Chapter 4: The Woman They Planned to Sacrifice
For several seconds, nobody in my office spoke.
Vanessa's signature sat beside mine on the bank's financing documents.
Both were fraudulent.
Both had supposedly authorized a forty-two-million-dollar development loan.
And both had been submitted without our knowledge.
Olivia placed her glasses on the desk.
"Marcus, this changes the situation considerably.""
"How?""
"If Whitmore Construction submitted forged guarantees from two people, this is no longer simply a dispute between competing businesses. We're looking at potential financial fraud and identity theft.""
James folded his arms.
"There's another problem. If Vanessa's signature is forged, she may have been included in this scheme without knowing everything.""
I stared at him.
"She knew about the partnership. She knew about the money. She knew Daniel was involved.""
"Yes," Olivia replied.
"But we haven't established that she authorized any financial documents.""
I walked to the window.
The city lights were beginning to appear.
"Find her.""
James raised an eyebrow.
"Vanessa?""
"Yes. I want to speak with her before Richard Whitmore does.""
Olivia immediately shook her head.
"Marcus, be careful. If she's involved, she could destroy evidence or coordinate her story with Ethan.""
"Then make sure the conversation is documented. I want the truth, not a confrontation.""
James picked up his phone.
"I'll contact security.""
At 8:15 p.m., Vanessa arrived at my office.
She looked different from the woman who had walked across the graduation courtyard that morning.
Her graduation dress had been replaced by jeans and a cream-colored sweater. Her hair was tied back, and her eyes were swollen.
She held her purse tightly against her chest.
When she entered the conference room, she stopped upon seeing Olivia.
"Is this a legal meeting?""
Olivia nodded.
"I'm here to make sure everything is properly documented.""
Vanessa looked at me.
"Marcus, can we please talk alone?""
"No.""
She swallowed.
"Fine.""
I placed the bank document on the table.
"Do you recognize this?""
She leaned forward.
The moment she saw the second signature, her face changed.
"Oh my God.""
"You recognize it?""
"That's my name.""
"Did you sign it?""
"No!""
Her voice echoed through the room.
Olivia remained calm.
"Ms. Collins, did you authorize anyone to sign financial documents on your behalf?""
"Absolutely not.""
"Did you give Ethan Whitmore permission to use your identification?""
"No.""
"Did you provide Daniel Foster with copies of your signature?""
Vanessa hesitated.
I noticed immediately.
"Vanessa?""
She lowered her eyes.
"I sent Daniel a photograph of my driver's license.""
I leaned forward.
"Why?""
"He said he needed it to prepare a consulting agreement.""
"What consulting agreement?""
"The one Ethan promised me.""
I stared at her.
"Did you read it?""
"No. He said it was standard paperwork.""
Olivia made a note.
"Did you sign anything?""
Vanessa shook her head.
"Not that I remember.""
I pushed the document closer.
"Then explain why your signature is here.""
She began crying.
"I don't know, Marcus.""
I watched her carefully.
For the first time since the graduation ceremony, she seemed genuinely frightened.
Not because she'd lost me.
Not because I'd rejected her.
Because she was beginning to understand the consequences of what she'd allowed herself to become involved in.
"Tell me everything," I said.
She wiped her cheeks.
"Ethan approached me about a month before graduation. He said his father was looking for someone who understood the younger generation and could help with a development project.""
"And you believed him?""
"Yes.""
"What did he offer you?""
"Four hundred and fifty thousand dollars.""
I stared at her.
"For introducing him to me?""
She nodded.
"He said the payment would come after the deal closed.""
"Did you ask why you were being paid that much?""
She looked embarrassed.
"I thought it was because of the relationship between our families.""
I gave a short, bitter laugh.
"Our families?""
She quickly corrected herself.
"Between you and me.""
I leaned back.
"You were being paid to use our relationship as leverage.""
She didn't answer.
Olivia interrupted.
"Ms. Collins, did Ethan ever tell you that Mr. Reed's company would be financially responsible for the Whitmore development?""
Vanessa nodded.
"He said Marcus would become a partner.""
"Did he tell you about the personal guarantee?""
"No.""
"Did he tell you the bank would use your signature?""
"No.""
I looked at her.
"Did you know about the forty-two-million-dollar loan?""
She shook her head.
"Marcus, I swear I didn't know about that.""
I wanted to believe her.
But wanting something didn't make it true.
I slid my phone across the table.
On the screen was the photograph of Vanessa sitting with Daniel at the restaurant.
She looked at it.
Her face drained of color.
"Where did you get that?""
"From Daniel's recovered company files.""
She picked up the phone and enlarged the photograph.
Then she whispered:
"That's not the meeting I told you about.""
I frowned.
"What do you mean?""
She looked at me.
"Daniel met me twice.""
The room went silent.
I slowly sat forward.
"When?""
"The first time was in September. The second time was October eighteenth.""
James had entered quietly and was standing near the door.
He immediately asked, "What happened at the second meeting?""
Vanessa shook her head.
"I didn't want to go, but Daniel said he had something important to tell me.""
"What?""
She swallowed.
"He said Ethan was planning to make Marcus look like the person responsible for the entire development if anything went wrong.""
I stared at her.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I thought he was trying to scare me. And because Ethan told me Daniel was just angry about something.""
"What was Daniel angry about?""
Vanessa looked down.
"His payment.""
I felt a cold sensation move through my chest.
"His payment?""
She nodded.
"Ethan had promised him a percentage of the consulting fee. Daniel believed he was being cheated.""
James exchanged a glance with Olivia.
This was becoming considerably uglier.
"Did Daniel show you any documents?"" Olivia asked.
Vanessa reached into her purse.
"I have something.""
She removed a folded piece of paper.
It was a printed email.
She placed it on the table.
"I kept this because I was scared.""
Olivia examined it.
The message was from Daniel.
Vanessa, I need you to understand that Ethan's father has no intention of making you a permanent part of the company. Once the financing is approved, they'll remove your name from everything. You should protect yourself.
There was another line underneath.
If Marcus finds out what you agreed to, you will be the easiest person for them to blame.
I looked at Vanessa.
"Why did you keep this?""
She wiped her eyes.
"Because I started realizing Ethan wasn't telling me the truth.""
"Yet you still went to graduation with him.""
She closed her eyes.
"Yes.""
"And you still humiliated me.""
Her lips trembled.
"Yes.""
I stood.
"Then don't expect me to confuse your fear with innocence.""
She looked up at me.
"I know.""
For a moment, I felt sorry for her.
Then I remembered the ring.
The roses.
The laughter.
And the way she'd introduced me as someone she used to know.
The sympathy disappeared.
Olivia carefully placed the email inside a document sleeve.
"Ms. Collins, we need you to preserve every message, photograph, and communication involving Ethan and Daniel. Do not delete anything.""
Vanessa nodded.
"I will.""
James opened the conference room door.
"Marcus, there's a call for you.""
"Who?""
He looked uncomfortable.
"Richard Whitmore.""
I glanced at Vanessa.
Her expression changed immediately.
"Don't answer," she whispered.
I turned toward her.
"Why?""
She stood suddenly.
"Because he knows.""
"Knows what?""
She looked toward the door.
"That I have the original documents.""
Richard Whitmore was waiting in the lobby when we arrived.
He wore a dark blue suit, an expensive overcoat, and the kind of expression people develop when they're accustomed to being obeyed.
Two men stood behind him.
One carried a leather briefcase.
The other was speaking quietly into his phone.
Richard smiled when he saw me.
"Marcus. There you are.""
I didn't offer my hand.
"What are you doing here?""
"I thought we should resolve this matter personally.""
"There's nothing to resolve.""
He glanced at Vanessa.
"Vanessa, sweetheart. Your mother has been looking for you.""
She stiffened.
"Don't call me that.""
His smile disappeared briefly.
Then he turned back to me.
"Young people sometimes make mistakes. I believe we can all agree that this situation has become unnecessarily complicated.""
I looked at Olivia.
She remained silent.
Richard opened the briefcase.
Inside were several printed documents.
"Here's what I propose. We withdraw the original financing application, revise the agreement, and move forward with a proper partnership.""
I looked at the papers.
"You're proposing a business partnership after someone forged my signature?""
"An unfortunate administrative error.""
"An administrative error?""
He smiled.
"These things happen.""
I took one step closer.
"Someone used my identity to secure a forty-two-million-dollar loan.""
His jaw tightened.
"Careful, Marcus. Accusations can be damaging.""
"So can fraud.""
Richard closed the briefcase.
"Let's speak frankly. My son has made some poor decisions. But your company is not the only one with something to lose here.""
I stared at him.
"What exactly are you suggesting?""
He looked toward Vanessa.
"Some people have been making promises they cannot afford to keep.""
Vanessa stepped backward.
Richard continued.
"I would hate to see a young woman lose her future because of a misunderstanding.""
I understood.
He was threatening her.
He wasn't even trying to hide it.
I moved between them.
"Leave.""
Richard laughed.
"You're making a mistake.""
"Then I'll make it.""
He leaned closer.
"Your company has a reputation. Think about what happens when this becomes public. Investors ask questions.
Banks become nervous. Projects get delayed.""
I looked directly into his eyes.
"Are you threatening my company?""
He smiled.
"I'm explaining reality.""
I turned toward Olivia.
"Please inform our legal team that Mr. Whitmore has just attempted to influence a witness.""
Richard's smile vanished.
"What?""
Olivia calmly took out her phone.
"I heard the conversation.""
For the first time, Richard looked uncertain.
He snapped his briefcase shut.
"This isn't over.""
I stepped aside.
"You're right. It isn't.""
He walked toward the entrance.
But before reaching the doors, he turned around.
"One more thing, Marcus.""
I waited.
"My son tells me you were planning to propose to Vanessa today.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
Richard smiled coldly.
"Perhaps you should ask yourself why she decided not to accept.""
Then he left.
Vanessa stood behind me, trembling.
I looked at her.
"Get some rest. Olivia will contact you tomorrow.""
"Marcus...""
I turned.
She looked at me with tears in her eyes.
"Ethan isn't the only person you need to worry about.""
I stopped.
"What does that mean?""
She opened her mouth.
But before she could answer, my phone vibrated.
An email had arrived from an unknown sender.
The subject line contained only six words.
May you like
*YOUR FATHER KNEW ABOUT THE WHITMORES.*
And the attachment was a photograph of my late father's signature.
