Chapter 9 - The Sons Franklin Was Proud Of
Colton grabbed the financial summary.
“How much do we owe?”
Maris took it back.
“This is not the complete audit.”
“You have to know.”
“I know enough.”
Derek looked toward the Jaguar.
“If the car wasn’t Dad’s, then the equipment loan was fraudulent.”
“Yes.”
“And the house?”
“Potentially the same.”
Franklin slammed his bottle down.
“Stop letting her scare you.”
Colton turned on him.
“Did you sign her name?”
“I authorized what needed to be authorized.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
Franklin’s nostrils flared.
“You would have lost everything.”
“My project failed because I ignored the cost reports.”
The admission surprised Maris.
Colton had never accepted responsibility before.
He looked at her.
“You warned me.”
“Yes.”
“And Dad said you were trying to sabotage me.”
Maris held his gaze.
“I wanted you to correct the budget.”
Colton sat slowly.
The humiliation he had enjoyed minutes earlier now belonged to him.
Derek looked at Franklin.
“You told us she left because she couldn’t handle pressure.”
“She left when I asked her to falsify lender reports,” Maris said.
Franklin pointed toward her.
“She is twisting everything.”
Maris tapped her phone.
“Then explain it clearly.”
He stopped.
The recorder was still running.
Elaine sat beside the table, both hands folded in her lap.
Franklin looked at her.
“Tell them what she was like.”
Elaine shook her head.
“No.”
“You remember how difficult she was.”
“No.”
“She threatened to destroy the business.”
“No. You threatened to destroy her reputation.”
Franklin’s face reddened.
Elaine continued.
“You called vendors after she resigned. You told them she stole documents.”
Colton stared at his father.
“You told me that was true.”
“It was.”
Maris opened her briefcase and removed letters from former clients.
Each stated that Franklin had warned them Maris was dishonest.
Each also confirmed they hired Maris only after conducting independent reviews of her work.
One letter included a recording transcript.
Franklin had offered a vendor discounted pricing if the vendor refused to work with Maris.
Derek read it.
“This is interference.”
Franklin laughed.
“You’re suddenly a lawyer?”
“No,” Derek said. “But I know what retaliation looks like.”
Maris watched her brothers realize that Franklin’s praise had never been love.
It was payment for obedience.
The moment they questioned him, they became enemies too.
Franklin looked at Maris.
“What do you want?”
She answered without hesitation.
“The truth first.”
“And then?”
Maris placed the property agreement beside the ledger.
May you like
“Then we discuss what I legally control.”
👉 Franklin believed Maris wanted repayment—but the agreement gave her authority to make a decision affecting every person at the table.
