Chapter 7: The Man Who Had Been Pulling the Strings
“Someone just accessed the original Westbridge archive.””
Richard's voice echoed through Marcus's office.
Marcus stood behind his desk, one hand gripping his phone.
“Using my credentials?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“Seven minutes ago.””
Marcus looked at Daniel.
Daniel shook his head immediately.
“I didn't do it.””
Marcus raised one hand.
“I'm not accusing you.””
Richard continued.
“The archive contains the original financial records, employee statements, and transaction approvals. Whoever accessed it downloaded several files.””
“Which files?””
“Everything related to the March transfer.””
Marcus's jaw tightened.
“Lock the archive. Suspend my credentials and preserve every access log.””
“Already done.””
“Richard, I want the security team to identify the device.””
“They're working on it.””
Marcus ended the call.
Daniel walked toward the window.
“This is getting out of control.””
Marcus opened his laptop.
“It's been out of control for years. We just didn't know it.””
Daniel turned.
“What are you going to do?””
“Find out who accessed the archive.””
“And if it's Gregory?””
Marcus looked up.
“Then we'll finally have something we can prove.””
Daniel rubbed his face.
“I need to tell Ava.””
Marcus closed the laptop.
“Yes. You do.””
Daniel hesitated.
“There's something else.””
Marcus waited.
“When I worked with Gregory, he offered me a permanent position. He said I had a future in financial management.””
“Did you accept?””
“No. I turned him down.””
“Why?””
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
“Because he wanted me to sign off on reports I hadn't reviewed.””
Marcus studied him.
“What reports?””
“Expense reconciliations. Transfers between temporary accounts. He told me it was normal.””
“And you refused?””
“Yes.””
Marcus leaned back.
“Did you report him?””
Daniel looked down.
“No.””
“Why not?””
“Because I was young. I didn't want to destroy my career over something I couldn't prove.””
Marcus nodded slowly.
“That's how people like Gregory survive. They don't need everyone to cooperate. They just need enough people to stay quiet.””
Daniel's phone vibrated.
A message from Ava.
*Ava: We need to talk. I know about the old Westbridge investigation.*
Daniel stared at it.
Then another message appeared.
*Ava: I know your name is on the contingency document.*
Daniel looked at Marcus.
“She knows.””
Marcus stood.
“Then stop hiding things from her.””
Ava arrived at Meridian Global twenty minutes later.
She walked through the lobby with the brown envelope tucked beneath her arm.
Her face was pale, but her expression was determined.
At reception, she gave her name.
The receptionist immediately contacted the executive floor.
Within minutes, Daniel came down.
“Ava.””
She didn't hug him.
“Did you know Gregory Mills?””
Daniel glanced toward the reception desk.
“Let's go upstairs.””
“No. Answer me.””
He lowered his voice.
“Yes.””
Ava stared.
“Did you work with him?””
“Yes.””
“Did you know he was moving money through Northbridge Advisory?””
Daniel shook his head.
“Not at first.””
“Not at first?””
Daniel exhaled.
“I saw irregular reports. I refused to approve them.””
“Then why is your name on a document that says to transfer the original records before the external audit?””
Daniel went still.
“Where did you get that?””
“Ethan.””
Daniel looked around again.
“Please. We need to speak privately.””
Ava followed him into the elevator.
When they reached the twenty-seventh floor, Marcus was waiting outside his office.
He looked at Ava.
“Good morning.””
“Is it?””
Marcus gestured toward the conference room.
“Let's sit down.””
Ava placed the envelope on the table.
“Ethan gave me this.””
Marcus opened it.
He examined the contingency document.
His eyes stopped at Daniel's name.
Then he looked at Ava.
“Did Ethan explain where this came from?””
“He said he found it in the original Westbridge files.””
Marcus nodded.
“Did he give you anything else?””
“The original ledger.””
Ava removed it.
Marcus compared the pages with the scanned copy Richard had sent him.
The documents matched.
But there was something new.
A small handwritten notation appeared on the final page.
*M.R. — Keep under review.*
Marcus frowned.
“Where did this come from?””
Ava pointed.
“It was already there.””
Daniel leaned closer.
“That's Gregory's handwriting.””
Marcus looked up.
“Are you sure?””
“I saw it on dozens of reports.””
Daniel examined the notation.
“That's definitely his.””
Marcus turned to Ava.
“Did Ethan tell you why Gregory wanted you blamed?””
“He said I knew where the money went.””
“Did he explain?””
Ava shook her head.
“Not completely.””
Marcus looked at Daniel.
“Then we need to find Ethan.””
Ava immediately intervened.
“No.””
Both men looked at her.
“He said Gregory was looking for the ledger. He thinks someone might be following him.””
Marcus closed the folder.
“Then Ethan needs protection.””
Ava reached for her phone.
“I'll call him.””
She dialed.
It rang once.
Twice.
Then went to voicemail.
She tried again.
Nothing.
Her expression tightened.
“He was supposed to call me.””
Daniel took out his phone.
“Maybe he's busy.””
Ava shook her head.
“He wouldn't ignore me.””
She sent a message.
*Ava: I'm at Meridian with Marcus and Daniel. We need to speak urgently.*
The message showed as delivered.
No reply.
Marcus picked up his phone.
“Richard, I need Ethan Cole's current contact information.””
Ava looked at him.
“Why?””
“Because if Gregory is moving against us, Ethan is the person most likely to be targeted.””
A moment later, Richard called back.
Marcus listened.
Then his expression changed.
“What do you mean his apartment is empty?””
Ava stood.
“What happened?””
Marcus held up his hand.
Richard continued speaking.
Marcus closed his eyes briefly.
“Send someone to check the address again. And contact local authorities if there's evidence of a break-in.””
He ended the call.
Ava grabbed the edge of the table.
“Where is he?””
Marcus looked at her.
“Ethan's apartment was searched sometime last night.””
Daniel's face tightened.
“Was anything taken?””
“His computer is gone. So are his files.””
Ava opened the envelope again.
She checked the ledger.
“Then why didn't they take this?””
Marcus examined it.
“Perhaps they didn't know you had it.””
Daniel looked at the door.
“Or perhaps they wanted us to find it.””
Silence.
Marcus turned toward him.
“Explain.””
Daniel pointed to the handwriting.
“Gregory never left a document like this behind unless he wanted someone to read it.””
Ava shook her head.
“That's impossible. Why would he expose himself?””
“Because he might be trying to lead us somewhere.””
Marcus looked down at the ledger.
Then he noticed a second line beneath the transaction.
A small reference number.
*NB-4418.*
He recognized it.
It was the account code for a dormant investment subsidiary.
A company Meridian had acquired during its expansion.
Marcus immediately opened his laptop.
“Richard.””
Richard answered on the first ring.
“I need the acquisition records for Northbridge Advisory.””
There was a pause.
Then Richard said:
“Marcus, Northbridge wasn't part of the acquisition.””
Marcus frowned.
“Then who owns it now?””
Richard hesitated.
“That's the problem.””
“What problem?””
“The registered owner changed last month.””
Marcus looked at the screen.
A new ownership document appeared.
He opened it.
The listed director was not Gregory Mills.
It was Daniel Foster.
Ava slowly turned toward her husband.
Daniel stared at the document.
His face lost all color.
“What?””
Marcus rotated the laptop.
“Daniel, do you own Northbridge Advisory Services?””
Daniel stepped closer.
“No.””
The document showed a signature.
His signature.
And beneath it was a date.
Three months earlier.
Daniel shook his head.
“I've never seen this.””
Ava looked at him.
“Then how did your name get there?””
Daniel's phone vibrated.
An incoming call.
The number was blocked.
He answered.
“Hello?””
A man's voice came through.
“Good morning, Daniel.””
Daniel froze.
Marcus immediately recognized the voice.
Gregory Mills.
Daniel put the call on speaker.
“What do you want?”” Daniel asked.
Gregory laughed softly.
“Still surrounded by people who ask too many questions, I see.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“Gregory.””
“Marcus. It's been a long time.””
“You accessed my company's archive.””
“I accessed nothing.””
“Your company?””
Gregory chuckled.
“Careful. You're beginning to sound paranoid.””
Marcus's expression hardened.
“Where is Ethan Cole?””
A pause.
Then Gregory replied.
“Still looking after people who don't appreciate you, Marcus?””
Ava moved closer to the phone.
“Where is Ethan?””
Gregory's tone changed.
“Ah. Ava Collins. I was wondering when you'd become involved again.””
Ava's hands trembled.
“Why did you frame me?””
“Frame you?””
“You know exactly what happened.””
Gregory sighed.
“You were always emotional. That's why nobody trusted you with senior responsibility.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“Enough. We're preserving the records.””
Gregory laughed.
“You think those records will save you?””
Marcus looked at the laptop.
“Every transaction leaves a trail.””
“Not every transaction.””
The line went silent for a moment.
Then Gregory spoke again.
“Ask your wife what she signed, Daniel.””
Daniel looked at Ava.
Gregory continued.
“Ask her why she agreed to take responsibility for the transfer. Ask her what she promised Victoria. And then ask her why she never told you.””
Ava shook her head.
“That's not true.””
Gregory laughed.
“Of course it is.””
Marcus reached for the phone.
“Gregory, if you have evidence, submit it through the proper channels.””
“Oh, I will.””
Then his voice dropped.
“But before I do, there's something you should know.””
A pause.
“The original transaction wasn't eighty-four thousand dollars.””
Marcus went still.
“What?””
“It was four point two million.””
The call disconnected.
Nobody moved.
Daniel slowly lowered his phone.
Ava looked at Marcus.
“Four point two million?””
Marcus returned to the ledger.
The smaller transfer had been only one entry.
There were dozens of other payments.
And every one of them carried the same reference code.
NB-4418.
Richard called again.
Marcus answered.
“Richard, we have a problem.””
Richard's voice was tense.
“Marcus, I just found something in the archive.””
“What?””
“The original Westbridge payment records were never destroyed.””
Marcus gripped the phone.
“Where are they?””
Richard paused.
Then he said:
“They were transferred into Meridian's acquisition archive.””
Marcus looked at the ledger.
“And who has access?””
Richard answered:
“Only three people.””
Marcus.
Daniel.
May you like
And the person who had just called them.
Gregory Mills.
