"I came to the funeral."
Maya could barely speak.
"I never saw you."
"I stayed outside."
"Why?"
Daniel looked away.
"Because your stepbrother told me you didn't want me there."
Maya's eyes widened.
"He said that?"
"Yes."
She slowly sat down.
Samuel had lied to both of them.
Five years ago, Daniel had believed she had chosen another man.
Maya had believed Daniel had refused to see her.
All this time, they had both been living with a story someone else had created.
She covered her face with her hands.
"Why would he do that?"
"I don't know."
Daniel walked around the desk.
"But we're going to find out."
Maya looked up.
For the first time since returning to Carter Estate, she saw something different in his eyes.
Not anger.
Not pity.
Determination.
Then the study door opened.
Victoria stood there.
Neither of them had heard her come in.
Her eyes moved from Daniel to Maya.
Then to the file on the desk.
"What are you doing?"
Daniel's expression hardened.
"Why are you back?"
"I forgot something."
Victoria walked into the room.
She noticed the papers.
"What are those?"
"Nothing."
Her eyes remained on the file.
"Daniel."
He closed it.
Victoria looked at Maya.
"You've been talking about my family."
Maya stood.
"Your family is connected to my mother's debts."
Victoria's face went still.
"What?"
"You heard me."
Daniel stepped between them.
"Enough."
Victoria looked at him.
"Are you accusing my family of stealing from her?"
"No."
Maya answered before Daniel could.
"I'm asking questions."
Victoria's eyes narrowed.
"You've been here for less than twenty-four hours and you're already creating problems."
"I didn't create them."
"You always do."
Daniel turned sharply.
"Victoria."
She stopped.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Victoria looked at Daniel.
"Do you believe her?"
Daniel did not answer immediately.
That silence seemed to hurt Victoria more than a direct accusation.
She nodded slowly.
"I see."
She turned toward the door.
Daniel called her name.
She stopped but did not look back.
"If you start digging into this," she said quietly, "you may find something you don't want to know."
Then she walked away.
Maya looked at Daniel.
"What did she mean?"
He didn't answer.
His phone began ringing.
He checked the screen.
The call was from an unknown number.
He answered.
"Hello?"
His face changed.
Maya watched him carefully.
"Who is this?"
There was silence.
Then Daniel's voice became cold.
"Say that again."
He listened.
His eyes moved toward Maya.
"What happened?" she asked.
Daniel ended the call.
He looked at her.
"They found your stepbrother."
Maya stood.
"Where?"
Daniel took a breath.
"He wants to meet you."
Maya's heart began pounding.
"Where?"
Daniel looked at the clock.
"Tonight."
Maya swallowed.
"Then let's go."
Daniel shook his head.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because if Samuel is calling you now, after five years of hiding, there is a reason."
Maya stared at him.
"Then we need to know what it is."
Daniel picked up his car keys.
"You're not going alone."
Maya looked at him.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Five years ago, she had walked away from Daniel because she believed he hated her.
Tonight, she was about to walk into a meeting with the man who had helped destroy her family.
And this time, Daniel was coming with her.
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