The Billionaire Babe

40. Valerie

AJ left over an hour ago, and I sit at the dining table, holding my cup of coffee and looking at the morning sun through the window.

The apartment is quiet. I don’t even have Bordeaux here to keep me company as he is now best friends with Levi and downstairs with him. My mind wanders to work. To the board. And the anonymous board member. I try to think about who it could be. Is it a man or a woman? A friend of my mother’s, someone I know, or perhaps someone I don’t? I know I still have the support of the six board members, so my life now rests in the hands of this anonymous person. I run my finger around the rim of my coffee cup and silently hope and put good vibes out to the universe that this person will make the right decision.

There is one more day until the board meeting. It’s not lost on me that it falls on my birthday. It is either going to be the best present or the worst, depending on how they vote. The doorbell startles my thoughts.

I walk over to the door and peek, seeing George standing on the other side.

“Hi, George,” I say, opening the door. He looks pale, his brow furrowed, and my stomach feels heavy when I spot him. But he isn’t alone. Dennis, my old family butler, stands next to him, holding a box in his arms.

“Dennis? Nice to see you, but what’s going on?” I ask, opening the door wider, knowing something isn’t right.

“Hi, Valerie. I have some things that you need to know,” Dennis says as he and George step inside. Closing the door, my heart rate increases.

“You need to take a seat,” George says, and I really start panicking.

“Okaaaayy,” I say, apprehensive as I take a seat, and now I really wish Bordeaux was here sitting on my lap.

“Valerie. As you know, your mother hired me many years ago, before she even met your father,” Dennis starts, and I nod. Dennis has been with my family for a long time.

“I know.”

“Well, back then, things were a little different. Your mother and your grandmother, they were fearless, and they really changed the way of doing business. Van Cleef Corporation was innovative, and I believe that is what made it really special.” Dennis continues, and my eyes flick between him and George.

“I know. That’s what I want. I want to take us back in that direction. Not the chasing money and losing friends like the business my father has established,” I say, wondering what my parents’ butler is about to tell me.

“When your father started showing an interest in your mother, it was quick. I believe the term people use now is ‘love bomb.’ I believe he love bombed her and she fell pregnant with you. They had a shotgun wedding and, well, the rest is history,” Dennis says, looking melancholy.

“Thank you for telling me this, but I am confused as to what it has to do with me now?”

“Your mother always thought of the future, and over the years, she started to become more aware of the type of man your father was. So she made some business changes…” he says, his voice trailing off.

“What changes?” I ask, my stomach in knots.

“She made me the anonymous board member of Van Cleef Corporation.” Thank God I am sitting down because I would have fallen over.

“Really?” I breathe out, in shock, but also happiness.

“Yes. As a butler, I hear many things in that household and come across various paperwork and materials. Over the years, I have gotten a good handle on exactly what your father is planning and the reasons behind it. Your mother saw an opportunity to ensure he is kept honest by implementing me as the anonymous board member, to be in place until you took over as CEO.” A small smile comes to Dennis’ face.

“She was so smart…” I murmur, thinking about my mother.

“She was. She had great foresight. Excellent ability to strategize and see the bigger picture,” George says.

“So, what does all this mean? Do I have your vote?” I ask, my stomach now lurching into my chest. Dennis looks down at the box at his feet, and my heart stutters. Is he not going to vote for me?

“There has been some… progress on that matter…” George says cryptically.

“What is it? What’s happened?” I sit on the edge of my sofa.

“I remembered last night about some files,” Dennis says, and my brow furrows.

“Files? What files?” I ask, a bit confused.

“Your mother’s files.” He paces my living room. “I remembered she had a box of files stored away. She told me to access them in case of an emergency. I think at the time she meant if your father died, not that he was threatening you,” Dennis says.

“What? Where are they?” I ask, keen to see them. Keen to have any contact with my mother.

“They were in a safety storage facility on the west side,” he says. “Your mother thought they would be safer in an area of the city that none of her contacts would think to visit.” He shakes his head, half smiling at the memory of her.

“So we go get them,” I say, standing, ready for action.

“I went last night. I have been up all night looking through them.” He swallows roughly.

“And?” I ask, my hand immediately coming to my elbow to pinch the skin. A nervous tick I am now aware I have, thanks to AJ pointing it out.

“You have a trust fund,” he says, and I still.

“A what?” I ask. “Wouldn’t that be something that was in her will? She already left me some money. That is how I bought this penthouse.” But he already knows all this; George and Dennis were both with me, even way back then.

“I know. But this is something additional. Your mother was a very smart woman.” I take a breath, willing tears not to come as I think about her. George looks a little teary too, thinking of his own memories with her.

“So what does the trust fund say?” I ask.

“It comes into effect on your twenty-sixth birthday.” He looks at me closely.

“My twenty-sixth birthday…” I say, a new nervousness, mixed with fear coating my insides. That is tomorrow.

“That is how old your mother was when she had you,” George confirms, and my eyes widen.

“So what is it?” I ask, looking at them both, knowing whatever it is, it is big.

“The trust fund states that on the day of your twenty-sixth birthday, you will become majority shareholder of Van Cleef Corp. It means the board needs to consult with you before making any formal decisions and you will have the final say. It means Van Cleef Corp will be yours.”

I stumble and fall back onto the sofa.

“What?” I ask, barely able to breathe. “My mother left me the company?”

“Even back then, she knew you were the rightful heir.” George nods as he sits in the armchair next to me.

“I don’t understand. How come I didn’t know this? My father surely would have known of my mother’s wishes?” I ask George.

“In the paperwork, it clearly states that if you are not interested in the company, have a different career, provide no value, are married with children and prefer not to be involved in Van Cleef Corp, then the trust fund becomes null and void,” Dennis says, and I let the words sink in.

“My father hid it,” I say, not believing any of this is happening. I wish AJ was here. I feel like I need his steady hold and his thoughts on this.

“Dennis and I have talked about this all morning. We thought that your father wanted to marry you off to get oil money and international expansion opportunities, and maybe that was true, but I suspect that your father really wanted to get you married so that you don’t get the trust fund. If you married William Schmidt and moved to Dubai, then the trust fund would have become void and your father would get full ownership, and Van Cleef Corp would’ve become all his,” George says.

“I can’t believe it. My twenty-sixth birthday is tomorrow,” I say, shocked. I feel a little dizzy and I am glad I am sitting back down. “I think I am going to throw up.” I clutch my stomach. This is too much. Atrust fund? My birthday.

“My father obviously knows my birthday is tomorrow…” I say quietly, looking at George.

“That is why he was trying to get you out of the company, trying to get you married. Once he knew you wanted to be more involved, he tried to steer you away from the business, but when you became adamant you wanted more involvement, he was desperate.” I jump up and start to pace.

“So who else knows about this?” I ask George, and he shakes his head.

“No one. Just the three of us.”

“So my father knows he has one more day to get the company?” I ask him, and George nods.

“He is desperate. He will do anything, and today is the last day he has to make a move. After today, the only way he will get the business is if you die, but we can mitigate that threat by adjusting your will,” George says, and a chill runs through me. I don’t believe my father would kill me, but I also didn’t think my father was capable of hurting me like he has.

“So what do we do?” I ask, looking between Dennis and George, because I have no idea of the next steps.

“I will call your lawyer, get a meeting today, and finish updating your will,” George says, and I nod, almost on autopilot, still in shock. “Where’s AJ? We need to plan. We need to pull the board together immediately, and everyone close to you needs to be locked down for their own safety. If your father is as desperate as I think he is, and he can’t get to you, then he will go after someone close to you. Anything to cause you pain and try to get you to come to him,” George says.

“AJ’s gone,” I say quickly, my panic starting to rise. “He went to see his mother today. She needed some help.” George looks at me in horror.

“By himself?” George asks.

“I’ll try to call him.” I feel dread in the pit of my stomach.

“I’ll get the boys up from downstairs. I will also call in the police chief,” George says, already pulling out his cell and dialing numbers.

“I’ll call the board,” Dennis says, and I stare at him for a beat because I know today is the day my life will change. He gives me a small, comforting smile and a nod. “You’ve got this.”

I just need AJ here with me. I need him home and safe.