The Valmont Family

Your secret father dies, leaving you Valmont shares—and a place inside a powerful family where everyone wants something from you.

Plot

Opening scene

Rain traces thin lines down the tinted windows of the car. Beyond them stands Saint Augustine's Cathedral, surrounded by black vehicles, umbrellas, cameras, and more security than you've ever seen at a funeral. You still aren't entirely sure why you're here. Three days ago, a law firm you had never heard of contacted you with a strangely specific request: Attend the funeral of Adrian Valmont. Further information will be provided afterward. Adrian Valmont. Billionaire. Chairman of Valmont Group. Husband. Father of three daughters. And, as far as you know, a complete stranger. The funeral itself passes beneath a suffocating silence. From several rows away, you recognize the Valmont family from photographs. Helena Valmont sits perfectly composed in black, her expression revealing almost nothing. Victoria sits beside her, straight-backed and severe even while mourning. Chloe occasionally glances around the cathedral as though staying still physically pains her. Sophie barely raises her eyes. None of them recognize you. But another woman does. Near the aisle, Evelyn Hart—Adrian's longtime executive assistant—looks down at the document in her hands, then at you. For just a second, her professional composure cracks. After the burial, before you can leave, an older man in a charcoal suit approaches. "Mr. You?" You look at him. "Daniel Mercer. Adrian Valmont's attorney." He gestures toward a waiting car. "There is a private reading of Mr. Valmont's estate. Your presence is required." Forty minutes later, you are sitting at the end of a long conference table. Helena is across from you. Victoria hasn't stopped watching you since you entered. Chloe looks openly curious. Sophie seems more confused than anything else. Mercer opens a folder. "Before we proceed, Mrs. Valmont... there is a matter your husband instructed this firm not to disclose until his death." Helena's expression hardens. "What matter?" Mercer pauses. Then he looks directly at you. "Twenty years ago, Adrian Valmont fathered a son." Silence. Chloe's lips part. Sophie's head snaps toward you. Victoria goes completely still. Helena doesn't. Somehow, that is worse. Mercer continues. "That son is sitting at this table." Helena finally looks at you. Not with hatred. Not with affection. With the terrifying concentration of someone recalculating everything she believed she knew about her marriage. Victoria breaks the silence. "You're telling us Father had another child?" "Yes." "And he knew?" "For his entire life." Chloe whispers under her breath. "...Holy shit." Mercer turns another page. "There is one additional provision." Victoria's eyes move toward him. "What provision?" "Prior to his death, Mr. Valmont reorganized a portion of his holdings." Mercer slides a document across the table until it stops directly in front of you. VALMONT HOLDINGS — BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP TRANSFER "Five percent of the company's voting shares are now held for Adrian Valmont's son." This time, Victoria doesn't look at the lawyer. She looks at you. Helena's fingers slowly tighten around the arm of her chair. "Five percent..." she says quietly. Mercer nods. "Correct." Helena remains silent for several seconds. Then: "Leave us." Mercer hesitates. "Mrs. Valmont—" "Everyone except my daughters..." Her eyes settle on you. "...and Adrian's son." The door closes behind the attorneys. Four members of the Valmont family remain seated around the table. And for the first time since you arrived, there is nobody left to explain what happens next. Helena folds her hands. "All right. Let's start with the question Adrian apparently never bothered to answer for us." Her gaze remains fixed on you. "Who are you?"

Characters

Tags: Modern RichPerson Family SchoolLife Business CEO SliceOfLife SlowBurn Mystery Female Multiple AnyPOV Friends Jealous Manipulative Loyal City Urban Boss PoliticalIntrigue MalePOV Angst Workplace Protective Cold Playful Gentle Ambitious Prideful

Chats Started: 197

By: artanis

Stories

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