Chapter 4: The Secret Behind the Baby
For a moment, nobody in the Grand Meridian lobby moved.
Emily stood beside the marble reception desk, holding Noah against her chest. Her father's expression had changed from anger to something she had never seen before.
Fear.
Not fear for himself.
Fear for her.
Richard Carter stepped between his daughter and Jonathan Whitmore.
"What exactly are you suggesting?"" Richard asked.
Jonathan glanced at Vanessa, then back at Richard.
"I think we should discuss this somewhere private.""
Richard didn't move.
"You've already brought this into my lobby. Now you're going to explain it here.""
Jonathan swallowed.
"Richard, please. There are people listening.""
"Good. Perhaps they'll finally hear the truth.""
Vanessa approached her husband.
"Jonathan, what is going on? Why are you acting like this?""
He turned toward her.
"Not now, Vanessa.""
"Don't tell me not now! You've been making phone calls all morning, and now you're telling me some baby is connected to our company?""
Emily's arms tightened around Noah.
"Would somebody please explain what you're talking about?""
Richard turned to his daughter.
"Sweetheart, I don't know yet. But I promise nobody is going to take Noah away from you.""
Emily nodded, although her eyes had begun to fill with tears.
Jonathan rubbed his forehead.
"Six months ago, your father approved a confidential family investment structure.""
Richard's expression hardened.
"Careful, Jonathan.""
"I'm telling the truth.""
"Then start at the beginning.""
Jonathan looked toward Thomas, Richard's executive assistant.
"Can we at least move into the private conference room?""
Richard considered it.
Then he looked at Emily.
"Would you like to come with me?""
"Yes, Dad.""
"Then we're going together.""
He gestured toward the elevators.
Thomas instructed two security officers to accompany them.
Vanessa followed.
Jonathan started walking too, but Richard stopped him.
"One more thing.""
Jonathan turned.
"Yes?""
"Do not attempt to contact anyone connected to my daughter until we've finished this conversation.""
Jonathan nodded.
"Understood.""
They entered the private elevator.
Emily stood beside her father, gently rocking Noah.
The baby had begun to fuss.
Richard looked down at him.
"He's hungry?""
"Probably. He usually eats around this time.""
"Then we'll make sure you have everything you need.""
Emily smiled faintly.
"Thanks, Dad.""
Richard glanced at her cheek.
"Does it still hurt?""
"A little.""
His jaw tightened.
"I should have been here sooner.""
"Dad, you couldn't have known.""
He looked at her.
"I should never have to know in advance to make sure you're safe.""
The elevator doors opened.
They entered a private conference suite overlooking the city.
A long walnut table stood in the center of the room. Floor-to-ceiling windows reflected the afternoon sunlight. A small sitting area had been arranged near the window.
Richard immediately asked a hotel employee to bring warm water, baby formula, and anything Emily might need.
Then he turned to Thomas.
"Close the door.""
Thomas did.
Richard took the chair at the head of the table.
"Jonathan, sit.""
Jonathan remained standing.
"Richard, the matter is more complicated than you understand.""
"Then explain it.""
Jonathan finally sat down.
Vanessa dropped into the chair beside him.
She looked furious.
"I still don't understand why we're being treated like criminals.""
Richard ignored her.
"Jonathan, what does my grandson have to do with your company?""
Jonathan looked toward Emily.
"Do you know who Noah's biological father is?""
Emily's expression changed.
"Of course I do.""
Jonathan leaned forward.
"Are you absolutely certain?""
"His father is Daniel Morgan.""
Richard looked at his daughter.
"Emily, is there something you haven't told me?""
Emily shook her head.
"Daniel and I were together for three years. We separated before I found out I was pregnant.""
Jonathan nodded slowly.
"That's exactly what I thought.""
Vanessa turned toward him.
"Jonathan, stop talking in riddles.""
He opened a leather folder.
Inside were several printed documents.
He placed them on the table.
"Daniel Morgan was a financial analyst working for Whitmore Capital. He disappeared eight months ago after discovering irregularities in our investment accounts.""
Emily went still.
"Daniel worked for your company?""
Jonathan nodded.
"He was responsible for reviewing several confidential transactions.""
Emily stared at the documents.
"That's impossible. Daniel never told me he worked for Whitmore Capital.""
"Perhaps he was afraid to.""
Richard opened the first document.
It contained a list of financial transfers.
He scanned the page.
Then he looked at Jonathan.
"These accounts belong to my company.""
Jonathan nodded.
"Yes.""
Richard turned another page.
"And these transfers were never approved by our board.""
Jonathan's face tightened.
"That's the problem.""
Richard looked up.
"How much?""
Jonathan hesitated.
"Approximately twelve million dollars.""
Vanessa suddenly stood.
"Jonathan!""
He didn't look at her.
Richard's voice became dangerously quiet.
"Are you telling me that twelve million dollars disappeared from my company's investment accounts?""
Jonathan rubbed his forehead.
"Not disappeared. Redirected.""
"By whom?""
Jonathan looked down.
"We believe Daniel Morgan discovered the transfers and attempted to report them.""
Emily's breathing became shallow.
"Where is Daniel now?""
Jonathan didn't answer immediately.
"His employment records were altered. His company accounts were closed. His last known address was abandoned.""
Emily shook her head.
"No.""
She looked at the papers again.
"That's not possible.""
Richard moved toward her.
"Emily...""
She looked up at him.
"Daniel wouldn't steal money.""
Jonathan sighed.
"That's not what I'm saying.""
"Then what are you saying?""
"That he may have been framed.""
Silence filled the room.
Emily looked down at Noah.
Her baby was sleeping peacefully, completely unaware that his parents' history was suddenly becoming the center of a financial investigation.
Richard turned toward Jonathan.
"Why did you say Noah was the reason your company has been hiding something?""
Jonathan opened another folder.
"Because Daniel left something behind.""
He slid a small photograph across the table.
Emily picked it up.
It showed Daniel standing outside an office building.
He was holding a cardboard box.
Behind him was the unmistakable entrance to Whitmore Capital's headquarters.
On the back of the photograph, someone had written a date.
Eight months earlier.
Emily's fingers trembled.
"Where did you get this?""
Jonathan answered quietly.
"It was recovered from a storage unit registered under Daniel's name.""
Richard examined the photograph.
"Why is it important?""
Jonathan reached into the folder and removed a folded letter.
"Because this was inside the same box.""
Emily unfolded it.
The handwriting was familiar.
It was Daniel's.
Emily, if anything happens to me, please protect our child. The money I found wasn't stolen by me. Someone inside Whitmore Capital is using your father's company to hide illegal transfers.
Emily covered her mouth.
She read the letter again.
Then she noticed the final line.
The person responsible knows about the baby.
Her eyes lifted slowly.
"Who knew?""
Jonathan stared at the table.
Richard stood.
"Answer her.""
Jonathan swallowed.
"Vanessa.""
Everyone turned.
Vanessa's face went white.
"What?""
Jonathan looked at his wife.
"You knew Daniel had a child.""
Vanessa laughed nervously.
"I don't know what you're talking about.""
Jonathan placed another document on the table.
It was a confidential report containing Emily's name, her previous address, and the date Noah was born.
At the bottom was an authorization signature.
Vanessa Whitmore.
Emily felt the room tilt.
"You knew about me?""
Vanessa didn't answer.
Richard stared at her.
"Why were you collecting information about my daughter?""
Vanessa stood abruptly.
"This is absurd. I was protecting our business interests.""
"From my daughter?""
"From Daniel!""
Richard stepped closer.
"What did Daniel discover?""
Vanessa's lips tightened.
Then she looked at Jonathan.
"Tell him.""
Jonathan shook his head.
"No.""
Vanessa's expression turned vicious.
"You think you're going to save yourself by blaming me?""
Richard raised his hand.
"Enough.""
But Vanessa had already reached into her handbag.
She pulled out her phone and began dialing.
Jonathan lunged forward.
"Vanessa, don't!""
She pressed the phone to her ear.
Then she spoke into it.
"He's here. The baby is here too. You need to come now.""
Emily looked at her father.
"Who is she calling?""
Vanessa smiled.
And for the first time since the incident in the lobby, she looked genuinely confident.
"Someone who knows exactly what happened to Daniel Morgan.""
The conference room door suddenly opened.
A security officer hurried inside.
"Mr. Carter, there's a man downstairs insisting on seeing Mrs. Whitmore.""
Richard frowned.
"Who?""
The officer looked at Vanessa.
May you like
"His name is Daniel Morgan.""
Emily stopped breathing.
