Chapter 5 - Grant Mercer’s Company
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Grant did not run.
That would have been easier.
He laughed.
“Mercer Strategic Holdings is not mine.”
Dominic stared.
“It has your name.”
“There are thousands of Mercers.”
Rachel was already searching corporate records.
Then she stopped.
“Registered manager: Owen Mercer.”
Grant’s expression hardened.
Dominic knew Owen.
Grant’s son.
Forty-two.
Private-equity executive.
Occasional guest at family events.
And—
Dominic looked toward the guest list.
“Was Owen here tonight?”
Security checked.
“Yes.”
“What time did he leave?”
“Eight-twelve.”
The nursery incident happened at eight-fourteen.
Two minutes.
Dominic looked at Grant.
“You didn’t mention your son was here.”
“You didn’t ask.”
That answer changed the temperature in the room.
Grant seemed to realize it.
“Dominic, Owen attends half your events.”
“Not anymore.”
Rachel pulled the company registration.
Mercer Strategic Holdings had been created seven months earlier.
Its only reported client?
An investment fund called North River Capital.
The same outside investor connected to Malcolm Price.
The proposed trust restructuring was no longer theoretical.
A buyer was waiting.
Rachel spoke slowly.
“If Lily’s voting block moved into the management entity, North River could gain effective control through board agreements.”
Dominic understood.
Celeste becomes guardian.
Celeste votes Lily’s shares into the new structure.
Grant and Malcolm control the board.
North River gains access to assets Dominic’s family had held for decades.
“What does Celeste get?”
Rachel searched the documents.
Nothing obvious.
Grant spoke.
“I don’t know.”
Dominic looked at him.
“You expect me to believe that?”
“Yes.”
Grant sounded almost offended.
“I have advised your family since before you could drive.”
“And your son’s company just appeared on the burner phone used to stage an incident involving my daughter.”
Grant stood.
“I will not sit here and be accused because Owen may have made a stupid business decision.”
Dominic remained seated.
“Then help me prove you weren’t part of it.”
Grant froze.
“Give Rachel access to every trust communication involving Lily.”
Grant’s answer came too quickly.
“I can’t.”
Dominic stood.
“Why?”
“Fiduciary confidentiality.”
“I’m Lily’s father.”
“And not the sole beneficiary.”
Rachel interrupted.
“We can obtain a court order.”
Grant buttoned his jacket.
“Then obtain one.”
He walked toward the door.
Dominic watched him leave.
A man he had known since childhood.
A man who had taught him how to read a balance sheet.
A man who stood beside him at Sofia’s funeral.
Dominic hated suspicion when it involved people he loved.
But Sofia had taught him something important.
Trust wasn’t a substitute for evidence.
Then Hannah entered.
Lily’s nanny looked terrified.
“Mr. Valero?”
“What?”
“I need to show you something.”
She held out a small memory card.
“Where did you get that?”
“From the nursery camera.”
Rachel stood.
“The camera supposedly had no earlier footage.”
Hannah shook her head.
“Because somebody removed it.”
Dominic looked at the card.
“And you found it?”
“No.”
Her voice trembled.
“I took it before they could.”
“Why?”
Hannah looked toward the hallway.
“Because I heard Celeste talking to somebody before you came in.”
Dominic’s heartbeat slowed.
“What did they say?”
Hannah swallowed.
“They said the baby didn’t matter.”
She looked at him.
“They said you were the target.”
May you like
👉 Hannah had saved the footage Celeste thought was gone—and it contained the conversation that happened before Dominic ever entered the nursery.
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