The Billionaire Who Called Me a Fraud
Chapter 05 - The Billionaire Who Called Me a Fraud
Charles Whitmore invited me to his downtown office three days after the DNA results.
His attorney sent the invitation.
Rebecca advised me to attend only with legal representation, and I agreed.
The executive offices of Whitmore Holdings occupied the top floors of a glass tower overlooking the Chicago River.
The receptionist recognized me immediately.
She tried not to stare.
By then, rumors had begun circulating online.
A hotel server resembling the missing Whitmore heir.
An aunt claiming to have found her nephew.
A DNA test that appeared to support the story.
Charles's public-relations team had issued a statement urging caution.
It referred to me as an unidentified claimant.
Not a nephew.
Not a survivor.
A claimant.
Charles was standing beside the window when we entered.
He didn't offer to shake my hand.
"Mr. Reed."
"Mr. Whitmore."
He gestured toward a chair.
I remained standing.
Charles sighed.
"I understand Eleanor has been filling your head with stories."
"She showed me evidence."
"She showed you what she wanted you to see."
Rebecca opened her folder.
"We're here to discuss your client's position regarding identity verification and relevant family records."
Charles ignored her.
He looked directly at me.
"Tell me something, Noah. How much do you want?"
I stared at him.
"What?"
"Everyone has a number."
My jaw tightened.
"You think I'm doing this for money?"
"You're a hotel employee with financial difficulties. Suddenly someone tells you that you may be connected to a wealthy family."
I felt anger rising.
"Someone pushed me into a fountain, showed me a missing-child photograph, and told me my name might be Julian."
Charles smiled faintly.
"Quite a story."
I stepped closer.
"Then explain the scar. Explain the photograph. Explain the DNA findings."
His smile faded.
"Those findings require further examination."
Rebecca intervened.
"We're prepared to proceed through independent channels."
Charles turned toward her.
"Of course you are."
Then he opened a drawer.
He removed a checkbook.
I watched in disbelief.
He wrote something, tore off a check, and pushed it across the desk.
Five hundred thousand dollars.
"Take this," he said, "and stop bothering my family."
I stared at the check.
Five hundred thousand dollars.
Enough to pay Mia's tuition.
Enough to clear every debt Dad had left behind.
Enough to change our lives.
I picked it up.
Charles relaxed.
Then I tore it in half.
His face changed.
"I don't want your money," I said.
I placed the pieces on his desk.
"I want the truth about my parents."
Charles stood.
"Get out."
Rebecca closed her folder.
"We'll be in touch through counsel."
As we reached the door, Charles spoke again.
"Be careful, Noah."
I stopped.
He continued.
"People who dig into the past sometimes discover things they regret."
I turned.
"Is that a warning?"
He smiled.
"Friendly advice."
I looked at him.
"For your sake, I hope that's all it is."
That evening, someone broke into my apartment.
Nothing valuable was stolen.
Mia's laptop remained on the table.
The television was untouched.
But Dad's old bedroom had been searched.
Drawers were open.
Papers covered the floor.
And the empty envelope from his hidden compartment had been torn apart.
Mia stood beside me, trembling.
"They were looking for the locker key."
I nodded.
"Or what was inside the locker."
We contacted the police.
Rebecca helped us document everything.
For safety, Mia spent the next several nights with a trusted friend while we arranged better security.
I slept very little.
Every time a car stopped outside, I looked through the blinds.
Then one evening, Eleanor called.
Her voice was urgent.
"Noah, I found something."
"What?"
"An old photograph from the night of the fire."
My heart hammered.
"What does it show?"
She took a breath.
"Your mother getting into a car."
I stopped moving.
"And?"
"She's with a man I've never seen before."
"Can you identify him?"
"Not yet."
I waited.
May you like
Then Eleanor whispered, "But Charles is standing beside the car."
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