Chapter 7: The Betray## Chapter 7: The Betrayal Inside Bennett Global
Malcolm Bennett had spent thirty years building a company that could survive almost anything.
He had survivedal Inside Bennett Global
Malcolm Bennett had spent thirty years building a company that could survive almost anything.
He had survived hostile acquisitions, economic recessions, lawsuits, and business partners who smiled across conference tables while secretly negotiating against hostile acquisitions, economic recessions, lawsuits, and business partners who smiled across conference tables while secretly negotiating against him.
But he had never imagined that someone might use his own granddaughter as a weapon against him.
He looked at the message on his phone again.
The real target is your company.
Then him.
But he had never imagined that someone might use his own granddaughter as a weapon against him.
He looked at the message on his phone again.
The real target is your company.
Then he looked at Amara.
“Baby girl, I need you to think carefully. Before today, did anyone ask you about the hotel's private arrangements?””
Amara adjusted Naomi's he looked at Amara.
“Baby girl, I need you to think carefully. Before today, did anyone ask you about the hotel's private arrangements?””
Amara adjusted Naomi's blanket.
“Not directly.””
“What does that mean?””
“About two weeks ago, William called me.””
Malcolm's expression changed.
“William Harris?””
blanket.
“Not directly.””
“What does that mean?””
“About two weeks ago, William called me.””
Malcolm's expression changed.
“William Harris?””
She nodded.
“He asked whether I was still organizing your birthday celebration.””
“What else?””
“He wanted to know how many family members were coming,She nodded.
“He asked whether I was still organizing your birthday celebration.””
“What else?””
“He wanted to know how many family members were coming, whether you planned to make a speech, and whether the event would include a presentation about the company's future.””
Malcolm looked at David.
“Did you know about that call?””
David shook his head.
whether you planned to make a speech, and whether the event would include a presentation about the company's future.””
Malcolm looked at David.
“Did you know about that call?””
David shook his head.
Amara continued.
“William said he wanted to make sure everything was coordinated properly. He asked me to send him the final guest list.””
“Did you?””
“No. IAmara continued.
“William said he wanted to make sure everything was coordinated properly. He asked me to send him the final guest list.””
“Did you?””
“No. I told him Patricia already had everything.””
Malcolm considered this.
“Did he seem upset?””
Amara remembered the conversation.
“He became quiet. told him Patricia already had everything.””
Malcolm considered this.
“Did he seem upset?””
Amara remembered the conversation.
“He became quiet. Then he asked whether you were planning to announce any changes to the executive leadership.””
Malcolm's expression hardened.
“What did you tell him?””
“That I didn't know anything Then he asked whether you were planning to announce any changes to the executive leadership.””
Malcolm's expression hardened.
“What did you tell him?””
“That I didn't know anything about your business decisions.””
David stepped closer.
“Sir, we need to get you somewhere secure.””
Malcolm nodded.
“First, find out whether about your business decisions.””
David stepped closer.
“Sir, we need to get you somewhere secure.””
Malcolm nodded.
“First, find out whether William is still accessing the emergency operations account.””
David spoke into his earpiece.
“Headquarters, this is Cole. I need an immediate access review on William is still accessing the emergency operations account.””
David spoke into his earpiece.
“Headquarters, this is Cole. I need an immediate access review on William Harris. Suspend any pending transfers and preserve all authentication records.””
A voice answered.
“Copy that.””
Vanessa, who had been standing near Jonathan, suddenly laughed.
“You're all behaving as if William Harris. Suspend any pending transfers and preserve all authentication records.””
A voice answered.
“Copy that.””
Vanessa, who had been standing near Jonathan, suddenly laughed.
“You're all behaving as if the world is ending.””
Nobody acknowledged her.
She looked toward Malcolm.
“Perhaps your daughter is simply remembering conversations incorrectly.””
Amara stared at her.
“I know what the world is ending.””
Nobody acknowledged her.
She looked toward Malcolm.
“Perhaps your daughter is simply remembering conversations incorrectly.””
Amara stared at her.
“I know what I heard.””
Vanessa shrugged.
“People hear what they want to hear.””
Jonathan turned toward his wife.
“Vanessa, for once in your life, stop.””
She I heard.””
Vanessa shrugged.
“People hear what they want to hear.””
Jonathan turned toward his wife.
“Vanessa, for once in your life, stop.””
She looked at him.
“You're enjoying this, aren't you?””
“No. I'm horrified.””
“Because of some hotel argument?””
“Because looked at him.
“You're enjoying this, aren't you?””
“No. I'm horrified.””
“Because of some hotel argument?””
“Because I just discovered that someone may have been using our foundation to move money without my knowledge.””
Vanessa's expression shifted.
Jonathan continued.
“And because my wife seems more concerned about being embarrassed than about explaining where that money went.””
Vanessa looked away.
I just discovered that someone may have been using our foundation to move money without my knowledge.””
Vanessa's expression shifted.
Jonathan continued.
“And because my wife seems more concerned about being embarrassed than about explaining where that money went.””
Vanessa looked away.
Malcolm checked his watch.
“Peter, arrange a private room. I want the original security footage and financial records reviewed somewhere with restricted access.””
Peter nodded.
“Certainly.””
AsMalcolm checked his watch.
“Peter, arrange a private room. I want the original security footage and financial records reviewed somewhere with restricted access.””
Peter nodded.
“Certainly.””
As the group began moving toward the hotel's executive conference room, Denise Carter approached Amara.
“Miss Bennett?””
Amara turned.
“Yes?””
Denise looked nervous.
“I don't know if this matters, but I remember something from the day you came to the lounge.””
“What?””
“Mrs the group began moving toward the hotel's executive conference room, Denise Carter approached Amara.
“Miss Bennett?””
Amara turned.
“Yes?””
Denise looked nervous.
“I don't know if this matters, but I remember something from the day you came to the lounge.””
“What?””
“Mrs. Whitmore wasn't alone.””
Amara frowned.
“Who was with her?””
“A man.””
“Do you know his name?””
Denise shook her head.
“He wasn't. Whitmore wasn't alone.””
Amara frowned.
“Who was with her?””
“A man.””
“Do you know his name?””
Denise shook her head.
“He wasn't wearing a hotel uniform. He had a black leather folder and kept talking to her about an event schedule.””
Malcolm stopped walking.
“What did he look like?””
Denise wearing a hotel uniform. He had a black leather folder and kept talking to her about an event schedule.””
Malcolm stopped walking.
“What did he look like?””
Denise thought carefully thought carefully.
“Tall. Gray hair. Maybe in his late fifties. He wore glasses.””
Malcolm glanced at David.
David's expression changed.
“Sir.
“Tall. Gray hair. Maybe in his late fifties. He wore glasses.””
Malcolm glanced at David.
David's expression changed.
“Sir, that sounds like William.””
Denise nodded.
“I remember the name now. Mrs. Whitmore called him William.””
Amara felt, that sounds like William.””
Denise nodded.
“I remember the name now. Mrs. Whitmore called him William.””
Amara felt a chill run down her back.
“So he was here?””
“Three weeks ago,” Denise confirmed.
“He a chill run down her back.
“So he was here?””
“Three weeks ago,” Denise confirmed.
“He and Mrs. Whitmore spoke privately near the executive lounge.””
Malcolm looked at David.
“Find the footage.””
“On it.””
They entered the executive conference room.
A long glass and Mrs. Whitmore spoke privately near the executive lounge.””
Malcolm looked at David.
“Find the footage.””
“On it.””
They entered the executive conference room.
A long glass table stood beneath recessed lighting. The windows overlooked the hotel courtyard, where guests continued arriving for the gala.
Peter closed the door.
David table stood beneath recessed lighting. The windows overlooked the hotel courtyard, where guests continued arriving for the gala.
Peter closed the door.
David placed the tablet in front of Malcolm.
Within minutes, the security team located the recording Denise had described.
The footage showed Vanessa entering the executive lounge.
A man in a gray suit followed her.
He carried a black folder.
placed the tablet in front of Malcolm.
Within minutes, the security team located the recording Denise had described.
The footage showed Vanessa entering the executive lounge.
A man in a gray suit followed her.
He carried a black folder.
He looked around before approaching her.
Then the two sat near the window.
David enlargedHe looked around before approaching her.
Then the two sat near the window.
David enlarged the image.
Malcolm leaned forward.
“That's William.””
The recording continued.
William opened his folder and showed Vanessa several documents the image.
Malcolm leaned forward.
“That's William.””
The recording continued.
William opened his folder and showed Vanessa several documents.
She examined them.
Then she pointed toward something on.
She examined them.
Then she pointed toward something on the page.
William shook his head.
Vanessa the page.
William shook his head.
Vanessa leaned closer.
The camera had no audio.
But the body language was unmistakable.
They were discussing something important.
Then William handed her a small envelope leaned closer.
The camera had no audio.
But the body language was unmistakable.
They were discussing something important.
Then William handed her a small envelope.
Amara stared at the screen.
“What was that?””
David zoomed in.
“Possibly.
Amara stared at the screen.
“What was that?””
David zoomed in.
“Possibly a document packet.””
Malcolm shook his head.
“No. Look at her hand.””
Van a document packet.””
Malcolm shook his head.
“No. Look at her hand.””
Vanessa had slipped something into her purse.
Jonathan leaned toward the screen.
“essa had slipped something into her purse.
Jonathan leaned toward the screen.
“That's not an envelope.””
Everyone looked at him.
He continued.
“That's a flash drive.””
Vanessa's face went pale.
Jonathan turnedThat's not an envelope.””
Everyone looked at him.
He continued.
“That's a flash drive.””
Vanessa's face went pale.
Jonathan turned toward her.
“What was on it?””
She didn't answer.
Malcolm looked at David.
“Can you identify the contents?””
“Not from this recording. But we can check the hotel's access logs.””
Peter opened another window.
“There's something else.””
He toward her.
“What was on it?””
She didn't answer.
Malcolm looked at David.
“Can you identify the contents?””
“Not from this recording. But we can check the hotel's access logs.””
Peter opened another window.
“There's something else.””
He pointed to the screen.
“After William leaves, Mrs. Whitmore goes to the business center.””
The recording showed Vanessa entering a small private office.
She sat at a computer.
She connected something to the machine.
Then she opened a document.
David paused the footage.
“Sir, that terminal was connected to the corporate event network.””
Malcolm's eyes narrowed.
“Meaning?””
“Someone using pointed to the screen.
“After William leaves, Mrs. Whitmore goes to the business center.””
The recording showed Vanessa entering a small private office.
She sat at a computer.
She connected something to the machine.
Then she opened a document.
David paused the footage.
“Sir, that terminal was connected to the corporate event network.””
Malcolm's eyes narrowed.
“Meaning?””
“Someone using that computer could have accessed the event guest list and certain internal scheduling files.””
Amara looked at her father.
“Why would William give her access to those files?””
Malcolm didn't answer immediately.
He was thinking about the birthday celebration.
The event had been planned for months.
It was supposed to be a family evening.
A chance to celebrate his sixty-fifth birthday with the people he loved.
But William had known the guest list.
He had known the timing.
He had known which family members were attending.
And he had known that Malcolm intended to announce something important that computer could have accessed the event guest list and certain internal scheduling files.””
Amara looked at her father.
“Why would William give her access to those files?””
Malcolm didn't answer immediately.
He was thinking about the birthday celebration.
The event had been planned for months.
It was supposed to be a family evening.
A chance to celebrate his sixty-fifth birthday with the people he loved.
But William had known the guest list.
He had known the timing.
He had known which family members were attending.
And he had known that Malcolm intended to announce something important.
David's phone vibrated.
He checked it.
“Sir, headquarters has responded.””
“What did they find?””
“William's emergency operations credentials were used to access the account forty-seven minutes ago.””
Malcolm looked at him.
“From where?””
David checked the report.
“The Grand Sterling Hotel.””
Peter stood abruptly.
“That is impossible. William isn't here.””
David enlarged the location data.
“Someone is using his credentials from a terminal inside this building.””
Malcolm's eyes narrowed.
“Where?””
David looked toward the conference room door.
“The hotel's administration wing.””
A heavy silence settled over the room.
Jonathan looked toward Vanessa.
“Who else knows those credentials?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Malcolm stood.
“David, secure the administration wing. Nobody enters or leaves until we identify the user.””
David spoke into his earpiece.
“Security team, move to the administration corridor. We have a possible unauthorized system access.””
Then the hotel director's phone rang.
Peter answered.
David's phone vibrated.
He checked it.
“Sir, headquarters has responded.””
“What did they find?””
“William's emergency operations credentials were used to access the account forty-seven minutes ago.””
Malcolm looked at him.
“From where?””
David checked the report.
“The Grand Sterling Hotel.””
Peter stood abruptly.
“That is impossible. William isn't here.””
David enlarged the location data.
“Someone is using his credentials from a terminal inside this building.””
Malcolm's eyes narrowed.
“Where?””
David looked toward the conference room door.
“The hotel's administration wing.””
A heavy silence settled over the room.
Jonathan looked toward Vanessa.
“Who else knows those credentials?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Malcolm stood.
“David, secure the administration wing. Nobody enters or leaves until we identify the user.””
David spoke into his earpiece.
“Security team, move to the administration corridor. We have a possible unauthorized system access.””
Then the hotel director's phone rang.
Peter answered.
“Yes?””
He listened.
His expression changed.
“What do you mean the server room door is open?””
Malcolm turned.
Peter covered the phone.
“Sir, security has found someone in the administration wing.””
“Who?””
Peter swallowed.
“They haven't.
“Yes?””
He listened.
His expression changed.
“What do you mean the server room door is open?””
Malcolm turned.
Peter covered the phone.
“Sir, security has found someone in the administration wing.””
“Who?””
Peter swallowed.
“They haven't identified the person yet.””
A moment later, David received another message.
He read it.
Then he looked at Malcolm.
“Sir, the person using William's credentials isn't an outside contractor.””
“Who is it?””
David hesitated.
“It's one of our own executives.””
He turned the tablet around.
A photograph appeared.
Malcolm stared at the familiar face.
It was the man who had introduced him to William Harris eleven years earlier.
His longtime chief financial controller.
**Gerald Price identified the person yet.””
A moment later, David received another message.
He read it.
Then he looked at Malcolm.
“Sir, the person using William's credentials isn't an outside contractor.””
“Who is it?””
David hesitated.
“It's one of our own executives.””
He turned the tablet around.
A photograph appeared.
Malcolm stared at the familiar face.
It was the man who had introduced him to William Harris eleven years earlier.
His longtime chief financial controller.
May you like
*Gerald Price.*
And Gerald was currently standing outside the server room with a suitcase full of company documents.
