Chapter 2: The Secret Account
Marcus didn't touch the flash drive.
He simply stared at it.
"Vanessa, what is he talking about?""
I forced myself to smile.
"He's trying to confuse you. He knows you don't understand how complicated corporate finances can be.""
Ethan gave a humorless laugh.
"That's funny coming from someone who has never worked a day in the company.""
"Don't speak to me like that.""
"Then stop stealing from my father.""
Marcus raised his hand.
"Both of you. Sit down.""
Neither of us moved.
He looked at Ethan.
"How much money are we talking about?""
Ethan glanced at the flash drive.
"Almost two million dollars.""
Marcus's face changed.
"What?""
"Over the last eight months, money has been transferred out of a dormant investment account. The transfers were divided into smaller amounts and sent through several different accounts.""
I felt my throat tighten.
Marcus slowly turned toward me.
"Is this true?""
I shook my head.
"Absolutely not.""
Ethan continued.
"The first transfer happened three months after you married Vanessa.""
Marcus looked down at the document.
"Who authorized it?""
Ethan didn't answer immediately.
Then he said, "Someone using your digital approval credentials.""
Marcus went pale.
"That's impossible. Nobody has my authorization.""
Ethan pulled out his phone.
"I thought so too. That's why I checked the access logs.""
He placed his phone on the table.
A spreadsheet appeared on the screen.
There were dates, amounts, account references, and authorization records.
Marcus leaned closer.
"These transfers...""
He stopped.
His finger hovered over one entry.
"That's my personal investment account.""
"Yes.""
"And this one?""
"Your private reserve.""
Marcus looked up.
"Who has access to these accounts?""
"Three people in the company. You, me, and the executive assistant who handles your personal financial correspondence.""
Marcus frowned.
"You're forgetting Vanessa.""
My stomach dropped.
Ethan nodded.
"Exactly.""
I quickly stepped forward.
"Marcus, I have never accessed your business accounts.""
He looked at me.
"Then why is your maiden name attached to the receiving account?""
I stared at him.
"I don't know.""
"Vanessa.""
"I don't know!""
Ethan opened another file.
"Her maiden name is Vanessa Reed. The account was opened at a private bank in New York. The contact information matches the phone number she used before we got married.""
Marcus slowly turned toward me.
"Is that true?""
I shook my head.
"Someone must have stolen my identity.""
Ethan folded his arms.
"That's what I thought you would say.""
He opened a photograph.
It showed a bank document with a signature at the bottom.
Vanessa Reed.
My signature.
Marcus picked up the phone.
"Is this your handwriting?""
I swallowed.
"It looks similar.""
"Similar?""
"I've signed thousands of documents. I can't remember every signature.""
Marcus looked at the paper again.
"Did you open this account?""
"No.""
"Did you receive money from my company?""
"No.""
"Then why is your signature here?""
I felt anger rising beneath my fear.
"Because someone is setting me up!""
Ethan didn't move.
"Then explain the money on the table.""
I turned toward him.
"You think you're clever, don't you?""
"Not particularly. I just know how to read a bank statement.""
Marcus slammed his hand against the table.
"Enough!""
He walked toward the window.
For several seconds, he stood with his back to us.
Then he spoke.
"Ethan, why didn't you tell me about this before tonight?""
Ethan lowered his eyes.
"I tried.""
"When?""
"Three weeks ago. I sent you an email.""
Marcus turned.
"I never received it.""
"I know. I checked your inbox when you asked me to help with the quarterly reports. The email had been deleted.""
Marcus frowned.
"By whom?""
Ethan hesitated.
Then he looked at me.
I felt a cold wave move through my body.
Marcus followed his gaze.
"Vanessa?""
I shook my head.
"I don't even know his email password.""
Ethan reached for his phone.
"There's more.""
He opened the company's email security report.
"Someone logged into Dad's account from this house on the night I sent that message.""
Marcus stared.
"Which device?""
Ethan enlarged the record.
A device name appeared.
*VANESSA-IPAD.*
The room seemed to shrink.
Marcus slowly looked toward the staircase.
"Your tablet?""
I couldn't speak.
"Vanessa?""
I took a breath.
"I use it sometimes to check the family calendar.""
"Did you open my email?""
"Maybe accidentally.""
"Did you delete Ethan's message?""
"I don't remember.""
Marcus closed his eyes.
Ethan shook his head.
"That's what she does, Dad. She makes everything sound like an accident.""
I turned on him.
"You've hated me since the day we met!""
"Because you spent the first week asking how much my father's company was worth!""
Marcus looked at Ethan.
"What?""
Ethan's jaw tightened.
"Remember the dinner at the country club? You went to take a call. Vanessa asked me how much of the business I expected to inherit.""
I remembered that conversation.
I had been trying to understand the family structure.
That was all.
Ethan continued.
"She asked whether the company would go to me automatically if you died. Then she asked whether your will could be changed.""
Marcus stared at me.
"Did you ask him those questions?""
I raised my voice.
"Of course I did! I was your wife. I needed to understand what my future looked like!""
"Your future?""
"Yes! I had a right to know!""
Marcus looked genuinely hurt.
"Did you think I wouldn't take care of you?""
I softened my voice.
"Darling, that's not what I meant.""
"Then what did you mean?""
I reached for him.
He stepped away.
Ethan watched silently.
For the first time, I realized that my usual tricks weren't working.
Marcus was listening to the wrong person.
I needed to change the conversation.
"Marcus, can I speak to you privately?""
He didn't answer.
"Please. Just five minutes.""
Ethan immediately shook his head.
"Don't let her take you upstairs.""
Marcus frowned.
"Why?""
"Because that's where she keeps the other documents.""
I froze.
Marcus noticed.
"What documents?""
Ethan looked at me.
"Ask her about the folder in the bedroom safe.""
My heart slammed against my ribs.
Marcus stared at me.
"Vanessa, what folder?""
I forced a laugh.
"This is ridiculous. He's been going through my personal belongings.""
Ethan reached into his jacket and produced another photograph.
It showed an open folder.
Inside were printed copies of Marcus's insurance policies, property deeds, company ownership records, and a draft of a revised will.
Marcus took the photograph.
His face drained of color.
"Where did you get this?""
"From the company's legal archive. I was checking documents after I found the suspicious transfers.""
Marcus stared at the picture.
"Why do you have my insurance policies?""
I couldn't think of an answer.
Then Ethan said something that made my knees weak.
"Because the revised will names Vanessa as the sole beneficiary of everything you own.""
Marcus looked at me.
"Is that true?""
I shook my head.
"I was only reviewing it.""
"Who prepared it?""
"Your lawyer.""
"Which lawyer?""
I hesitated.
Marcus's voice grew sharper.
"Vanessa, which lawyer?""
I finally answered.
"Daniel Whitmore.""
Marcus went completely still.
"Daniel?""
"Yes.""
"Daniel Whitmore was my attorney before I married you. He hasn't represented me in over a year.""
I looked down.
Ethan continued.
"He stopped working with Dad because he refused to approve the changes.""
Marcus turned toward me.
"What changes?""
Ethan took a breath.
"The new will gives Vanessa the company, the houses, the investment accounts, and your life insurance proceeds.""
Marcus stared at the photograph.
Then he looked at me.
"Why would you need my life insurance?""
I started crying.
Not the dramatic crying I had practiced.
This time, I was genuinely terrified.
"Because I wanted security! You have a son who hates me. I needed to know I wouldn't be left with nothing if something happened to you.""
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
"Something happened to me?""
"I meant if you passed away naturally!""
Ethan looked toward his father.
"There's another document.""
Marcus closed his eyes.
"Please tell me this is the last one.""
Ethan shook his head.
"No.""
He took out a folded medical report.
My blood ran cold.
Marcus looked at the heading.
It was from a private medical clinic.
"What is this?""
Ethan's voice dropped.
"It's a report showing that someone requested copies of your medical records six weeks ago.""
Marcus frowned.
"Who?""
Ethan turned the paper around.
At the bottom was the authorization signature.
Vanessa Reed.
Marcus looked at me.
"Why were you requesting my medical records?""
I backed away.
"I was helping you manage your appointments.""
"That isn't an answer.""
"I was worried about your health!""
Ethan pointed to the date.
"That was two days before Dad's annual medical examination.""
Marcus looked at the report again.
Then he asked a question I hadn't prepared for.
"Vanessa, did you know I had a serious heart condition?""
The silence was immediate.
My mouth went dry.
Marcus had told me his heart was perfectly healthy.
I had never heard anything about a condition.
I shook my head.
"What are you talking about?""
He stared at the report.
"According to this document, someone requested a full cardiac assessment.""
Ethan looked confused.
"Dad, are you saying you have a heart condition?""
Marcus didn't answer.
He pulled the report closer.
Then he noticed something.
The medical report wasn't just a request for records.
It included an appointment date.
And beside it was a handwritten note.
*Increase dosage before scheduled examination.*
Marcus read it twice.
His face turned white.
"Vanessa...""
I took another step backward.
"That's not mine.""
He looked at the handwriting.
Then at me.
"Whose handwriting is it?""
I couldn't answer.
Because I recognized the handwriting.
It belonged to someone who had been helping me for months.
Someone Marcus trusted.
Someone Ethan had never suspected.
And at that exact moment, a voice came from the staircase.
"That's enough, Marcus.""
We all turned.
A woman stood at the top of the stairs.
She was holding a leather handbag.
Her face was pale.
And in her right hand was a second flash drive.
"Vanessa didn't act alone," she said.
Marcus stared at her.
"Who the hell are you talking about?""
The woman slowly descended the stairs.
May you like
Then she looked directly at me.
"She's been protecting someone else.""
