Chapter 4 - The First Revelation
The tension in Conference Room B was thick enough to slice with a pocketknife. Mr. Harrison slowly scanned the legal document before him, his expression completely unreadable.
"Let us begin with the preliminary dispositions," the attorney stated calmly. "To his sister, Eleanor Vance, Walter Sullivan left a modest monthly stipend of two thousand five hundred dollars, payable for the duration of her natural life, contingent upon her maintaining a respectful distance from the primary estate operations."
Eleanor’s jaw dropped, her hand freezing midway to her water bottle. "What? A stipend? That's pennies! Walter promised me a stake in the Hocking Hills properties years ago! Derek, tell him this is a mistake!"
Derek frowned, shooting a quick, anxious glance at his aunt before turning his attention back to the lawyer. "Hold on, Arthur. My father and I discussed my management role extensively. Under my direction, Sullivan Woodland Retreats has doubled its portfolio. Surely my compensation and inheritance reflect my status as sole executive officer of the family business."
Mr. Harrison turned another page, his expression remaining entirely neutral. "According to Section 4, Paragraph B of your father’s will, Derek, you have indeed been granted full ownership of Sullivan Woodland Retreats—specifically, the operational entity, its administrative offices, and a twenty percent equity share in the corporate brand."
Derek’s triumphant smirk returned instantly. He threw his arms wide and shot a mocking, sideways glance at Brooke. "There it is! Exactly like I told you, Aunt Eleanor! The business, the brand, the whole operation is mine! Sorry, Brooke, but hard work and loyalty actually pay off in the real world."
Eleanor immediately recovered her composure, flashing a vicious grin at Brooke. "Well, at least the old man had some sense left at the end. You get nothing, Brooke. Absolutely nothing."
Brooke remained entirely silent. She didn't blink, nor did she show a single flicker of disappointment. Her outward calm seemed to unsettle Derek slightly, but he quickly brushed it aside, intoxicated by his apparent victory.
Mr. Harrison cleared his throat, tapping his finger against the paper. "However, Derek, you interrupted me before I finished reading the complete clause regarding Sullivan Woodland Retreats."
Derek froze, his smile faltering slightly. "What do you mean?"
The attorney adjusted his glasses, his voice dropping an octave as he read aloud: *"Furthermore, pursuant to Section 4, Paragraph C, the operational entity of Sullivan Woodland Retreats is hereby encumbered by a binding debt-repayment clause. Due to speculative real estate acquisitions made by Derek Sullivan between the years 2021 and 2023, the business currently carries an unrecorded corporate liability of three point two million dollars, payable immediately to the estate upon Walter Sullivan's death."*
The color drained entirely from Derek’s face. The cocky, arrogant executive posture vanished instantly, replaced by sheer, unadulterated panic. "That... that's impossible!" Derek stammered, half-rising from his chair. "Dad agreed to cover those loans! Those were internal business expenses! You can't saddle me with three point two million dollars of personal debt!"
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"The documents bear your father's signature, countersigned by corporate audit," Mr. Harrison replied coldly. "You own the business, Derek. And with it, you own every single penny of its liabilities."
***
