The library smelled of old paper and polished mahogany wood.
Elena set little Leo gently down on the soft velvet sofa.
She hurried over to the large desk in the room center.
Every drawer was locked tight with small brass keyholes.
Elena: Where did you hide the keys, Arthur?
She remembered Arthur used to hide small items inside heavy books.
Elena ran her fingers across the high shelves near the window.
She pulled down a thick blue encyclopedia from the third shelf.
A shiny silver key fell out onto the carpet floor quietly.
Elena: Thank you for leaving me a path forward, Arthur.
She picked up the silver key with trembling fingers.
The key fit perfectly into the bottom left desk drawer lock.
Inside the drawer lay several blue folders and a small black box.
Elena opened the thick blue folder labeled with Leo's full name.
The pages detailed a large trust fund for Leo's college education.
Elena: This proves Arthur made provision for our little boy.
Suddenly the library door opened with a sudden loud bang.
Victoria stood in the doorway with an angry scowl on her face.
Victoria: What do you think you are doing inside this room?
Elena: Finding the truth that you tried to hide from us.
Victoria marched across the carpet and snatched the blue folder away.
Victoria: These are private company records that belong to me now.
Elena: Those papers belong to Arthur's son and his estate!
Victoria: You have no legal authority in this house anymore!
Victoria tore the top page of the document straight down the middle.
Elena gasped in horror as the paper ripped apart easily.
Elena: Stop destroying his official legal record right now!
Victoria: This paper is worthless without the official notary seal!
Victoria threw the torn papers into the brass trash can nearby.
Little Leo woke up and began to cry from the sofa.
Elena rushed over to comfort her small crying boy immediately.
Elena: Shh, sweet baby, everything is going to be okay.
Victoria: Leave this house by five o'clock or I call security.
Victoria turned on her heel and walked out of the study.
Elena knelt beside her crying son with tears in her eyes.
She noticed something metallic shining inside the brass trash can.
Arthur's notary seal key was tied to the torn paper edge.
Elena picked up the key and hid it inside her coat pocket.
She realized Arthur had hidden the official seal in a bank box.
Hope flared up brightly inside her heart once again.