Chapter 10 - No One Takes My Daughter
Adrian stepped between Celia and the day-care gate.
"You are not taking Ivy," he said.
Celia looked offended. "I'm trying to protect a child who just watched her father unravel in public."
"You tried to get me to sign away a property trust, your brother took Ivy into a service elevator, and now you've filed to become her guardian. Protect her from what, exactly?"
"From your father, if I have to," Celia said quickly. "Adrian, please. Preston has more influence than you understand."
He almost laughed. "You picked a strange time to notice."
A uniformed officer pulled into the lot. Adrian showed the officer his identification, the petition, and the messages indicating he had refused any transfer of custody. The officer read them carefully.
"A petition isn't a custody order," she told Celia. "Unless there's another lawful basis, the child stays with her father."
Celia's jaw tightened. She took a step back.
The officer asked Adrian to document his concerns and contact the family court before the hearing. She gave him a card instead of making promises she couldn't keep.
Tessa arrived twenty minutes later with a stack of filings. "We're requesting the judge dismiss the guardianship application and preserve the building until investigators can inspect it. But Preston is moving fast."
"So are we," Adrian said.
Tessa lowered her voice. "Your father also contacted the bank. Corporate funds are frozen until the board decides whether to suspend you."
"Then I'll use my savings."
"Your savings are mostly in the same holding company. We need a different plan."
Ivy came outside with Lena, still clutching her drawing. "Daddy, why does everybody want papers with your name on them?"
"Because some people think names matter more than people," Adrian answered. "They're wrong."
He knelt and looked her in the eye. "You did the right thing telling me about Grandma. But I need you to stay where Miles or I can see you until this is over."
"Can Grandma stay too?"
"Yes."
Celia watched from beside her SUV. For the first time, Celia looked afraid.
"Adrian," she said quietly, "you need to listen to me. Preston isn't trying to win a business argument. He's trying to destroy the evidence before Friday."
"What happens Friday?"
May you like
She looked at Lena, then back at him.
"The state investigator who reopened Ash Street's fire file is coming. And Preston knows who asked for the file."
