Chapter 14.1

Chapter 14.1
I left the beach and made my way back to the mansion. On my way, I put a call through to Tiffany.

“Tiff, what do you know about the merger between D&M Corporation and the Whitmans?” I asked quickly, hearing Tiffany's deep sigh over the phone.

“Did you remember something?”

“I just found out Krystal Group was a result of a merger between Dad's company and the Whitmans,”

“Yeah, that's true. It happened right after your parents died. Your dad had signed the merger and I believe sold off his shares to the Whitmans—”

“Dad would never. D&M Corporation was his life. Dad wouldn't just sign it off especially since Tyler turned out to be such a cheating bastard. The Whitmans were the ones desperate for that merger to save their crumbling company. Dad wouldn't just hand it over to them,” I was fuming with rage. Just the thought of it riled me up.

“Well, you know, with the fraud, illegal dealings and bankruptcy D&M Corp was facing at the time, a merger or acquisition would have been the best option at the time,”

“Not for my Dad, Tiff. I knew him. Even with all those lies against him, D&M would have never gone to the Whitmans. He would have never sold his shares and everything. Tell me Tiff, what the fuck did I do two years ago? How could I just let the Whitmans take over everything?”

Tiffany's end was quiet for a second. “Nothing, Elena. You did nothing,”

Her answer was like an arrow to my chest and it caused me to stop dead in my tracks.

“You're right. Everything about the merger two years ago seemed off. Way too off. Just like everything else that happened. The fraud and illegal dealings your father was caught up in. Your parents' deaths. With your sisters’ disappearance, everything seemed off and sudden. And I told you. Hell, you knew it Elena Duval, but for some reasons which you never told me, you refused to look into the merger,”

“I didn't want to?”

“More like you were scared. As if fighting for everything else would make you end up the way your parents did. All you wanted was to uncover the truth behind their suicide and find your sisters, and I understood. Your father's business was the last thing on your mind, but it just wasn't fair for you to lose everything because of the Whitmans’ greed,”

“You also don't believe Dad agreed to the merger?”

“What I know is Uncle Luther would never leave you and your sisters penniless, without insurance or a way to protect yourselves. D&M Corp was his life and so were you, Chloe, and Zoey, I don't think he would have just handed it over, much less to the Whitmans,”

“Oh God! Tiffany, if what we are saying is the truth do you know what that means?” I pulled my hand to my hair, grabbing a fistful of my hair.

“That the Whitmans took advantage of your family's situation and conveniently stole your company to save theirs. It wouldn't surprise me. I've always known the Whitmans were greed mongers,”

I had to find a place to sit. My trembling legs could no longer go any further and the pressure in my chest intensified, suffocating me. And I couldn't breathe.

“Elena, are you there?”

“Tiff, if truly the merger with the Whitmans had been a lie, then that means I failed my parents. I failed Dad. I failed to protect what was ours. I failed to protect my sisters. I failed as his daughter,” I couldn't stop the tears that gathered in my eyes and rushed for freedom.

“No, Elena—”

I disconnected the call abruptly, breaking down in tears.

I couldn't stop the pain in my chest. Dad had always had faith in me and I failed him. I failed my poor sisters and I lost D&M Corp. I lost the one thing that truly belonged to us. And I couldn't forgive myself for that.

I couldn't sleep that night. I didn't think I deserved that much rest. The only thing I thought about was the D&M Corp and the Whitmans. I knew in my bones Dad didn't sign the merger, but I needed some kind of proof. I needed some kind of evidence to back up my claim.

Two years was a long time to find anything, and from the looks of it, Tyler and his Dad had been meticulous in ensuring nothing was connecting Krystal Group to Dad's company.

At this point, there was not much I could do, without proof but there was someone I could talk to.

I didn't hesitate the next morning, I showered and got dressed in blue jeans and a white button-down shirt, wearing a white long jacket over it.

I left right before breakfast with Allen and in less than an hour, I was standing in front of one of the best law firms in New York.

It belonged to one of my father's old friends. He was also a family friend and my father's lawyer at the time. With everything that had happened the last two years, I didn't know how he'd react to me coming to see him, but if there was someone who may have an idea of the merger between Dad's company and WH Corp, it would be Mr. Richardson.

“How may I help you?” The receptionist said, looking up from her computer, her gaze coasted over me for a second, before meeting my gaze.

“I'm here to see Mr Richardson,” I said, lifting my chin as she eyed me up once more.

“The CEO? Do you have an appointment?”

“No, but he's a family friend. And he'll see me,” I said calmly.

“Look lady, Mr Richardson—”

“Please, just call him. Tell him Elena Duval is here,” I met her gaze almost pleading.

She sighed in frustration, giving me one look over before she picked up the phone.

“The CEO is in a meeting right now. I have no idea when he'll be done, you can wait for him or—”

“I'll wait for him,” I smiled. “Thank you,” I was led to the waiting area and I got seated in one of the chairs.

I had waited for nearly four hours and had asked the receptionist a couple of times about Mr Richardson but he was still in a meeting.

With another attempt, I strolled from the waiting area to the receptionist's desk, asking once more if Mr Richardson was done with his meeting.

I tapped my fingers against the smooth surface as the receptionist pulled a call through. She kept nodding, sparing me a glance before ending the call.

“Well, is he done with his meeting?”

“He is, but I'm afraid he just left the building,”

“What? I was right here, I didn't see him leave,”

“I'm really sorry but he did, just now through one of the exits. If you leave now you might be able to catch up with him at the parking—”

Before she could finish, I had begun walking real fast. I used the exit to the parking lot, running as fast as I could, and from a near distance, I sighted him.

“Mr Richardson,” I called out sharply before he could get into his car, taking a couple more steps closer as he turned around.

The skin of his forehead folded as his eyes narrowed on me. Soon they widened in recognition and surprise. “Elena?”

My lips broke into a smile and I nodded brushing back the painful feeling in my chest. The last time I remembered seeing him was at Dad's birthday party two years ago. He looked just as he did then, but had aged a little.

“Oh my… Elena,” He stepped away from his car, moving closer to me. “It's been an awful long time, Elena. How have you… Where… What are you doing here?”

“I came to see you, Mr Richardson. It's about my father. There's something important I need to ask you,” I said, and there was a slight stillness within him, and a knowing look flashed his gaze.