Chapter 2: The Money Nobody Was Supposed to Find
"Vanessa, what money?"" Marcus asked.
I folded my arms.
"Don't pretend you haven't noticed.""
Marcus looked from me to Ethan.
"Explain.""
Ethan shook his head.
"She's changing the subject.""
"Am I?"" I asked.
I walked toward the table and picked up one of the scattered bundles.
"Three hundred thousand dollars. That's not a small amount, Marcus. Where do you think it came from?""
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
"Put the money down.""
I ignored him.
"Maybe you should ask your son why he needed so much money last month.""
Ethan stepped forward.
"That's enough.""
"Why?"" I asked sweetly.
"Afraid he'll find out?""
Marcus held up one hand.
"Both of you stop.""
He looked at Ethan.
"Is there something I should know?""
Ethan rubbed his forehead.
"Yes. But not what she's suggesting.""
"Then tell me.""
Ethan glanced at me.
I smiled.
He looked away.
"Three weeks ago, I found several unauthorized transfers from Cole Holdings.""
Marcus stiffened.
"What transfers?""
"Payments from the development account. Almost four hundred thousand dollars.""
Marcus slowly lowered his phone.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I wasn't sure who was responsible.""
I laughed.
"Convenient.""
Ethan ignored me.
"I checked the transaction history. The money went through two consulting companies. Both were registered within the last year.""
Marcus frowned.
"Who owns them?""
"One is registered to a man named Daniel Price. The other is registered to a woman named Laura Bennett.""
I shrugged.
"Those names mean nothing to me.""
Ethan looked directly at me.
"That's interesting. Because Laura Bennett used to be your assistant.""
The room went silent.
Marcus turned toward me.
"Is that true?""
I hesitated.
"She worked for me briefly.""
"How briefly?"" Ethan asked.
"That is none of your business.""
Ethan took a folded sheet of paper from his back pocket.
"I thought you might say that.""
He placed it on the table.
It was a printed corporate registration.
Marcus picked it up.
His expression grew darker as he read.
"Vanessa.""
I stared at him.
"What?""
"Why is your home address listed as the mailing address for both companies?""
I forced a laugh.
"That must be a mistake.""
"Both companies?""
"I don't handle business paperwork, Marcus.""
Ethan shook his head.
"She does.""
Marcus looked at him.
"How do you know?""
"Because I found the documents in Dad's office three weeks ago. They were inside a folder marked property acquisitions.""
I felt my chest tighten.
That folder was supposed to have been destroyed.
I had checked.
Twice.
"You're making things up," I said.
Ethan pulled out another page.
"Here's something else.""
Marcus took it.
A bank transfer.
$398,000.
The payment had been made from a Cole Holdings account to a company called Bennett Strategic Consulting.
The date was October 14.
Marcus looked confused.
"I didn't authorize this.""
"I know," Ethan said.
"Who did?""
Ethan pointed to the bottom of the document.
An electronic approval code.
VANESSA M. COLE.
Marcus stared at the page.
I stepped closer.
"Those systems are accessible to several employees. Anyone could have used my credentials.""
Ethan nodded.
"That's what I thought too.""
He pulled out his phone.
"Until I checked the login records.""
Marcus looked up.
"And?""
"The approval came from the private office upstairs. At 9:17 p.m. The same night you were at the hospital with your brother.""
I stared at Ethan.
He had no right to know that.
Marcus's face changed.
"Vanessa, were you in my office that night?""
I crossed my arms.
"I was your wife. I had access to the house.""
"That's not what I asked.""
I looked at him.
"Yes. I was in your office.""
"Why?""
"Because I was looking for your insurance papers.""
"Why would you need those?""
I opened my mouth.
Nothing came out.
Ethan placed another document on the table.
"There's something else, Dad.""
Marcus looked increasingly pale.
"What now?""
"Three days before that transfer, someone accessed the trust account.""
Marcus froze.
"What trust account?""
"The one Grandma established for me.""
My stomach dropped.
I had forgotten about that account.
Or rather, I had assumed Ethan knew nothing about it.
Marcus stared at his son.
"How much?""
Ethan swallowed.
"Six hundred and twenty thousand dollars.""
Marcus gripped the edge of the table.
"That account was supposed to be protected.""
"It was.""
"Who had access?""
"Grandma, you, and the estate administrator.""
Marcus shook his head.
"Your grandmother died seven years ago.""
"I know.""
"Then how could anyone access it?""
Ethan looked at me.
"Because someone submitted a request to change the beneficiary details.""
Marcus followed his gaze.
I laughed nervously.
"Are you seriously suggesting I stole your grandmother's money?""
"No," Ethan replied.
"I'm suggesting someone tried to.""
He showed Marcus a screenshot.
A request had been submitted to redirect the account's future distributions into a private holding company.
The request had been rejected.
But the signature at the bottom looked familiar.
Marcus stared at it.
"That's my signature.""
Ethan nodded.
"Except you didn't sign it.""
Marcus looked at me.
I shook my head immediately.
"Don't even think about blaming me for that.""
"I haven't said anything," Marcus replied.
"You're looking at me like I'm a criminal!""
He placed the screenshot on the table.
"Then help me understand.""
I wanted to scream.
Instead, I lowered my voice.
"Marcus, your son has been obsessed with getting control of your company since the day I married you. He knows you're getting older. He knows you're planning to retire. He's been waiting for his opportunity.""
Ethan laughed once.
"That's your best defense?""
I turned on him.
"You're twenty-three years old. You have no idea what it takes to build a company.""
"My grandmother left me a trust. I'm not trying to steal anything.""
"Then why are you investigating company accounts?""
"Because someone is stealing from my father!""
Marcus raised his hand.
"Enough.""
He walked to the window.
Outside, rain had begun falling against the glass.
For several seconds, he stared at the dark garden.
Then he spoke.
"Ethan, how long have you known about these transfers?""
"Three weeks.""
"And you didn't tell me?""
"I tried.""
Marcus turned.
"What does that mean?""
Ethan hesitated.
"I called you twice. I sent emails. I asked for a meeting.""
"I never received anything.""
Ethan pulled out his phone.
"I have the messages.""
Marcus took it.
The first message was dated October 16.
Dad, I found something strange in the company accounts. We need to talk.
The second was dated October 18.
Please don't sign anything Vanessa brings you without checking it first.
Marcus looked up sharply.
"Why did you mention Vanessa?""
Ethan swallowed.
"Because I saw her leaving your office with a folder containing the transfer documents.""
I watched Marcus's face.
He was putting everything together.
The forged signature.
The missing money.
The staged assault.
The envelope.
My mind raced.
I needed another explanation.
Another distraction.
Another way to turn this around.
Then I remembered something.
Something Ethan didn't know I had.
"Marcus," I said softly.
He didn't respond.
"There's one more thing you should see.""
Ethan frowned.
"What now?""
I reached into my handbag.
I pulled out a small black flash drive.
Marcus stared at it.
"What is that?""
I looked at Ethan.
"Ask your son what he was doing in your office at two in the morning last Tuesday.""
Ethan's face went pale.
Marcus turned toward him.
"Is that true?""
Ethan opened his mouth.
Then closed it.
I smiled.
Because finally, I had something.
"You see?"" I whispered.
"He's not as innocent as he pretends.""
Marcus took the flash drive from my hand.
"What's on it?""
"Security footage.""
Ethan stepped forward.
"Don't watch that.""
Marcus looked at him.
"Why?""
"Because it's not what she says it is.""
I tilted my head.
"Then you shouldn't be afraid.""
Marcus walked toward his study.
"Both of you are coming with me.""
Ethan looked at me.
His eyes narrowed.
"Where did you get that?""
I smiled without answering.
Because I knew what Marcus would see.
I had saved that footage for exactly this moment.
Except there was one detail I had forgotten.
The camera in his office had a microphone.
And the footage contained a conversation.
May you like
A conversation between me and someone Ethan had never met.
Someone who knew exactly what I had done.
