His Second Wife

Chapter 88

~Camila’s POV~

There’s more to this than meets the eye. I have been going through a significant amount of paperwork from both companies, and I noticed that there was something wrong. The Coopers are not acting on their own. Someone within the family has been betraying the family, and that started way before my husband, Chris, started his own firm.

Who brought the Coopers into the family? Who was it that suggested the Cooper family should have a 6% ownership stake in the family business?

I think this should be my first task, finding out who linked the family to the Coopers. I do not want to involve my husband in this situation because it concerns his family, and I believe it will hurt him more than it will hurt anyone else. Chris was hell-bent on finding out what the Coopers were after. I doubt he has any idea if there is a mole in the family. I reached for my phone and dialed the number of the one person I knew who might be able to assist me with this situation. The phone didn’t ring for long before someone picked it up.

“I’d like to treat you to lunch, Robin.” He didn’t say much. He is probably surprised that all of a sudden I wanted to treat him to lunch.

I stuffed all the documents into the bag, documents dating back to when Chris was a teenager. I couldn’t get everything when I requested both company data sets. Chris Firm is not in the crosshairs of this operation. The target is the family firm, but there is some interest in his firm, which is a minor detail because I know he is aware of this. I got behind the wheel and drove to the place where I was supposed to meet Robin.

When I arrived at the restaurant, Robin was there waiting for me. After I informed him that I wanted a private space, the two of us went to get the booth that I had requested. We ordered our drinks, and I went straight to the point.

“I have been checking the two companies. I came across something interesting. Regarding the affairs of the family firm.” He did not interrupt me.” I took the documents from my bag and handed them to him. He went through all the documents, and then his eyes shot at me: “Exactly, there is a mole in the family. I’d like you to find out who signed off on that document; it was approved by a family member but had no signature. That document could not have been approved by the entire family, as the person claimed. Discover what drew the Coopers to the family business and why they owned 6%. The Coopers are enraged because Chris forced them out of the business, leaving them with nothing. Cooper Corporation is 23% owned by the Grayston family. I think they are not happy that we are part of the board at their family firm and that we might soon have more shares than them, which is going to be the case as someone is selling their shares at a market value. I am planning on buying the shares.”

“Who’s selling their stock?”

“Lydia Cooper,” I said.

“What!” His eyes went wide. “But why?”

“You will be surprised; the woman seems like she has a lot to say; she approached me. I assumed it was one of Cooper’s schemes, but it was genuine and clean. She has a 15% stake.”

“I doubt if this is real.”

“I had it reviewed by my lawyer, and he approved.” I want you to find out the person who approved that document, how they came to get 6%, and who brought them home. I believe that if we can determine who it is, we will be able to investigate that person, and most of the questions will be resolved as a result of our efforts. And Robin, please don’t tell Chris about this. I will let you know if the time is right to tell him, or maybe I will tell him myself.”

“Yes ma’am.”

Robin and I ate in silence and headed back home since Chris and Liam decided to play dirty on me. I am also capable of playing dirty. When I walked into the living room, they were in the middle of playing a board game. I believed it was Monopoly at the time.

“Ouch!” I clutched my stomach and pretended to be in excruciating pain. Chris lifted me up in bridal style and laid me on the couch while the other rushed into the kitchen to get me a glass of water. Both boys rushed out to me with worried expressions on their faces.

“Here, drink this.” Liam passed the glass of water to me. I clutched my stomach once more and let out a piercing scream that terrified the boys. They exchanged glances before rushing to the phone, most likely to call Henry. I smiled and pretended to be asleep while they all stood with their hands on their waists. Henry came in and checked on me. He looked at me, perplexed. After that, he turned his attention to the two troubled boys who were anxiously walking in circles around the living room.

“Could you please give me and my patient some space?” They both wanted to object, but Henry looked at them and said, “Not negotiable.” They left, and it was now just me and Henry. “Mrs. Grayston, there is nothing wrong with you. Why are you acting as though you are in a great deal of pain?

I stood up and looked at him. “Doctor, I’m the one who is in pain.”

“With the exception that you are not.”

“Well, yep, I’m not, but I want to punish my husband and son for toying around with me.”

“Why?”

“I know I’m pregnant, and those two idiots decided to fool me. They didn’t tell me anything, and I want them to pay. Regarding that moron of a husband of mine, I plan to educate him in such a way that he

will no longer think he is free to act in any manner he sees fit. When they call you again, tell them to give me water; if it’s serious, I will call you.” Henry burst out laughing.

“Maybe he thought you would abort the baby since you were young.”

“Young, that’s his problem; he always treats me like an egg. The moment he starts treating me as an equal, that will be the last time I pretend not to know that I’m pregnant.” He chuckled, shook his head, and walked away.

“Ouch!” The two ran back to the living room and found Henry gone.

“Do you need anything?” Chris asked.

“Ice cream.”