Chapter 4: The Enemy Inside My Company
For the first time in three years, I wondered whether I had trusted the wrong person.
Six people had access to my private authorization files.
Six people knew the details of the Midnight Masquerade's production schedule, sponsorship negotiations, and confidential guest arrangements.
And one of them had apparently decided that helping Vanessa Bellamy steal my identity was worth more than everything we had built.
I looked at Elena.
"Who are the six people?""
She closed the office door.
"Yourself, me, Daniel Reed, Martin Hayes from legal, Richard Lawson from sponsorships, and Victor Grant from executive administration.""
I studied her expression.
"Which one has connections to Vanessa's attorney?""
"Victor.""
I leaned back.
"Tell me everything.""
Elena opened her laptop.
"Victor joined us eighteen months ago. He handles executive correspondence, contract routing, and confidential document distribution. His background looked excellent. He previously worked for two major entertainment companies.""
"Who recommended him?""
She hesitated.
"Richard Lawson.""
I frowned.
"Richard has been with us since the first year.""
"I know. That's why I didn't think much of it.""
I stood and walked toward the window.
Outside, workers were testing the enormous lighting installation above the entrance to the gala headquarters.
"Have you spoken to Victor today?""
"Not yet.""
"Don't.""
Elena looked at me.
"Camille, are you thinking what I think you're thinking?""
"I don't know what I'm thinking yet. But I want to find out.""
She nodded.
I returned to my desk and opened the forged authorization letter.
The signature looked convincing.
The formatting was correct. The letterhead was genuine. Even the reference number matched our internal filing system.
Whoever had created it knew exactly how our documents worked.
But there was something else.
I enlarged the bottom section.
The authorization code was one I had personally generated for a private meeting with the Harrington Foundation three weeks earlier.
Only the six people on Elena's list could have accessed it.
"Get me the original file," I said.
Elena opened the document archive.
We compared the forged letter with the original template.
Then she stopped.
"Wait.""
"What?""
"The file history.""
She turned her screen toward me.
The original authorization template had been downloaded twice.
Once by Elena.
Once by Victor.
I stared at the second entry.
"Can you see when?""
"Tuesday evening. Eleven forty-seven.""
"Was Victor working that late?""
"I don't know.""
I checked my phone.
It was nearly five.
"Invite him to my office tomorrow morning.""
Elena nodded.
"And Richard?""
"Invite him too.""
She looked uncertain.
"Together?""
"No. Separately.""
I paused.
"And Elena?""
"Yes?""
"Until we know what's happening, nobody sends another authorization letter without my direct approval.""
"Understood.""
I was about to close the file when my phone rang.
Vanessa.
I answered.
"What?""
"Camille, I need you to come downstairs.""
"I'm working.""
"This is important.""
"What happened?""
"Brielle's dress has been damaged.""
I closed my eyes.
Of course it had.
"What did she do?""
"Nothing! The wing mechanism suddenly stopped working during the fitting.""
I glanced at Madame Laurent's warning from the previous day.
"Did she try to alter it?""
Vanessa said nothing.
"Vanessa?""
"Madame Laurent is being completely unreasonable. She refuses to repair something she created.""
"Did Brielle pull on the wings?""
"She was trying to see how they moved.""
I almost laughed.
"Those wings are mechanical. They're not toys.""
"Don't lecture me. Just tell me where the designer lives.""
"Why?""
"Because we're sending the gown to her.""
I lowered my voice.
"You're not sending anything anywhere without my permission.""
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
"You're unbelievable.""
"Have a good evening.""
I ended the call.
Elena was watching me.
"Your family?""
"Unfortunately.""
She shook her head.
Then she glanced at the screen.
"Camille, there's something else you should see.""
She opened a video from the Bellamy estate's security cameras.
It showed Brielle entering my father's old study at 9:13 the previous night.
She was carrying a small black folder.
At 9:26, she left.
The folder was gone.
I stared at the screen.
"What is that folder?""
Elena enlarged the image.
I recognized it immediately.
It contained the original incorporation documents for Asteria Creative Group.
My father's handwritten notes were inside.
So were the original ownership records.
"Can you send me the footage?""
"Already done.""
I called Daniel.
He answered on the second ring.
"Camille?""
"Someone has taken my father's original company documents.""
His tone changed.
"Which documents?""
"The incorporation folder.""
"Do you know who?""
I looked at the frozen security image.
"Brielle.""
Daniel was silent.
Then he said, "Don't confront her yet.""
"Why not?""
"Because if she has the original documents, she may be trying to establish a false ownership claim.""
I rubbed my forehead.
"Can she?""
"Not legally. But she can create confusion, especially if someone has already submitted forged paperwork.""
I stared at the photograph.
"Then we need to move quickly.""
"I'll contact the registrar tomorrow morning. In the meantime, secure every digital copy you have.""
"I will.""
After ending the call, I sat alone for several minutes.
The Bellamys had taken my gown.
They had stolen documents from my father's study.
They had forged my signature.
And someone inside my company was helping them.
For the first time, the Midnight Masquerade felt vulnerable.
Not because Vanessa could destroy it.
But because she might damage the work of hundreds of people who had trusted me.
I opened the private production dashboard.
Every department was preparing for Halloween night.
The musicians had rehearsed for months. The lighting technicians had built an extraordinary installation. The children's hospital representatives were arranging transportation for their young guests.
I couldn't let one family turn all of that into a scandal.
My phone buzzed.
An unknown number.
*UNKNOWN: You should stop investigating. Your stepmother knows more about your father's company than you think.*
I read it twice.
Then another message arrived.
*UNKNOWN: Ask her what happened to the original investor.*
I stared at the screen.
The original investor?
I had never heard of one.
I immediately called Daniel again.
"Have you heard anything about an original investor in Asteria Creative Group?""
There was a pause.
"Where did you get that information?""
"Someone just messaged me.""
Daniel sighed.
"Camille, I think it's time we discussed something your father never told you.""
My heart began beating faster.
"What?""
"Before he established the company, he entered into a private agreement with a woman named Evelyn Cross.""
The name meant nothing to me.
"Who was she?""
Daniel lowered his voice.
"Your father's former business partner.""
I looked toward the closed office door.
"Was she involved in the gala?""
"Not directly. But she financed the original concept.""
I stood.
"Why have I never heard of her?""
"Because she disappeared from the business records shortly before your father's death.""
I gripped the edge of my desk.
"Disappeared how?""
Daniel was quiet for a moment.
Then he answered.
"Vanessa accused her of stealing company funds.""
My stomach tightened.
"And was it true?""
"I don't know. But if Vanessa has found those original documents, I suspect she is trying to bury something much bigger than a sponsorship dispute.""
I looked at the message again.
Then I noticed the sender had changed their profile picture.
It was a photograph of the Bellamy estate.
Taken from inside the house.
May you like
Someone was watching us.
And they wanted me to know it.
