Chapter 6: The Waitress Who Had Been Forgotten
“Margaret?””
Danielle turned toward the elderly hostess.
Margaret stood beside the reception counter, holding a folded napkin.
“Yes, sweetheart?””
Danielle approached carefully.
“Did you ever receive money from the employee hardship program?””
Margaret looked confused.
“What money?””
Richard walked over.
“Margaret, the company established a hardship fund for employees. Our records show you received twenty thousand dollars.””
Margaret blinked.
Then she laughed softly.
“Oh, no, Mr. Brooks. I never received anything like that.””
Richard looked at the finance director.
“Are you certain?””
The director checked his tablet.
“Her name is listed as a recipient. The payment was processed six weeks ago.””
Margaret shook her head.
“Sir, I would remember twenty thousand dollars.””
Danielle looked at her.
“Did you apply for assistance?””
Margaret nodded slowly.
“Last winter. My husband needed surgery. I asked whether there was any help available because I had already used most of our savings.””
Richard's expression softened.
“I remember hearing about that.””
Margaret gave a sad smile.
“You told me the company would help.””
“And did we?””
She looked down.
“No, sir.””
Richard went completely still.
Margaret continued.
“The office told me my application was incomplete. Then they said the budget had been exhausted.””
Danielle felt tears gathering.
“But the records say you received twenty thousand dollars.””
Margaret shook her head.
“Then somebody made a mistake.””
The finance director looked at the payment details.
“Mr. Brooks, the money was transferred to an account ending in 4418.””
“Whose account?””
“I'm checking.””
Richard looked at Margaret.
“Why didn't you tell me the application was rejected?””
Margaret gave a small shrug.
“Because I didn't want to bother you. You have a whole business to run.””
Richard looked down.
For years, he had believed the company was helping its employees.
He had funded the programs.
He had approved the annual budgets.
He had attended charity events and stood beside families who thanked the company for its support.
But somewhere between the money leaving the accounts and the reports reaching his desk, something had gone terribly wrong.
He looked at the finance director.
“Find every rejected application that corresponds to a completed payment.””
“Yes, sir.””
Danielle turned back to Margaret.
“How is your husband now?””
Margaret's eyes softened.
“He passed away three months ago.””
Danielle stopped.
“Oh, Margaret. I'm so sorry.””
Margaret nodded.
“Thank you, sweetheart.””
“Did you ever get the help you needed?””
“No.””
Richard looked away.
Margaret gently touched his sleeve.
“Please don't blame yourself for everything.””
He turned toward her.
“I signed the budget. I told employees this company would take care of them.””
“And you meant it.””
“But I didn't make sure it happened.””
Margaret's eyes filled.
“Then make sure it happens now.””
Richard nodded.
“I will.””
The finance director suddenly looked up.
“Mr. Brooks?””
“What did you find?””
“The account belongs to Northbridge Advisory.””
Richard's jaw tightened.
“The same company connected to the maternal support fund?””
“Yes, sir.””
Danielle looked at him.
“So the same company received both sets of payments?””
The director nodded.
“That's correct.””
Richard took a slow breath.
“Who controls Northbridge Advisory?””
The director looked at the screen.
“The registered owner is Michael Grant.””
Richard frowned.
“Do we know him?””
The director hesitated.
“He's listed as a consultant for the restaurant group.””
Richard stared at him.
“I never approved a consultant by that name.””
The director scrolled farther.
“He was introduced through the executive office.””
Richard's eyes narrowed.
“Whose executive office?””
The director looked toward the conference room.
“Daniel Brooks.””
Silence.
Danielle felt her chest tighten.
Her brother had not only tried to keep her away from the family dinner.
He had apparently used the company's charitable programs to move money into an outside business.
Richard turned to the security director.
“Bring Daniel back.””
A few minutes later, Daniel entered the foyer with two security officers.
His tie was loose now.
His expression was irritated.
“What is this?””
Richard held up the tablet.
“Who is Michael Grant?””
Daniel's face changed.
“Why?””
“Answer the question.””
“He's a consultant.””
“For what?””
“Business development.””
“Who hired him?””
“I did.””
“Who approved his payments?””
Daniel looked at the finance director.
“Those contracts were reviewed.””
“By whom?””
Daniel exhaled.
“Dad, this is getting ridiculous.””
Richard stepped closer.
“Thirty-one employees were told they had received assistance they never got. Money intended for struggling families was transferred to a company you hired.””
Daniel shook his head.
“That's not what happened.””
“Then explain it.””
Daniel glanced around.
“Not here.””
Richard looked at the security director.
“Take us to the conference room.””
He turned toward Danielle.
“Sweetheart, stay with Margaret.””
Danielle shook her head.
“Dad, I need to hear this.””
Richard studied her.
Then nodded.
“Come with me.””
They entered the executive conference room.
It was a beautiful space overlooking Madison Avenue.
A long walnut table occupied the center.
Framed photographs of the restaurant's original opening lined one wall.
Richard took the chair at the head of the table.
Daniel remained standing.
The finance director connected his tablet to the large screen.
A spreadsheet appeared.
There were columns for employee names, approved amounts, payment dates, and receiving accounts.
Margaret's name appeared near the top.
Beside it was the amount.
$20,000.
The status read:
*PAID — SUCCESSFUL.*
Danielle stared at it.
“That's a lie.””
The finance director nodded.
“Yes, ma'am.””
Richard pointed toward the screen.
“Show me the other thirty.””
The list moved.
A kitchen worker.
A dishwasher.
Two restaurant hosts.
A delivery driver.
A single mother who had requested help with rent.
An employee whose house had been damaged by a storm.
A man whose wife had been undergoing chemotherapy.
Every name had a payment record.
And every payment had gone to the same outside company.
Danielle covered her mouth.
“Those people thought they had been denied assistance.””
The finance director nodded.
“Yes.””
Richard looked at Daniel.
“How long has this been happening?””
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
“The accounts were temporary.””
“Stop saying temporary.””
“I was managing cash flow.””
“With money belonging to employees?””
Daniel's voice rose.
“I was trying to keep the company profitable!””
Richard leaned forward.
“By taking money from people who needed it?””
“I didn't take anything personally.””
Danielle looked at him.
“Then why did the money go to a company you hired?””
Daniel didn't answer.
The finance director opened another document.
“There's something else.””
Richard looked at him.
“What?””
“The company paid Northbridge Advisory a total of $587,600 over eight months.””
Daniel immediately interrupted.
“Those payments included several legitimate projects.””
The director nodded.
“Some did. But we haven't found deliverables for more than half the invoices.””
Richard looked at his son.
“Who received the money after Northbridge?””
The director opened the next record.
Several transfers appeared.
One went to a property holding company.
Another went to an event planning company.
A third went to a private account.
Richard read the account holder's name.
Then he looked up.
“Daniel.””
His son swallowed.
The account belonged to a company Daniel controlled.
Danielle stared at her brother.
“You told me you were protecting the business.””
Daniel rubbed his face.
“I can explain the transfers.””
“Then explain them.””
“I was investing in a separate venture. It was supposed to generate enough money to pay everything back.””
Richard stared at him.
“You used charitable funds to finance your private business?””
“I intended to reimburse the company.””
“With what?””
Daniel didn't answer.
Richard stood.
“Do you understand what you've done?””
Daniel finally lost his composure.
“I WAS TRYING TO BUILD SOMETHING OF MY OWN!””
His voice shook.
“I have spent my entire adult life working for you. Every decision I make has to go through you. Every time I bring you an idea, you ask Danielle what she thinks.
You ask her about families, about employees, about community programs. You never ask me what I think!””
Richard looked stunned.
“This is about jealousy?””
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“You want the truth? Yes!””
Danielle stared at him.
Daniel continued.
“You were going to announce her as the new foundation director. She hasn't even worked in this company. Meanwhile, I've been doing everything.””
Richard's voice became quiet.
“Your sister earned people's trust without stealing from them.””
Daniel looked away.
“And what has that gotten her? A charity job and a baby?””
Danielle's face hardened.
“Don't bring my daughter into this.””
Daniel turned toward her.
“Everything changed when you got pregnant. Dad suddenly started talking about legacy and family. He wanted to hand you everything.””
Richard shook his head.
“I was going to offer her a role because she understands the people our company claims to serve.””
“And I don't?””
“Not anymore.””
Daniel looked at his father.
Richard continued.
“You had access to every report, every account, and every opportunity. You could have built something remarkable. Instead, you decided other people's money was yours to use.””
Daniel sat down heavily.
For the first time, he looked genuinely frightened.
The finance director spoke carefully.
“Mr. Brooks, there's one more document.””
Richard turned.
“What now?””
“A transfer authorization dated yesterday.””
The document appeared on the screen.
It was signed electronically by Daniel.
The amount was $150,000.
The destination was Northbridge Advisory.
The description read:
*FINAL DISTRIBUTION — BEFORE FOUNDATION REVIEW.*
Danielle looked at the date.
Yesterday.
“Dad, what does that mean?””
Richard stared at the document.
“It means someone was moving money before we discovered the problem.””
The finance director nodded.
“There is a second signature required for the transaction.””
Richard looked at him.
“Whose?””
The director enlarged the authorization.
A second name appeared.
Richard's expression changed.
Because the second signature did not belong to Daniel.
It belonged to Richard Brooks himself.
And beneath it was a digital approval timestamp showing that the transfer had been authorized at 11:42 p.m.
Richard looked at the finance director.
“I did not approve this.””
The director swallowed.
“Sir, the system shows that your executive credentials were used.””
Danielle stared at the screen.
“Dad, does that mean someone accessed your account?””
Richard slowly nodded.
Then his phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
He answered.
“Richard Brooks.””
A man's voice came through.
“Mr. Brooks, my name is Michael Grant. I believe we need to talk.””
Richard looked at the screen.
“About the money?””
There was a brief pause.
Then the caller said something that made Richard's face turn pale.
“About your son, yes. But there's another person involved. Someone much closer to you than you realize.””
Richard gripped the phone.
“Who?””
The man lowered his voice.
“Your wife.””
Danielle stopped breathing.
Her mother.
The woman who had died four years earlier.
The woman whose name still appeared on the original family foundation documents.
Richard stared at the phone.
“That's impossible.””
May you like
Michael Grant replied quietly.
“Then you should ask who has been signing her name.””