Chapter 4: The Company With Her Name on It
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Vanessa stared at Daniel's document as though the paper itself had accused her of a crime.
Ethan slowly turned toward her.
“Vanessa?””
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Daniel remained beside Olivia and Marcus, holding the document with the same calm expression he had worn throughout the evening.
“Would you care to explain why your name is listed as the registered director of the company receiving the additional acquisition payment?””
Vanessa finally found her voice.
“This is ridiculous.””
Daniel tilted his head.
“Which part?””
“I don't know anything about this.””
Ethan stepped closer.
“Vanessa, what company is he talking about?””
She shook her head.
“I don't know. I have no idea.””
Daniel glanced at Olivia.
“Please explain the document.””
Olivia opened her tablet.
“The company is called VC Strategic Holdings. It was registered eight months ago. Its listed director is Vanessa Cole. The company received a payment of four hundred and eighty thousand dollars from a consulting intermediary connected to the acquisition.””
A murmur moved through the nearby guests.
Vanessa shook her head harder.
“I never received that money.””
Marcus frowned.
“The bank account is registered under the company's name.””
“Then someone used my information!””
Ethan looked at her.
“You told me you had never owned a company.””
“I don't!””
Daniel spoke quietly.
“Then we have a serious identity-theft problem.””
Vanessa immediately nodded.
“Exactly. That's what happened.””
Olivia studied her.
“There's another detail.””
Vanessa looked at her.
“What?””
“The company's registration documents include a signed authorization form.””
“So?””
“The signature appears to match yours.””
Vanessa's face changed.
“That doesn't prove anything.””
“No,” Daniel replied.
“It doesn't prove everything. That's why we're investigating.””
Ethan stepped between Vanessa and the executives.
“Sir, I think we should handle this privately.””
Daniel looked at him.
“That's what I attempted to do with you fifteen minutes ago.””
Ethan's jaw tightened.
Vanessa grabbed his arm.
“Ethan, tell them I know nothing about this.””
He looked at her hand.
Then at her face.
“Did you ever sign documents for a company called VC Strategic Holdings?””
“No!””
“Think carefully.””
“I said no!””
Her voice was loud enough to attract more attention.
A waiter carrying a tray stopped nearby.
Two investors who had been speaking to Marcus quietly stepped away.
Vanessa noticed.
Her cheeks burned.
“Daniel, please. You know me. You know I wouldn't do something like this.””
Daniel looked at her for a moment.
“I knew you three years ago.””
She swallowed.
“That should count for something.””
“It counts for the fact that I recognize your name.””
He placed the document inside the folder.
“It doesn't establish whether you're innocent or responsible.””
Vanessa looked wounded.
“You're treating me like a criminal.””
“I'm treating a financial discrepancy like a financial discrepancy.””
Ethan rubbed his forehead.
“Sir, I can explain the payment.””
Daniel turned toward him.
“Then explain it.””
Ethan glanced at Vanessa.
She gave him a small, almost desperate shake of her head.
He looked back at Daniel.
“The intermediary was brought in by the seller's representatives. I approved the consulting arrangement because they said it would speed up the transaction.””
“Who introduced the intermediary?””
Ethan hesitated.
“A consultant.””
“Name?””
“Richard Cole.””
Vanessa froze.
Daniel noticed.
“Is that a relative of yours, Vanessa?””
She looked down.
“He's my brother.””
Ethan turned sharply.
“Your brother?””
Vanessa nodded slowly.
“He runs a small consulting business.””
Daniel looked toward Marcus.
“Do we have his company records?””
Marcus checked his phone.
“We're retrieving them.””
Ethan's voice became defensive.
“Sir, this could be a misunderstanding. Richard has worked with several legitimate companies.””
Daniel nodded.
“Then his records should clear this up.””
Vanessa stepped forward.
“Can we stop talking about my family in front of everyone?””
Daniel glanced around the ballroom.
“You're right. This isn't the appropriate place.””
He turned to Marcus.
“Arrange a private meeting tomorrow morning. Legal, compliance, and the acquisition team. Nobody changes or destroys any records.””
“Understood.””
Daniel looked at Ethan.
“Until the review is complete, you are temporarily relieved of your acquisition approval authority.””
Ethan stiffened.
“Sir?””
“You'll remain employed while the investigation proceeds. But you will not authorize additional payments connected to this transaction.””
“Are you suspending me?””
“I'm protecting the company.””
Ethan looked around.
Several executives were watching.
He lowered his voice.
“I understand.””
Daniel nodded.
“Good.””
Then he turned toward Vanessa.
“If your identity was used without your permission, our legal department can provide the documentation to help establish that.””
Vanessa looked almost relieved.
“Thank you.””
“But don't mistake an investigation for an accusation that has been withdrawn.””
Her expression fell.
Daniel walked away with Olivia and Marcus.
For several seconds, Ethan and Vanessa stood beside the shattered champagne glass.
Then Ethan turned toward her.
“Your brother?””
Vanessa wiped her palms against her gown.
“I told you he was a consultant.””
“You told me he worked with small businesses. You never told me he was connected to this transaction.””
“I didn't know he was.””
“Then why did you look terrified when Daniel said his name?””
“Because Richard always gets himself into trouble!””
Ethan stared at her.
“That's not an answer.””
Vanessa looked toward the exit.
“Can we please leave?””
Ethan shook his head.
“I need to understand what's happening.””
“You don't trust me?””
“Right now, I don't know what to believe.””
That sentence hurt more than anything Daniel had said.
Vanessa grabbed her purse.
“Fine. Believe whatever you want.””
She walked away.
Ethan watched her disappear through the ballroom doors.
Then his phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number appeared.
*Stop talking to Daniel. You don't know what he has.*
Ethan stared at the screen.
Another message arrived.
*And don't let Vanessa speak to compliance without me.*
He read it twice.
Then he looked toward the empty doorway.
Someone else knew about the investigation.
Someone who was frightened enough to threaten him.
And Ethan suddenly understood that the problem was much bigger than one suspicious payment.
Outside the ballroom, Vanessa hurried through the hotel lobby.
Her heels clicked against the polished marble.
She pulled out her phone and called her brother.
Richard answered on the fourth ring.
“What?””
“Richard, we have a problem.””
“Not now.””
“Daniel Hayes knows about the company.””
Silence.
Then Richard said something that made her stop walking.
“What exactly did he tell you?””
“He showed me the registration documents.””
“Did he show you the bank account?””
“Yes.””
Richard exhaled sharply.
“Listen to me. Don't sign anything. Don't admit anything. And don't let Ethan talk to you alone.””
Vanessa frowned.
“Why?””
“Because Ethan is involved.””
“What are you talking about?””
“Vanessa, I need you to listen.””
Her voice dropped.
“Richard, what did you do?””
“I'll explain tomorrow.””
“No. Explain now.””
“I can't.””
She gripped her phone.
“You told me this was a legitimate consulting arrangement.””
“It was supposed to be.””
“Supposed to be?””
“Just come to my apartment tomorrow morning.””
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“Richard, did you steal money?””
He didn't answer.
Then the call ended.
She stared at her phone.
A second later, a text appeared.
*Delete our messages. All of them.*
Vanessa's blood ran cold.
May you like
Because she hadn't told Richard that Daniel had already found the company.
And now she wondered how he had known.
