The expensive mistake.

Laywers

In the sleek conference room on the top floor of the Wincher Company. Tricelle sat with her fingers steepled beneath her chin. Her eyes focused.

Across from her, two seasoned lawyers, Justin and Lisa sat, looking through a series of documents.

Tricelle was surprised that Justin Welsh had just shown up and offered his services. At first, Tricelle was against any help from him, but when he said that Eric Black had already paid him, Tricelle accepted. Even if her father’s business was one of the most successful ones in New York, she could never have afforded him. He was the best.

"Are you sure about this, Miss Wincher?"

Justin’s voice was steady, yet laced with concern. His gray hair and deep-set wrinkles suggested years spent navigating the complexities of corporate law.

"Your sister has a case, albeit a weak one. But the courts can be unpredictable."

Tricelle exhaled, her blue eyes reflecting determination mixed with an undercurrent of frustration.

"I can't believe Anne would drag our family into this," she replied, her voice measured, though the sting of betrayal lingered between her words. Tricelle hadn’t heard a word from her mother since Anne dropped the legal documents suing her.

"After everything Dad built up… after everything he taught us…" Tricelle frowned and realized that it was a lie. “He taught me…” She said softly.

Lisa, the younger of the two lawyers, chimed in, her tone gentle yet pragmatic.

"I understand this is emotional, but we need to view it from a legal standpoint. Your father left you the business, but the will was… complicated."

Tricelle knew what she meant, her father just wrote it down. Tricelle Wincher will inherit all my assets. That was all he wrote.

Tricelle’s fists clenched. “Complicated” was an understatement.

“Grief can make people do irrational things,” Lisa offered softly, avoiding Tricelle’s piercing gaze.

“Or reveal their true nature,” Tricelle retorted, her passion igniting into anger. "Anne has always been jealous. She believes I’ve taken everything from her, but she never wanted to learn or work for it."

Justin’s voice rose slightly above the tension. “Tricelle, this could all backfire. You have a strong case, but a jury may sympathize with her. Family drama has a way of clouding judgment.”

Justin held one document up,

“Your father was paranoid in the months leading up to his accident, he hired bodyguards, he was seen at strange places, and he had meetings with many shady people. Not to say the many unexplained visits to the hospital for doctor’s appointments.”

Tricelle leaned back in her chair, her mind spiraling. Her father did visit his doctor a lot… he never said for what. He also kept the curtains closed in his office at all times.

‘He was afraid.’ Tricelle thought with a sting of pain in her heart.

“Your commitment to your father’s legacy is commendable,” Lisa said, “but we also must prepare for the fact that it could become a complicated public spectacle. This kind of family feud can lead to publicity you may not want.”

The words hung in the air, a stark reminder of the stakes at play. Tricelle thought of the headlines, the invasive media questions. She couldn’t let that happen. She had always stayed out of the media, her father respected that. She wasn’t fond of stepping into the light. Anne, on the other hand, loved any media attention, good or bad.

“We’ll counter her claims robustly,” Justin stated, his lawyer's instincts kicking in. “But I also advise you to consult with Anne. Perhaps private mediation could preserve your family’s dignity. This doesn’t have to turn into a war.”

Tricelle's heart sank at the thought of meeting Anne. A stranger wearing her sister’s face. “I’ll try to reach out,” she finally said, her voice softer. “For Dad’s sake.”

As the meeting wrapped up, Tricelle felt the thin threads of family begin to unravel before her eyes. Justin and Lisa made their way out with their hands full of documents and papers, discussing their next move.

Her case was strong, but she needed to know what information Anne had that could make her want to take this court.

“Leya!” Tricelle said loudly from her chair.

“Yes, Miss Wincher?” Leya’s head peeked into the conference room.

“Can you please get in contact with Anne, and arrange a meeting for today, as soon as possible?”

“Yes, I will call her now,” Leya said with a smile, quickly as she appeared, she disappeared again.

She proceeded to open her father’s laptop, smiling as the picture of them riding horses greeted her.

She loved the countryside, it was their special thing. They would take the weekend off and spend it at her father’s country house, enjoying nature and the freedom it offered.

Pushing the beautiful memories to the side, she started to focus on the task ahead.

She sifted through monthly business accounts. Then suddenly she remembered Eric’s accounts.

She searched with precision, searching for any accounts linked to Eric, but nothing.

As she searched for the word ‘Black’, a large folder appeared. She glanced up to see a highlighted line on the laptop. It was a large transaction, marked simply with the name "Black," followed by a hefty sum—a sum that raised her eyebrows skeptically.

Tricelle’s brow furrowed, and she began typing rapidly into her laptop.

Tricelle took a closer look, scanning through the past few months of transactions. They painted a picture of a well-connected man, someone who hovered on the edges of both philanthropy and something darker.

Tricelle felt unsettled as a whisper in the back of her mind hinted at the potential danger of being involved with someone like him.

The pattern of funds indicated a recurring connection with underground enterprises disguised as charity events. A sense of unease settled in her stomach.“His laundering money…” Tricelle said, disappointed. She pushed back her chair, the sound echoing ominously in the silent room. She was torn between the growing evidence of Eric's questionable dealings and the genuine connection she felt with him. These charities have done good work in the community, easing poverty and funding public schools. But if they were fronts for organized crime…

Taking the laptop with her, Tricelle made her way to the office. After a few sips of tea, she sat down and continued her search.

After a while,e she found a hidden file, “Evidence.”

Her eyes widened. Was her father trying to expose Eric?

A troubling pattern began to unfold. The transactions weren't mere anomalies; they were breadcrumbs leading to an underground network of influential men manipulating the system for their gain. It was a web woven intricately, each strand connecting powerful figures in business and politics, all at the expense of ethics and justice.

“It’s not just Eric…. Its other powerful men…” Tricelle whispered to herself.

“You said my name?” a husky voice startled her.

Tricelle almost jumped out of her chair when she saw Eric leaning against the door frame, large and solid like an oak. He was watching her with a tempting smile.

Tricelle could only stare at him. She had forgotten how alluring he looked.

“Did I come at a bad time?” Eric said as he stepped into her office. His presence filled the room in an instant.

“Eric… Mr Black” Tricelle said, uncertain.

“It's fine, I wanted to phone you any case. I did find your accounts.” Tricelle said, pointing to a chair in front of her desk. Eric smiled as he sat down in front of her, folding his leg over the other, relaxed.

“How did you sleep?” Eric asked, grinning from ear to ear.

He watched as she fumbled with a few papers, stacking them neatly on top of each other. He scanned her up and down, admiring her outfit. It perfectly sculpted around her, accentuating her figure.

Eric leaned back in his chair. He enjoyed watching her.

“I did thank you…” she said, looking flushed.

“Mr Black,” she began, her voice steady but uncertain. “I need you to be honest with me.”

“This sounds serious,” he replied, his expression shifting to one of curiosity.

“I found something in the accounts… transactions involving your charities, and I need to know the truth. Are you being honest about your dealings?”