Chapter 5 - The Pink Coat
"Who is this?" Richard asked, his voice suddenly sharp, abandoning the friendly facade. His eyes darted from the child to Nathaniel, calculating.
"My great-niece," Nathaniel lied smoothly, stepping between Richard and the child. "My sister's family decided to surprise me for the holiday. Go on back to the guesthouse, sweetheart. I'll bring your coat in a minute."
Lily nodded and scampered back down the hall.
Richard stared at the empty hallway, his breathing slightly shallow. "I didn't realize your sister had a granddaughter that young. And that watch... it looked like one of our foreman pieces."
"Kids find all sorts of junk in my study," Nathaniel said, signing the documents without looking at them. "Merry Christmas, Richard. I'll see you next week."
Richard hastily packed his briefcase, his eyes lingering on the hallway. "Right. Merry Christmas, Nathaniel."
The moment the front door clicked shut, Nathaniel hurried down the hall. He found Sarah in the kitchen, furiously packing Lily’s things back into their duffel bag, her face pale with panic.
"That man," Sarah gasped, zipping the bag. "I saw him through the window. That was the man who came to my house after Marcus died. The one who threatened to take Lily away through child services if I went to the press. Who are you?!"
Nathaniel held up his hands. "Sarah, please listen to me—"
"Who are you?!" she screamed, pulling Lily behind her.
"My name is Nathaniel Whitmore," he said quietly. "I own the company."
Sarah’s eyes widened in sheer terror. She grabbed her keys, dragging Lily toward the back door. "You set us up. You brought us here to keep us quiet."
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"No!" Nathaniel stepped in front of the door. "I didn't know, Sarah! I swear to you on my late wife's grave, I didn't know he stole your money. I want to help you."
Lily tugged on her mother’s sleeve. "Mommy," the little girl whispered, reaching into the pocket of her pink coat. "Daddy told me to give this to the big boss if he ever didn't come home." She pulled out a small, grease-stained flash drive.
