Chapter 6: The Money Meant for My Future
I read the bank transfer message so many times that the words stopped looking real.
Eighty-five thousand dollars.
That was the amount Dad had set aside for my education after Mom died. He used to call it my freedom fund. He said that when I turned eighteen, I could use it to attend whichever university accepted me, without worrying about tuition or student loans.
He had promised me that money belonged to my future.
Now an anonymous stranger was telling me that it had been transferred to Nicole.
I typed a reply.
*How do you know this money was for my education?*
The answer came a minute later.
*Because I helped prepare the original trust documents.*
I sat upright.
*Who are you?*
This time, the sender didn't dodge the question.
*My name is Daniel Price. I work in accounting at your father's company. We met once when you came to the office for his birthday.*
I remembered the birthday.
I had been fourteen, carrying a homemade chocolate cake through the lobby while Dad's employees clapped and laughed. A young man in glasses had held the elevator for me and asked whether I was the daughter who loved science.
I had barely spoken to him.
*Why are you telling me this now?* I typed.
His response took longer.
*Because I saw the transfer, and I recognized the account. I thought it was an ordinary family transaction until I saw the documents Nicole submitted afterward.*
*What documents?*
*A request to amend the trust and reclassify the transfer as a personal loan. The paperwork says your father authorized it.*
My stomach tightened.
*Did he?*
*I don't know. His signature is on the authorization. But the transfer was processed unusually quickly, and the supporting documents don't match the original trust instructions.*
I stared at the screen.
It was possible Dad had agreed to the transfer. He might have lent Nicole the money willingly. The paperwork might have a legitimate explanation.
But if everything was innocent, why had Nicole been preparing to send me away?
Why had she planted the pregnancy test?
And why was she so desperate to keep me from looking at the documents?
I typed one final question.
*Can you prove it?*
Daniel replied:
*I have copies of the records I was authorized to handle. I can't give you confidential company files without proper permission, but I can show you the documents that concern your trust. Meet me at the library tomorrow at four. Bring someone you trust.*
I thought of Hannah.
*I'll bring my friend.*
*Good. And Maya? Don't accuse Nicole of stealing money until you know exactly what the records show. She'll use anything you say against you.*
I put the phone away.
For the first time, someone had given me advice that didn't involve apologizing.
The following afternoon, Hannah arrived at the public library ten minutes before our meeting.
She wore a red hoodie and carried two iced coffees.
“One for you,” she said, handing me a cup.
“And one for me, because I have a feeling this is going to be a long afternoon.””
I managed a weak smile.
“Thanks.””
She studied my face.
“Have you heard from the mysterious accountant?””
“Daniel. Yes. He works for my dad.””
“And you trust him?””
“I don't know him well enough to trust him.””
“Excellent. That's the first sensible thing you've said all week.””
I laughed despite myself.
We chose a table near the back of the library, away from the windows. Hannah placed her phone on the table and opened a blank note.
“If he shows us anything important, we'll write down exactly what it is. No dramatic conclusions, no accusations. Just facts.””
“You sound like a lawyer.””
“My mother watches courtroom shows every night. It's practically my education.””
At four o'clock, a man in a gray sweater approached our table.
He was in his late twenties, with neatly trimmed hair and rectangular glasses. He looked nervous enough to leave.
“Maya Bennett?””
I stood.
“Daniel?””
He nodded.
“Thank you for meeting me.””
Hannah gestured toward the empty chair.
“I'm Hannah.””
“Nice to meet you.””
Daniel sat down and placed a thin folder on the table.
Before opening it, he looked directly at me.
“I need you to understand something. I am not here to tell you that your stepmother committed a crime. I don't have enough information to make that claim.””
“Then what are you here to tell me?””
“That the financial documents connected to your education don't make sense.””
He opened the folder.
The first page was a copy of the original trust summary.
My name appeared beneath my father's.
The fund had been established after Mom died, using a combination of life insurance proceeds and money Dad had contributed over the years.
Daniel pointed to a paragraph.
“This section specifies that the money is intended for your education and related expenses. Your father can manage the account, but major withdrawals are supposed to be documented and approved according to the trust terms.””
I scanned the page.
“What does that mean?””
“It means the money was not supposed to become anyone's personal spending account.””
He showed me another page.
A transfer of $85,000 had been made to an account belonging to Nicole.
The stated purpose was *temporary household investment*.
I looked at the date.
Three days before the pregnancy test.
“Did my dad approve this?””
“The authorization bears his signature.””
“So he gave her the money?””
“I can't tell you what he understood when he signed it. I can tell you that the documents I reviewed afterward included a request to classify the transfer as a loan, with repayment scheduled over several years.””
Hannah leaned forward.
“Why would someone change it from an investment to a loan?””
Daniel adjusted his glasses.
“Because the legal and accounting consequences are different. But the important question is whether the transfer was properly authorized under the trust.””
I stared at the papers.
“Where did the money go?””
Daniel hesitated.
“I can only show you information I am permitted to share. Some of the records indicate that funds were transferred from Nicole's account to a property company registered under a different name.””
“Whose company?””
He slid another page across the table.
The company was called *Northstar Property Holdings*.
I had never heard of it.
But beneath the company name was a registered address.
It was the same address as a luxury condominium development Dad had mentioned several times over dinner.
“Is that my father's company?””
“Not according to the public registration. Northstar is controlled by a separate holding company. I can't confirm who ultimately benefits from it without more records.””
Hannah frowned.
“So we know the money moved, but not why.””
“Correct,” Daniel said.
“And that's why Maya needs to speak with her father before making accusations.””
I looked at the transfer again.
“Why would Nicole put my education money into a property company?””
“I don't know.””
“Could she be investing it for me?””
“Possibly. But the documents I reviewed don't say that.””
I swallowed.
“Can you give me copies?””
Daniel shook his head.
“I can't provide confidential company records outside the proper process. I can give you a list of the document names and dates. Your father can request the full records, and a lawyer can review them.””
He wrote the details on a sheet of paper.
Then he paused.
“There is one other thing.””
I looked up.
“What?””
“Your stepmother visited the accounting office two weeks ago. She asked whether a change in your residence would affect your eligibility for the trust.””
My blood ran cold.
“Before the pregnancy test?””
“Yes.””
“What did you tell her?””
“That changing your residence wouldn't automatically remove you as a beneficiary. The trust terms would still apply.””
Hannah looked at me.
“So sending Maya away wouldn't necessarily give Nicole access to the money?””
“Not by itself,” Daniel replied.
“But I can't speculate about her motives.””
I looked down at the list.
The dates were beginning to form a pattern.
First, Nicole asked about my residence.
Then she arranged the transfer.
Then she began preparing documents to send me away.
Finally, she accused me of being pregnant.
I didn't know whether every event was connected, but the timing was too troubling to ignore.
“Daniel,” I said, “why did you contact me anonymously?””
He lowered his eyes.
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of Nicole?””
“Of losing my job. Your father has built a successful company, and people depend on him. I didn't want to create a scandal based on incomplete information.””
“Then why come forward now?””
He looked at me.
“Because I heard Nicole telling someone that you would be out of the house by the end of the week. She said the family could finally move forward once you were gone.””
My hands tightened around the edge of the table.
“Who was she talking to?””
“I don't know. I heard her through the open door of the conference room.””
Hannah leaned back.
“That sounds pretty bad.””
“It sounded bad to me, too,” Daniel said.
“But I still can't tell you what she intends to do.””
I looked at the paperwork one last time.
For years, Nicole had made me feel as though I was an inconvenience in my own home.
Now I had evidence that she had been asking questions about my residence while money intended for my education was being moved into accounts I didn't understand.
I stood.
“Thank you for telling me.””
Daniel closed the folder.
“Please be careful, Maya. And don't take anything from your father's study again. If you find documents, leave them where they are and ask for a proper review.””
“I will.””
As he walked away, Hannah touched my arm.
“What are you going to do?””
I looked at the sheet of paper in my hand.
“Tell my dad.””
“And if he doesn't believe you?””
I took a deep breath.
“Then I'll ask someone who can.””
That evening, I found Dad in the garage.
He was standing beside his car, speaking into his phone. When he saw me, he ended the call.
“Maya. You're late.””
“I went to the library.””
“You were supposed to come straight home.””
“I needed to meet someone.””
His expression tightened.
“Who?””
“Daniel Price. He works in your accounting department.””
Dad's face changed so quickly that I almost missed it.
“What did you say?””
“He showed me documents connected to my education trust.””
He stared at me.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then he stepped closer.
“Where did you get those documents?””
“He showed me the records he was authorized to discuss.””
“Daniel had no business discussing my finances with you.””
“They're not just your finances. The trust was created for my education.””
His jaw tightened.
“What exactly did he tell you?””
I took the list from my bag.
“That $85,000 was transferred to Nicole's account. The paperwork says it was for a household investment, and later documents describe it as a loan.””
Dad snatched the paper from my hand.
“Who else has seen this?””
“Hannah was there.””
His face darkened.
“You discussed private family matters with your friend?””
“I discussed my future with someone who would listen.””
He stared at me as if I had slapped him.
“Do you have any idea how damaging this could be?””
“To whom?””
“To this family!””
I felt a bitter laugh rise in my throat.
“Dad, why does everyone keep saying that? What about me? What about my future?””
He looked away.
I continued.
“Did you authorize the transfer?””
He didn't answer.
“Dad?””
“Yes,” he said finally.
“I authorized a temporary investment.””
“Why?””
“Because Nicole and I were discussing a property opportunity.””
“Then why was the paperwork changed to a loan?””
His expression tightened.
“I'll deal with the accounting department.””
“That's not an answer.””
“It's the only answer you're getting tonight.””
I stepped closer.
“Were you planning to send me away because of the money?””
His head snapped toward me.
“Absolutely not.””
“Then why were you asking Aunt Margaret to take me before the pregnancy test appeared?””
He went silent.
I had never seen my father look so uncomfortable.
“Maya, there are things you don't understand about adult relationships.””
“Then explain them to me.””
He rubbed his face.
“Nicole and I have been under financial pressure. I was trying to resolve a complicated situation.””
“By moving my college money?””
“Your money is safe.””
“Then prove it.””
His eyes hardened.
“You are seventeen years old. You do not get to interrogate me about every decision I make.””
“No, but I do get to ask why my future is being used to solve problems I didn't create.””
He looked at me for a long time.
Then he lowered his voice.
“Go inside. We'll discuss this when you're calmer.””
I wanted to argue.
I wanted to force him to answer every question.
But I remembered Daniel's warning.
Don't accuse Nicole of stealing money until you know exactly what the records show.
So I turned and walked toward the door.
I was halfway across the garage when Dad spoke again.
“Maya.””
I stopped.
“Don't contact Daniel again.””
I looked back at him.
“Why?””
“Because I said so.””
I swallowed.
“Is he wrong?””
Dad's face tightened.
“Go inside.””
I obeyed.
But as I walked through the kitchen, I heard voices coming from the study.
Nicole was speaking.
“Did she see the transfer records?””
“Yes,” Dad replied.
“And what did you tell her?””
“That I would handle it.””
A pause.
Then Nicole's voice dropped to a whisper.
“Richard, you promised me she wouldn't find out until everything was finalized.””
I stopped in the hallway.
My heart began to pound.
Dad answered so quietly that I almost couldn't hear him.
“I thought you had this under control.””
Nicole let out a sharp breath.
“I did. Until she started digging.””
Then she said the words that made my blood run cold.
“If Maya talks to the lawyer before Monday, we're both finished.””
I stood frozen in the darkness.
My father wasn't simply failing to protect me.
May you like
He was hiding something with Nicole.
And on Monday, whatever they had been planning was supposed to become permanent.
