Chapter 3: An Apology With a Hidden Price
The private corridor behind the ballroom was quieter than the main hall.
The sound of the orchestra became distant, muffled by thick walls and heavy doors.
Daniel walked toward a small executive lounge with Ethan following several steps behind.
When they entered, Daniel closed the door.
“Have a seat.””
Ethan sat down.
Daniel remained standing.
“Did you submit a revised acquisition agreement this afternoon?””
Ethan blinked.
“Yes, sir.””
“Why?””
“The seller requested a last-minute adjustment.””
“Who requested it?””
“Their representative.””
“Name?””
Ethan hesitated.
“I don't remember his full name.””
Daniel looked at him.
“You submitted a multimillion-dollar revision, and you don't remember the representative's name?””
Ethan shifted in his chair.
“It was handled through the transaction team.””
“Who authorized the adjustment?””
“I approved the recommendation.””
Daniel placed the black folder on the table.
“Without my approval?””
Ethan glanced at the documents.
“Sir, I believed the adjustment was necessary to secure the deal.””
“Did you verify the payment destination?””
“Of course.””
“Then explain why the additional funds are being routed through a company connected to you.””
Silence.
Ethan looked at Daniel.
“What?””
Daniel opened the folder and turned it toward him.
“Read the name.””
Ethan lowered his eyes.
His expression changed.
“That's a vendor.””
“A vendor owned by your former business partner.””
Ethan swallowed.
“We've done legitimate business before.””
“That's not what I asked.””
Daniel leaned forward.
“Are you personally benefiting from this transaction?””
Ethan shook his head quickly.
“No, sir.””
“Then you shouldn't have a problem explaining it.””
Ethan looked toward the closed door.
“Sir, perhaps we should discuss this after the announcement.””
“No.””
Daniel's voice remained calm.
“We'll discuss it now.””
For several seconds, Ethan said nothing.
Then he straightened his jacket.
“I can have my team prepare a complete explanation.””
“You have until tomorrow morning.””
“Understood.””
Daniel picked up the folder.
“And Ethan?””
“Yes, sir?””
“Don't change or delete any records related to this transaction.””
Ethan nodded.
“Of course.””
Daniel opened the door.
“Go back to the ballroom.””
Ethan stood.
He looked like a man trying to hold his composure together with both hands.
“Sir, is my position in danger?””
Daniel studied him.
“That depends on what the investigation finds.””
Ethan nodded stiffly and walked out.
Daniel remained in the lounge for another moment.
He looked at his watch.
The gala announcement was scheduled to begin in less than ten minutes.
Tonight was supposed to celebrate the company's next chapter.
Instead, he was beginning to suspect someone inside his leadership team had been using his trust as an opportunity.
He stepped into the corridor.
Vanessa was standing near the entrance.
She immediately straightened.
“Daniel.””
He stopped.
“Vanessa.””
She smiled nervously.
“Could we talk for a moment?””
“Is something wrong?””
“No. I just wanted to apologize.””
Daniel waited.
She tucked a strand of black hair behind her ear.
“About what I said earlier.””
“Which part?””
She blinked.
“All of it.””
Daniel glanced toward the ballroom.
“You don't need to worry about it.””
“But I do.””
She stepped closer.
“I didn't recognize you.””
Daniel looked at her.
“That doesn't change what you said.””
“I know.””
Her voice softened.
“I was surprised. I honestly thought you were someone else.””
“Someone who looked poor?””
Vanessa's cheeks turned pink.
“Daniel, please.””
He said nothing.
She sighed.
“I know I was rude. I shouldn't have spoken to you that way.””
“Agreed.””
She looked down.
Then she looked up again, searching his face.
“You've changed.””
Daniel gave a faint smile.
“People change.””
“I heard about your company.””
“It's been a busy few years.””
“You must be incredibly successful.””
“I've been fortunate to work with good people.””
Vanessa nodded.
For a moment, she seemed genuinely lost for words.
Then she tried again.
“Do you ever think about the past?””
Daniel looked at her.
“Sometimes.””
“About us?””
“Not particularly.””
The answer landed harder than she expected.
She forced a small laugh.
“That's fair.””
Daniel checked his watch.
“I need to get back inside.””
“Wait.””
She reached for his sleeve, then stopped before touching it.
“I was wondering if we could have coffee sometime. Just to catch up.””
Daniel's expression remained polite.
“Why?””
“Because we used to mean something to each other.””
“We did.””
“And I think we ended things badly.””
Daniel nodded.
“We did.””
“So maybe we could start over.””
He looked at her for a long moment.
“Vanessa, starting over doesn't mean pretending the past never happened.””
Her eyes flickered.
“I know.””
“And I'm not interested in revisiting our relationship.””
She swallowed.
“I'm not asking you to.””
“Then what are you asking?””
She hesitated.
“I just want us to be on good terms.””
Daniel considered that.
“We can be civil.””
He stepped past her.
Vanessa watched him go.
Her fingers curled against her palm.
That hadn't gone the way she planned.
But she wasn't ready to give up.
When she returned to the ballroom, Ethan was standing near the stage with a stiff expression.
“Where were you?”” she asked.
“Speaking with Daniel.””
“How did it go?””
Ethan looked at her.
“Not great.””
“What happened?””
“Something about the acquisition.””
Vanessa frowned.
“Did you do something wrong?””
Ethan lowered his voice.
“I don't know yet.””
She glanced toward the stage.
Daniel had taken his place near the podium.
Several board members were seated behind him.
A large screen displayed the company's name.
*PARALLEL GROUP OF INDUSTRIES — AN EVENING OF GROWTH AND NEW BEGINNINGS.*
Vanessa touched Ethan's arm.
“Don't worry. You're the CEO. He wouldn't risk embarrassing you in front of everyone.””
Ethan gave her a strange look.
“I'm not the owner, Vanessa.””
“I know, but you're important.””
“That's not how this works.””
She frowned.
“I'm trying to help.””
“Then let me handle it.””
Before she could answer, the orchestra stopped.
The lights dimmed.
A presenter walked onto the stage.
“Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention?””
The ballroom fell silent.
“Tonight, we celebrate another milestone in the history of Parallel Group of Industries. A company built on ambition, integrity, and the belief that extraordinary things are possible when people work together.””
Applause filled the room.
The presenter smiled toward Daniel.
“And now, please welcome the man whose vision made all of this possible. Our founder and group CEO, Mr. Daniel Hayes.””
The applause grew louder.
Daniel walked onto the stage.
Vanessa felt the floor shift beneath her heels.
He stood beneath the spotlights, holding a microphone with the same calm expression he had worn beside the cocktail table.
“Good evening, everyone.””
The room settled.
“Thank you for being here. Tonight isn't about one person. It's about the thousands of people who have helped build this organization.””
He paused.
“Three years ago, when I started expanding Parallel Group, I was told the vision was too ambitious. I was told the risks were too high. I was told that some people simply weren't meant to lead.””
Vanessa stopped breathing.
Daniel continued.
“I learned something important during those years. Success doesn't reveal someone's character. It reveals the character that was already there.””
A few guests nodded.
Vanessa stared at him.
Was that about her?
She couldn't tell.
Daniel looked toward the audience.
“Money can open doors. A title can earn attention. A beautiful suit can make someone look important. But none of those things can replace integrity.””
Applause began.
Then Daniel introduced the next stage of the company's expansion.
He discussed new investments, international partnerships, and a major acquisition that would create hundreds of jobs.
Vanessa barely heard a word.
She was too busy watching the man she had once abandoned.
When the presentation ended, guests began approaching the stage.
Some wanted photographs.
Others wanted introductions.
Daniel greeted each person with patience.
Vanessa watched as an elderly investor shook his hand with both of his own.
Then she noticed something else.
A young woman in a simple black dress approached Daniel carrying a tablet.
He smiled when he saw her.
“Sarah. How's your father?””
The woman smiled back.
“He's doing much better, sir. Thank you for asking.””
“Good. Tell him I still expect him to come fishing with me.””
She laughed.
“I will.””
Daniel turned to Olivia.
“Make sure Sarah gets the promotion we discussed.””
Olivia nodded.
“Already arranged.””
Vanessa stared.
Daniel was not only powerful.
He seemed to remember people.
He remembered their families.
He noticed the employees who stood quietly in the background.
And suddenly she remembered something she had forgotten about him.
Even when they were poor, Daniel had always been generous with people who had less than he did.
She had mistaken that kindness for weakness.
“Vanessa.””
Ethan's voice pulled her back.
She turned.
“What?””
“We need to leave.””
“Why?””
“I have a problem to deal with.””
“Can't it wait?””
“No.””
He looked toward the stage.
“Daniel has asked the compliance team to investigate the acquisition.””
Vanessa's stomach tightened.
“Does that mean you're in trouble?””
“I don't know.””
She grabbed his hand.
“Then we need to talk to him.””
Ethan pulled his hand away.
“Stop trying to fix everything.””
“I'm only trying to help.””
“Vanessa, please.””
He started walking toward the exit.
She followed.
But before they reached the doors, Daniel's voice came from behind them.
“Ethan.””
They stopped.
Daniel stood beside Olivia and Marcus.
“There's one more thing.””
Ethan turned.
“Yes, sir?””
Daniel held a document in his hand.
“I've just received the preliminary ownership records for the company receiving the additional acquisition payment.””
Ethan's face went pale.
Daniel continued.
“The registered director is a woman named Vanessa Cole.””
The ballroom seemed to go silent.
Vanessa's champagne flute slipped from her fingers.
It struck the marble floor.
Glass shattered.
Ethan slowly turned toward her.
“Vanessa?””
She couldn't speak.
Daniel looked directly at her.
“Would you care to explain why your name is on a company receiving money from a transaction approved by my CEO?””
And for the first time that night, Vanessa realized that the man she had called broke wasn't the only person hiding something.
May you like
Her boyfriend was hiding something, too.
And the documents in Daniel's hand were about to expose both of them.
