Chapter 5: The Husband Who Knew Too Much
Jonathan Whitmore looked like a man who hadn't slept in days.
His expensive navy suit was slightly wrinkled. His tie was loose, and his forehead glistened beneath the security office lights.
Behind him stood two attorneys and a silver-haired woman carrying a black document case.
Vanessa hurried toward him.
“Jonathan, thank goodness you're here.””
He didn't embrace her.
He didn't even look at her.
“Not now, Vanessa.””
She stopped.
“What do you mean, not now?””
Jonathan turned toward Richard.
“Mr. Brooks, may we speak privately?””
Richard shook his head.
“No.””
Jonathan blinked.
“Sir, this is a sensitive business matter.””
“My daughter was struck in front of dozens of people. Your wife attempted to have the recording erased. My staff were pressured into silence. I don't see why this should be private.””
Jonathan looked uncomfortable.
“Then I'll explain everything here.””
He motioned toward the silver-haired woman.
“This is Eleanor Price, our corporate counsel.””
Eleanor nodded politely.
“Mr. Brooks.””
Patricia stepped forward.
“Patricia Ellis. General counsel for Brooks Meridian.””
The two women exchanged brief professional greetings.
Jonathan placed a folder on the table.
“This concerns the Whitmore investment group.””
Richard didn't touch it.
“Go on.””
Jonathan opened the folder.
“Three years ago, when Brooks Meridian acquired the parent company operating this resort, my investment group retained a minority interest in several hospitality developments.””
Richard nodded.
“I remember.””
“What you may not remember is that the Whitmore group was recently scheduled for a financial review.””
Richard glanced at Patricia.
“Was it?””
Patricia opened her tablet.
“Yes, sir. The review was scheduled for next month.””
Jonathan swallowed.
“There's a problem with the figures.””
Vanessa frowned.
“What figures?””
Jonathan ignored her.
“Some of the capital contributions attributed to my company may have been incorrectly documented.””
Richard leaned back.
“Incorrectly documented?””
Jonathan nodded.
“We discovered discrepancies in the accounts.””
Patricia looked up.
“What kind of discrepancies?””
Jonathan hesitated.
“Several transfers don't match the supporting investment records.””
Richard's expression hardened.
“How much money?””
Jonathan looked toward Eleanor.
She answered carefully.
“The preliminary review identified approximately $8.4 million in transactions requiring further verification.””
Vanessa's eyes widened.
“Eight million?””
Jonathan finally turned toward her.
“Please stop talking.””
She stared at him.
“Jonathan, what is happening?””
He closed the folder.
“Not here.””
Richard looked at him.
“You came into my property and requested a private conversation. Now you're telling me millions of dollars are missing from investment records connected to my company.””
“Potentially misallocated,” Eleanor corrected.
Patricia nodded.
“That's an important distinction. We'll need the underlying documentation.””
Richard turned to her.
“Have our auditors examine it independently.””
“Already arranged.””
Jonathan looked relieved.
“Thank you.””
Richard wasn't finished.
“And explain why you said your wife wasn't supposed to be near my daughter.””
Jonathan's shoulders dropped.
Vanessa looked between them.
“Yes, Jonathan. What does that mean?””
He rubbed his forehead.
“Vanessa, you remember the charity gala in New York last year?””
She frowned.
“Of course.””
“You remember the woman you embarrassed in front of the board?””
Vanessa's expression changed.
“What woman?””
“The woman you told the event staff wasn't on the guest list.””
Vanessa rolled her eyes.
“Oh, that.””
Richard's eyes moved toward his daughter.
Danielle looked confused.
Jonathan continued.
“She was Danielle Brooks.””
Silence.
Vanessa stared at Danielle.
“What?””
Jonathan nodded.
“She was attending as a private guest. You accused her of pretending to know the organizers and had security escort her out.””
Danielle slowly remembered.
The hotel ballroom.
The charity auction.
A woman in an emerald dress who had demanded to see her invitation.
Danielle had been pregnant at the time, although nobody knew.
She remembered leaving quietly because she didn't want to create a scene.
But she hadn't known Vanessa was connected to the Whitmore family.
Jonathan continued.
“Richard had asked us to support the Brooks Foundation's maternal health initiative. Danielle was there representing the family.””
Vanessa's face drained of color.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
Jonathan stared at her.
“I did.””
“No, you didn't.””
“I told you Danielle was Richard Brooks's daughter.””
Vanessa looked at the young mother.
“You knew who I was?””
Danielle shook her head.
“I didn't recognize you.””
Jonathan turned toward his wife.
“And that's not even the worst part.””
Vanessa looked frightened.
“What else?””
Jonathan opened another document.
“After that gala, I received a complaint from the event organizers. They said you had attempted to have Danielle removed from the guest list permanently.””
Vanessa crossed her arms.
“She was dressed inappropriately.””
Danielle blinked.
“I was wearing an evening dress.””
Vanessa snapped.
“I wasn't talking to you!””
Richard took one step forward.
“Watch your tone.””
Vanessa immediately fell silent.
Jonathan continued.
“The foundation's board was furious. I spent weeks repairing that relationship.””
Richard looked at him.
“Why?””
Jonathan gave a tired laugh.
“Because our investment agreement included a community partnership with the Brooks Foundation. Losing that relationship would have cost us a significant development opportunity.””
Patricia looked at Richard.
“That partnership is still active.””
Richard nodded.
“Correct.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I don't understand. You're saying all of this happened because of her?””
Jonathan's expression hardened.
“No. I'm saying you repeatedly treated people badly, and I kept cleaning up the consequences.””
Vanessa stepped backward.
“You're blaming me?””
“I'm telling you the truth.””
She looked at Richard.
“Mr. Brooks, surely you understand that people sometimes make mistakes.””
Richard looked at her.
“An accident is a mistake. Slapping someone is a choice.””
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“I was under pressure.””
Danielle looked at her.
“So was I. I had a newborn in my arms.””
Vanessa didn't answer.
An hour later, Danielle was sitting in a quiet medical suite on the resort's second floor.
A pediatric nurse had examined Amara.
The baby was healthy, and her crying had finally settled.
A physician had also examined Danielle's cheek and documented the swelling.
Richard sat beside his daughter, holding a cup of coffee he hadn't touched.
“Does it hurt?”” he asked.
“A little.””
“Are you sure you're okay?””
“Dad, I'm fine.””
He shook his head.
“You've said that five times.””
Danielle smiled faintly.
“Because you keep asking.””
“I'm allowed.””
She leaned back.
For a while, neither spoke.
Then Danielle looked toward the window.
“Dad?””
“Yes?””
“Did you know about the gala incident?””
Richard looked at her.
“I knew there had been an issue.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I didn't want you worrying about business matters.””
Danielle sighed.
“Sometimes I think everyone knows more about my life than I do.””
Richard lowered his coffee.
“That's fair.””
She looked at him.
“I don't want you using your company to destroy people because they hurt me.””
Richard studied her face.
“I don't want that either.””
“Then what happens now?””
“We investigate what happened. We preserve the evidence. We make sure the people responsible are held accountable.””
Danielle nodded.
“That's all I want.””
Richard reached for her hand.
“Then that's what we'll do.””
A knock came at the door.
Patricia entered.
“Mr. Brooks, we have an update.””
Richard stood.
“What is it?””
“The hotel auditors have reviewed the initial records from the Whitmore investment account.””
“And?””
Patricia glanced toward Danielle.
“There's a problem.””
Richard waited.
“Some of the questionable transfers were approved using credentials associated with the former financial director.””
Jonathan had entered the doorway behind her.
His face tightened.
“That's impossible.””
Patricia looked at him.
“Why?””
“Because that director left the company eight months ago.””
Patricia opened her tablet.
“We checked the dates.””
She turned the screen toward him.
The transfers had continued for months after the director's departure.
Jonathan stared.
“Who authorized them?””
Patricia hesitated.
Then she answered.
“The approvals were submitted through an account registered to your executive office.””
Jonathan looked stunned.
“That account was supposed to be inactive.””
Richard folded his arms.
“Who had access?””
Jonathan looked at Eleanor.
She slowly opened her document case.
“Only three people had administrative access.””
“Who?””
“Jonathan Whitmore, the former financial director, and Vanessa Whitmore.””
The room went silent.
Vanessa had entered the corridor just in time to hear the last sentence.
She stopped in the doorway.
“What are you talking about?””
Jonathan turned toward her.
“Vanessa…”
She looked at the tablet.
Then at the folder.
Then at her husband.
“What is this?””
Patricia spoke carefully.
“We're reviewing transactions connected to your investment group.””
Vanessa laughed nervously.
“That's a business matter. I don't handle the finances.””
Jonathan closed his eyes.
Richard looked at her.
“Then you should have no difficulty explaining why your credentials appear in the access records.””
Vanessa's mouth opened.
No words came out.
Jonathan took a step toward her.
“Tell me you didn't.””
She shook her head.
“I didn't do anything.””
“Then why does your account appear?””
“I don't know!””
Eleanor interrupted.
“Mr. Whitmore, we should not make conclusions before the forensic review is complete.””
Patricia nodded.
“Agreed. The records must be authenticated.””
Richard looked toward the door.
“Let's keep the issues separate. The physical assault will be handled on its own evidence. The financial investigation will proceed independently.””
Jonathan nodded.
“Of course.””
But Danielle had noticed something.
Vanessa wasn't looking at her husband anymore.
She was looking at the black document case.
Specifically, at a small envelope tucked beneath the papers.
When Eleanor placed it on the table, Vanessa suddenly stepped forward.
“Don't open that.””
Everyone turned.
Eleanor frowned.
“Why?””
Vanessa looked at her husband.
“Jonathan, please.””
He stared at her.
“What is in that envelope?””
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
Then she whispered:
“The signature you're looking for isn't mine.””
Jonathan looked confused.
“Whose is it?””
May you like
Vanessa swallowed.
“It's yours.””
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