Chapter 2: The Photograph
The ballroom was still applauding when I noticed Richard Sterling watching me.
He stood beside a marble pillar, pretending to listen to a conversation with two investors.
But his eyes kept returning to my apron.
He knew.
Maybe he didn't remember my face, but he remembered the name.
Hayes.
Seventeen years ago, that name had been printed across the front pages of every major newspaper in the city.
Construction Executive Accused of Fraud.
Hayes Engineering Collapses Amid Financial Scandal.
Sterling Development Denies Responsibility.
My father had been portrayed as a dishonest businessman who stole millions from his investors.
The truth was much uglier.
And Richard Sterling had made sure nobody ever found it.
I carried a tray toward the drinks station.
"Excuse me.""
I turned.
Richard stood behind me.
Up close, he looked older than the photographs I'd studied. His skin was thinner, and his hands shook slightly when he adjusted his cuff links.
"You're one of the new servers," he said.
"Yes, sir.""
"What's your name?""
"Eleanor Hayes.""
His expression stiffened.
He glanced toward the ballroom entrance.
Then back at me.
"Hayes?""
"That's right.""
"Do you have family in the construction business?""
I pretended to consider the question.
"My father used to work in construction.""
"What was his name?""
"Daniel Hayes.""
Richard's champagne glass slipped slightly in his hand.
A little liquid spilled over his fingers.
"Daniel Hayes?""
"Yes.""
He stared at me.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then he leaned closer.
"Where did you get that name?""
I almost laughed.
"From my father, sir.""
His jaw tightened.
"Listen carefully, young woman. Whatever you think you know about the past, you should leave it there.""
I lowered my tray.
"Why?""
"Because some things are better left forgotten.""
"Did you forget my father?""
His face went pale.
Before he could answer, a voice interrupted us.
"Father? Everything all right?""
Alexander appeared beside him.
Richard immediately stepped back.
"Fine. Just discussing the staff.""
Alexander looked at me.
"Is there a problem?""
Richard smiled.
"No problem at all.""
He turned to Alexander.
"Come with me. There's someone you need to meet.""
As they walked away, Richard glanced over his shoulder.
His eyes were no longer merely irritated.
They were frightened.
I had expected anger.
I hadn't expected fear.
That was when I realized something important.
Richard Sterling wasn't afraid of my father's name.
He was afraid of what my father had left behind.
At nine fifteen, I was sent upstairs to deliver a tray of coffee to the private study.
The room was at the end of a long corridor lined with portraits.
I had passed it several times during my preparation, but this was the first time I entered.
The study smelled of expensive leather and polished wood. A massive desk stood beneath a portrait of Richard's late wife.
On the wall behind it hung framed photographs of the Sterling family.
One showed Richard standing beside a younger man.
Daniel Hayes.
My father.
I stopped breathing.
The photograph was taken at the opening of the Sterling-Hayes industrial complex.
My father was wearing the same brown suit he had worn in the picture inside my handbag.
Richard was holding a pair of golden scissors.
I walked closer.
Someone had scratched my father's face.
Not accidentally.
The photograph's glass had been damaged directly over his eyes.
"Looking for something?""
I spun around.
Vanessa stood in the doorway.
She had removed her necklace and was holding a small diamond earring between her fingers.
"I was delivering coffee, ma'am.""
"Then deliver it.""
I placed the tray on the desk.
Vanessa closed the door.
"Now tell me why you're here.""
I kept my hands folded.
"I don't understand.""
She laughed.
"Please. My father told me your name.""
I looked at her.
"What did he say?""
"That you're Daniel Hayes's daughter.""
For the first time, I dropped the polite expression.
"Then you know who I am.""
Vanessa walked toward the desk.
She picked up a coffee cup and inspected it.
"Your father was a criminal.""
"My father was framed.""
"He stole millions.""
"Your father stole the company.""
Vanessa placed the cup down.
The porcelain made a sharp sound against the desk.
"Be careful.""
"Why? Are you worried someone might hear?""
She approached me.
"Listen to me, Eleanor. I don't know what story you've been telling yourself all these years, but your father was not an innocent man.""
I reached into my apron.
"Then perhaps you can explain this.""
I took out the old photograph.
Vanessa stared at it.
Her expression changed immediately.
She snatched it from my hand.
"Where did you get this?""
"It belonged to my father.""
"Give me the rest.""
"There is no rest.""
"Don't lie to me.""
She flipped the photograph over.
A handwritten message appeared on the back.
Richard promised to protect the company. Alexander knows what happened. Never let them destroy the original.
Vanessa read it twice.
Then she looked at me.
"Who is Alexander?""
I stared at her.
"You tell me.""
She threw the photograph onto the desk.
"You have no idea what you're getting involved in.""
"Then explain it.""
"Get out.""
"I want to know why your father destroyed mine.""
Vanessa opened the desk drawer and removed a small envelope.
She held it up.
"You see this? This is a copy of your father's court judgment. He was convicted. He died with that conviction.""
My chest tightened.
My father had died four years earlier.
He had spent the last eleven years of his life fighting to clear his name.
He had never succeeded.
"How did you get that?""
"My father keeps records.""
"Then perhaps he also kept the original contracts.""
Vanessa's face went still.
I knew then that I had touched something important.
She folded the judgment and returned it to the drawer.
"Get out of this house before I call security.""
I picked up my empty tray.
"One more question.""
She rolled her eyes.
"What?""
"Why did your father pay my mother's hospital bills after my father was arrested?""
Vanessa stopped moving.
For the first time, she looked genuinely confused.
"What?""
"My mother had cancer. For three years, someone paid her medical expenses anonymously. We later discovered the payments came from an account connected to Sterling Development.""
Vanessa's eyes narrowed.
"My father never did that.""
"Then who did?""
She said nothing.
I turned toward the door.
"Eleanor.""
I stopped.
Vanessa's voice had changed.
"Your father had a partner. Someone who helped him with the business.""
"I know.""
"Do you know what happened to him?""
I turned back.
"No.""
She smiled faintly.
"Then ask your mother.""
My fingers tightened around the tray.
"My mother died two years ago.""
Vanessa's expression flickered.
For a moment, I thought I saw regret.
Then it vanished.
"How unfortunate.""
I left before she could say anything else.
In the corridor, I found Marcus waiting with a stack of folded napkins.
"Where have you been?""
"Delivering coffee.""
"Your face looks like you've seen a ghost.""
I looked toward the study.
"Maybe I have.""
Marcus lowered his voice.
"Listen, there's something strange happening downstairs.""
"What?""
"Mr. Sterling just ordered security to check every employee's belongings.""
My stomach dropped.
"Why?""
"He says something valuable is missing.""
I looked at my apron.
The envelope was still there.
Marcus glanced toward the staircase.
"Also, the groom is looking for you.""
"Alexander?""
"Yes. He asked if your name was Eleanor Hayes.""
I felt my pulse quicken.
"What did you tell him?""
"That I didn't know.""
"Good.""
Marcus grabbed my arm.
"Ellie, what's going on?""
I hesitated.
Then I looked him directly in the eyes.
"Do you know anything about the Sterling-Hayes partnership?""
His expression changed.
"Why?""
"Because my father was Daniel Hayes.""
Marcus stared at me.
Then he looked around the corridor to make sure nobody was listening.
"Your father?""
"Yes.""
He swallowed.
"My uncle worked for Sterling Development back then.""
I waited.
"He's the one who told me about the accident.""
"What accident?""
Marcus looked uncomfortable.
"The construction accident at the industrial complex. Three workers died. Your father was blamed.""
I nodded.
"I know.""
"But my uncle said something else.""
"What?""
Marcus leaned closer.
"He said the safety inspection had been signed two days before the accident. Your father wasn't even in the country when it happened.""
My entire body went cold.
"What?""
"That's what he told me. He said someone forged your father's signature.""
I grabbed his sleeve.
"Who signed it?""
Marcus shook his head.
"I don't know. My uncle never told me.""
"Can you contact him?""
"I can try.""
Before I could answer, a voice came from behind us.
"Miss Hayes.""
We turned.
Alexander Reed stood at the end of the corridor.
His expression was serious.
"Could I speak with you privately?""
Marcus stepped away.
"I should get back downstairs.""
He disappeared through the service door.
Alexander approached.
"I've been looking for you.""
"Why?""
He glanced toward the ballroom.
"Because Vanessa told me something.""
I said nothing.
"She told me your father was involved in a criminal investigation involving her family.""
"That's true.""
"She also said you came here to threaten her.""
I almost smiled.
"Did she mention the part where she threatened me first?""
Alexander exhaled.
"I don't know what to believe.""
"Then believe the documents.""
I reached into my apron and showed him the photograph.
He took it carefully.
His eyes moved across the image.
Then he turned it over.
When he read the handwritten message, his face changed.
"Where did you get this?""
"My father.""
Alexander looked up.
"Who wrote the note?""
"I don't know.""
He stared at the photograph for a long moment.
Then he whispered something I wasn't expecting.
"My father.""
I felt the floor shift beneath me.
"Your father?""
Alexander nodded.
"My father died when I was seventeen. He worked with Daniel Hayes. They were business partners before the accident.""
I stared at him.
"Your father was the other partner?""
"Yes.""
He turned the photograph over again.
"His handwriting is unmistakable.""
"Then you know what happened.""
Alexander shook his head.
"No. I know what I was told.""
"What were you told?""
He looked toward the ballroom.
"That Daniel Hayes stole money from the company, falsified safety reports, and caused the accident that killed three workers.""
"And you believed that?""
"I was seventeen.""
I softened slightly.
He looked down at the photograph.
"After my father's death, Richard Sterling became my legal guardian for two years. He told me he was protecting my father's business interests.""
My stomach tightened.
"Did he make you sign anything?""
Alexander didn't answer immediately.
Then he reached into his jacket and removed a folded document.
"I've kept this for seventeen years.""
He unfolded it.
At the top were the words:
*TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP AND LIABILITY AGREEMENT.*
Below them were two signatures.
One belonged to Richard Sterling.
The other belonged to Alexander's father.
But at the bottom, there was a third signature.
A name I recognized.
Daniel Hayes.
I stared at it.
"That's impossible.""
Alexander looked at me.
"Why?""
"My father told me he never signed this document.""
Alexander's face went pale.
"Then someone forged his signature.""
Before either of us could speak, the corridor lights flickered.
A security guard appeared at the far end.
"Mr. Reed. Mrs. Sterling needs you immediately.""
Alexander folded the document.
"Tell her I'll be there.""
The guard hesitated.
"Sir, she says it's urgent.""
Alexander looked at me.
Then he lowered his voice.
"Don't leave this building.""
"Why?""
He leaned closer.
"Because I think someone has been watching you since you arrived.""
The guard stepped forward.
"Mr. Reed?""
Alexander handed me the photograph.
Then he walked away.
I stood alone in the corridor.
My father's name was on a document he had never signed.
And Alexander Reed had just admitted that his own father might have known the truth.
But before I could make sense of it, my phone vibrated.
A message appeared from an unknown number.
Stop investigating Daniel Hayes. Your mother wasn't the only person who died because of that family.
I read it twice.
May you like
Then another message arrived.
Ask Richard Sterling what happened to the original safety report.
