Chapter 5 - THE WATCH THAT REMEMBERED EVERYTHING
“She used my father's watch to get close to you.”
Damian spoke almost to himself.
His disappointment was worse than anger.
Evelyn touched his arm.
“Son, you loved the woman you believed Scarlett was.”
Damian looked toward the house.
“I don't know what I believed anymore.”
We returned to the ballroom.
The chandeliers were still shining.
But the music had stopped, and guests were gathering their coats.
Scarlett stood near the auction table.
Michael was beside her, holding a small wooden presentation box.
Damian walked straight toward his brother.
“Give me Dad's watch.”
Michael didn't move.
“It's mine. I purchased it.”
“After Scarlett stole it from Mother.”
Michael's jaw tightened.
“Careful how you speak about my involvement.”
“You bought seven million dollars' worth of stolen family property.”
“I bought assets from a woman authorized to sell them.”
“She had no authorization.”
Michael glanced at Nora.
“Apparently my daughter forgot to mention the forms she signed.”
Nora flinched.
Damian stepped between them.
“Leave her out of it.”
Michael laughed without humor.
“That's easy for you to say. Dad left you the companies. I spent twenty years cleaning up what you didn't want to touch.”
“Michael, I offered you a partnership.”
“You offered me a salary.”
For the first time, I heard something besides arrogance in his voice.
Resentment.
Years of it.
Michael opened the box.
Inside lay a gold pocket watch.
Its crystal was cracked near the twelve.
“Dad gave you the business and left me this,” Michael said. “A broken watch.”
Evelyn shook her head.
“He left you much more than that.”
“Then why did I have to buy back my own family's furniture?”
“Because you took it from my house in the first place.”
Michael looked away.
Damian held out his hand.
“The watch.”
Michael hesitated.
Then he handed it over.
“Open it,” he said bitterly. “Let's see what terrible thing Dad thought I would do.”
Evelyn pressed a narrow catch beneath the winding stem.
The back opened.
Inside was a faded photograph.
Two children stood on a snowy dock.
The older girl wore a bright blue coat.
She held the hand of a much smaller boy.
Nora made a sound.
“That's me and Owen.”
On the back, written in careful handwriting, were the words:
She came back for him.
Evelyn sat down.
Damian turned toward her.
“Mother?”
She stared at the photograph.
“Twelve years ago, Michael was managing the Pier Seventeen warehouse. There was a winter inspection. Nora and Owen had come with him.”
Michael stiffened.
“Mother, don't.”
Evelyn continued.
“An emergency evacuation began after a heating system malfunction. Michael was occupied with the inspectors.”
“I was trying to keep people safe,” Michael snapped.
“I know. But the children were separated from the group.”
Nora stared at the photograph.
“I remember.”
Her voice was small.
“Owen got frightened.”
She looked down.
“He was only five.”
Evelyn nodded.
“Someone told Nora to wait outside. But she wouldn't leave without her brother.”
Nora wiped her eyes.
“I found him in the office hallway. He was crying.”
“You wrapped him in your coat,” Evelyn said. “And you brought him to your grandfather.”
Michael stared at his daughter.
“I didn't know that.”
“You never asked,” Nora whispered.
The words struck harder than an accusation.
Evelyn looked at Damian.
“Your father watched Nora take care of Owen. Later, he asked her why she hadn't stayed somewhere warm.”
Nora remembered the answer.
“Because Owen was cold.”
Evelyn smiled through tears.
“Your grandfather never forgot it.”
Damian turned the photograph over again.
Beneath it was another folded paper.
A handwritten inventory number.
Seventeen.
And a short instruction:
Do not approve the Westbridge transfer without the beneficiary's voluntary consent.
Damian looked at Michael.
“Westbridge.”
Michael's expression closed.
Scarlett stepped forward.
“Damian, there's something you need to understand.”
He faced her.
“Then tell me.”
“The Westbridge transaction isn't just about your brother's business.”
She reached into her handbag and removed a financial summary.
“It's tied to the rehabilitation hospital.”
My stomach tightened.
“The children's hospital?” I asked.
Scarlett nodded.
“The foundation promised a major contribution to its therapy expansion. The money was supposed to come from this auction and the Westbridge transaction.”
Damian examined the summary.
His face changed.
“Who authorized this guarantee?”
May you like
Scarlett pointed to a signature.
“YOU DID, DAMIAN. AND IF YOU STOP THE TRANSACTION TOMORROW, THE HOSPITAL LOSES THE MONEY IT WAS PROMISED.”
