Chapter 8: The Truth About the Four Million Dollars
For several seconds, the conference room remained silent.
Then Daniel spoke.
“Four point two million dollars?””
Marcus nodded.
“That's what Gregory claims.””
Ava looked at the ledger.
“Why would someone steal that much money and leave behind an eighty-four-thousand-dollar transfer?””
Marcus opened the financial records.
“Because the smaller transfer was the one that triggered the investigation.””
He pointed to the first transaction.
“Someone noticed this payment because it came from a client account. But the other transfers were distributed through separate subsidiaries.””
Daniel leaned forward.
“So the eighty-four thousand was a distraction?””
“Possibly.””
Ava examined the pages.
“Then where did the rest go?””
Marcus opened the acquisition archive.
“We need the original account statements.””
Richard joined the meeting through video.
“I've located the archived files,” he said.
“But there's a complication.””
Marcus looked at the screen.
“What?””
“The archive is encrypted. The access key was created during the Westbridge acquisition.””
“Who created it?””
Richard glanced at his notes.
“Gregory Mills.””
Marcus exhaled.
“Of course.””
Richard continued.
“There's a second problem. The archive shows that the files were transferred to an external storage device three years ago.””
Daniel frowned.
“By whom?””
Richard brought up the access log.
The name appeared.
*Ava Collins.*
Ava stood.
“No.””
Richard looked at her through the screen.
“That's what the record says.””
“I never accessed that archive.””
Marcus studied the timestamp.
“Were you still employed at Westbridge on this date?””
Ava looked at the screen.
Then she shook her head.
“No. I'd already resigned.””
Daniel turned toward her.
“Are you certain?””
“Yes. I remember the date.””
Richard opened another file.
“The access occurred at 11:42 p.m. The device was connected through a Westbridge office terminal.””
Ava stared.
“I was at home that night.””
Marcus looked at Richard.
“Can we retrieve the device ID?””
“I'm working on it.””
“Do that.””
Richard disappeared from the screen.
Daniel sat back.
“Someone used Ava's credentials again.””
Marcus nodded.
“And someone wanted the access log to point directly at her.””
Ava lowered herself into a chair.
“Why me?””
Marcus looked at her.
“Because you were already being investigated. And because you had signed the separation agreement.””
Ava closed her eyes.
The pieces were beginning to fit.
But one question remained.
“What did Gregory mean when he said I promised Victoria something?””
Marcus didn't answer.
Daniel looked at his wife.
“Did you?””
Ava hesitated.
Then she reached into her handbag and removed her phone.
“I have an old email.””
She opened her archived messages.
After scrolling for several minutes, she found it.
The sender was Victoria Shaw.
The subject line read:
*Separation Agreement — Final Confirmation.*
Ava handed the phone to Marcus.
He read the message.
*Ava, the board has agreed not to pursue further disciplinary action provided you accept the findings of the internal review and agree not to disclose confidential company information. This will allow you to leave with a clean professional record.*
Marcus looked up.
“Did you understand what you were agreeing to?””
Ava shook her head.
“I thought I was signing a standard resignation agreement.””
Daniel looked at her.
“You didn't read it?””
“I was scared. They told me I could lose my entire career if I didn't sign.””
Marcus continued reading.
There was a second paragraph.
*In exchange, the company will not pursue additional action regarding the disputed financial adjustment.*
Ava's eyes filled.
“They told me it was just about closing the investigation.””
Marcus placed the phone on the table.
“That's how they made you responsible without proving you had authorized the transaction.””
Daniel looked at her.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
Ava turned toward him.
“Because I was ashamed.””
“Of what?””
“Of being accused. Of being fired. Of losing everything.””
Daniel shook his head.
“You let me believe you had left because you wanted a better opportunity.””
Ava looked down.
“I didn't want you to see me as a failure.””
Daniel leaned back.
For a moment, he looked as though he wanted to say something.
Instead, he remained silent.
Marcus returned to the documents.
“There's something else we need to establish.””
He pointed to the acquisition archive.
“If Gregory transferred the original files to an external device, we need to find out who has that device.””
Richard called back.
“I've got the device ID.””
Marcus answered.
“Go ahead.””
“It's a portable storage unit registered to a private security company.””
“Which one?””
Richard read the name.
“Blackstone Data Recovery.””
Daniel frowned.
“I know them.””
Marcus looked at him.
“From where?””
“They handled digital records for one of the companies I worked with.””
Richard interrupted.
“There's another detail. The device was returned to Blackstone last month.””
Marcus stood.
“Who collected it?””
Richard hesitated.
“Gregory Mills.””
At noon, Daniel and Ava sat in Marcus's office.
Marcus had arranged a meeting with the company's legal director.
Ava was staring at the photograph of the original transfer ledger.
“I want to speak to Gregory.””
Daniel turned toward her.
“Absolutely not.””
“He knows something about the missing money.””
“That's exactly why you shouldn't meet him.””
Marcus closed the folder.
“Daniel is right.””
Ava looked at him.
“Then what do we do?””
“We let legal handle the investigation. We preserve the evidence and report the forged authorizations.””
Ava shook her head.
“He'll just deny everything.””
Marcus's expression remained steady.
“Then we'll prove it.””
He picked up the brown envelope.
“Ethan's documents are important. But they're copies. We need the original records.””
Ava nodded.
“Ethan said he had the original ledger.””
“Where?””
“He didn't tell me.””
Marcus looked toward Daniel.
“Do you know?””
Daniel shook his head.
“No.””
Ava stood.
“I'll try calling him again.””
She dialed.
This time, the phone rang several times.
Then a familiar voice answered.
“Ava?””
“Ethan! Where are you?””
“Somewhere safe.””
“Are you okay?””
“For now.””
She looked at Marcus.
“Can we meet?””
“Not yet.””
“Why?””
“Because Gregory knows I have the ledger.””
Ava closed her eyes.
“Then give it to Marcus.””
There was a pause.
“I don't know if I can trust him.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“Ethan, this is Marcus Reed.””
The line went quiet.
Then Ethan spoke.
“Mr. Reed.””
“I'm aware of the evidence you've collected. I want to help you protect it.””
Ethan gave a bitter laugh.
“Protect it? Your company has the same people who ignored my evidence three years ago.””
Marcus didn't argue.
“You're right to be cautious.””
Another pause.
Then Marcus continued.
“But if we don't establish the original chain of custody, Gregory will claim the documents are fabricated.””
Ethan exhaled.
“I know.””
“Where is the ledger?””
“I have it in a storage unit.””
“Which one?””
Ethan hesitated.
“I'm not giving you the address over the phone.””
“Fair enough.””
“I'll meet Ava.””
Marcus looked at her.
“When?””
“Tonight. Eight o'clock.””
“Where?””
“The old Westbridge office.””
Ava frowned.
“Why there?””
“Because that's where it started.””
The call ended.
At 7:45 p.m., Ava stood outside the old Westbridge building.
The company had moved several years earlier, but the original office remained in a converted industrial building near the river.
The windows were dark.
A faded sign still hung above the entrance.
Daniel had insisted on coming with her.
Marcus had arranged for the legal team to be available, but he had advised them not to confront Gregory without evidence.
Ava looked at Daniel.
“You don't have to be here.””
Daniel adjusted his coat.
“I know.””
“Then why did you come?””
“Because you're my wife.””
She looked away.
“Even after everything?””
Daniel was quiet.
“I'm still trying to understand what happened.””
Ava nodded.
“That's fair.””
They entered the building.
The security desk was empty.
A single light burned in the corridor.
Ethan stood near the old reception area.
He looked toward them.
“You came.””
Ava approached him.
“Are you okay?””
“I'm fine.””
He glanced at Daniel.
“Daniel Foster.””
Daniel extended his hand.
“Ethan.””
Ethan didn't shake it.
“Interesting that you're here.””
Daniel lowered his hand.
“I know my name appeared in the documents.””
“And?””
“And I didn't authorize anything.””
Ethan studied him.
“We'll see.””
He opened his bag and removed a small metal storage case.
“This contains the original ledger and the access logs.””
Ava stepped closer.
“Can we see them?””
Ethan unlocked the case.
Inside was a black external drive and a stack of paper records.
He removed the top document.
“Here's the original transaction authorization.””
Ava leaned forward.
The signature at the bottom was clear.
Gregory Mills.
Her heart began pounding.
“That's his signature.””
Ethan nodded.
“And here's the original transfer instruction.””
He placed another document beside it.
The beneficiary account was Northbridge Advisory Services.
The amount was four million two hundred thousand dollars.
But the next page made Daniel step backward.
It was a payment distribution schedule.
Four separate transfers.
Four separate beneficiaries.
The first three were companies controlled by Gregory.
The fourth was different.
Ava read the name.
Then she looked at Daniel.
*Foster Consulting Group.*
Daniel went pale.
“That's my old consulting firm.””
Ethan nodded.
“Exactly.””
Daniel shook his head.
“I never received that money.””
Ava looked at him.
“Are you sure?””
“Yes!””
Ethan pointed to the amount.
“Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.””
Daniel stared.
“That's impossible.””
“Your company received it.””
Daniel took the document.
He examined the bank reference.
Then his expression changed.
“This account was closed before the transfer.””
Ethan frowned.
“What?””
Daniel pointed to the date.
“Look. The company had already been dissolved.””
Ava looked at the document again.
“Then where did the money go?””
Daniel turned the page.
At the bottom was another signature.
His.
But this one was genuine.
Daniel looked up.
“I remember this.””
Ava stepped closer.
“What?””
“I signed a document giving Gregory temporary access to the company records.””
Ethan stared.
“When?””
“Three years ago. He said it was for an audit.””
“Did you read it?””
Daniel swallowed.
“No.””
Ava's voice broke.
“Daniel…”
He looked at her.
“I thought it was harmless.””
Ethan shook his head.
“You gave him access to the account.””
“I didn't know he would use it.””
The silence was interrupted by a sound from the corridor.
A door closing.
All three turned.
Footsteps approached.
Then a familiar voice spoke from the darkness.
“Very touching.””
Gregory Mills stepped into the light.
He wore a dark overcoat and carried a leather briefcase.
His eyes moved from Ava to Daniel, then settled on Ethan.
“You really should have stayed away from old business.””
Ethan grabbed the storage case.
Gregory smiled.
“Give me the ledger.””
Ava stepped forward.
“No.””
Gregory looked at her.
“Still making decisions without understanding the consequences?””
Marcus's voice suddenly came from behind them.
“She's not the only one.””
Gregory turned.
Marcus entered the reception area with two security officers and the company's legal director.
Gregory's smile disappeared.
Marcus held up his phone.
“Everything we've discussed has been documented.””
Gregory glanced at the security officers.
Then he laughed.
“You think this changes anything?””
Marcus stepped closer.
“I think the original documents change everything.””
Gregory slowly opened his briefcase.
He removed a single sheet of paper.
“Then perhaps you should look at this.””
He placed it on the reception desk.
Marcus looked down.
His expression changed.
The document was a board resolution.
It contained a signature authorizing the transfer of four million two hundred thousand dollars.
The signature belonged to Marcus Reed.
Gregory smiled again.
“You see, Marcus? This was never about Ava.””
May you like
He tapped the signature.
“It was about you.””
