Chapter 5: The Message From Inside
James placed Nia's phone in the center of the conference table.
Nobody moved.
The message remained visible.
You need to take your baby and leave Sterling Tower immediately. Your father doesn't know what these people are capable of.
Richard stared at the screen.
“James, identify the device.””
James took out his laptop.
“I'm checking the internal directory.””
Victoria shook her head.
“This is absurd. Anyone could send a message from a company phone.””
“Correct,” James replied.
“Which is why we're checking.””
Martin leaned forward.
“Richard, this is becoming a circus.””
Richard didn't look at him.
“Then stop performing.””
Martin's mouth tightened.
James typed for several seconds.
Then he stopped.
“Interesting.””
Richard turned.
“What?””
“The message originated from a company-issued phone registered to the executive finance department.””
Martin immediately shook his head.
“That department has dozens of devices.””
James nodded.
“I'm aware.””
He entered another command.
A name appeared on the screen.
*Device assignment: Martin Shaw.*
Martin went completely still.
Victoria turned toward him.
“Martin?””
He quickly recovered.
“That proves nothing. I have several assistants who use my office equipment.””
James looked at him.
“Do they also have permission to send anonymous threats to the chairman's daughter?””
“I didn't send any threats.””
Richard finally spoke.
“Then explain why my daughter received that message.””
Martin stood.
“I don't know!””
His voice echoed through the room.
Amara stirred in Nia's arms.
Nia gently rocked her.
“Please lower your voice,” she said.
Martin glanced at the baby.
For a moment, he looked embarrassed.
Then he turned toward Richard.
“I've worked for this company for sixteen years. I helped build its financial structure. I have never threatened anyone.””
Richard studied him.
“Then cooperate with the investigation.””
Martin looked toward the door.
James noticed.
“Before you leave, we need to preserve your company devices.””
Martin's expression hardened.
“You can't seize my personal property.””
“We're requesting company-owned equipment and records relevant to this investigation.””
Martin laughed nervously.
“This is outrageous.””
Richard stood.
“Martin, nobody is forcing you to make this harder than it needs to be.””
Martin picked up his briefcase.
“I want my attorney present.””
James nodded.
“That's your right.””
Martin headed toward the door.
But just as he reached it, the door opened.
A woman in a navy dress entered.
She was in her early forties, with short natural hair and a folder tucked under her arm.
“Mr. Bennett?””
Richard turned.
“Angela. You're just in time.””
Angela Brooks was the company's head of internal compliance.
She had spent twelve years investigating financial misconduct, workplace complaints, and executive policy violations.
She looked at the room.
Then at Nia.
Then at the document on the table.
“Is this related to the lobby incident?””
“Yes,” Richard replied.
“And considerably more.””
Angela placed her folder down.
“I received an anonymous report this morning.””
Martin's expression changed.
“What report?””
Angela opened the folder.
“A complaint alleging unauthorized manipulation of the Bennett Family Foundation's preliminary budget.””
Martin shook his head.
“This is ridiculous.””
Angela ignored him.
“The report also included copies of internal communications between the finance office and building management.””
She pulled out several printed pages.
Victoria leaned forward.
“Who submitted the complaint?””
Angela looked at her.
“That information is protected during an active investigation.””
Richard gestured toward the documents.
“What did you find?””
Angela opened the first page.
“Several weeks ago, someone requested that the foundation's proposed leadership structure be revised.””
She turned the page.
“The original structure named Nia Bennett as executive director of community programs.””
Nia looked up.
“Who changed it?””
Angela pointed to the revision history.
“Victoria Hargrove submitted the replacement proposal.””
Victoria immediately shook her head.
“I was asked to prepare alternatives.””
“By whom?”” Angela asked.
Victoria looked toward Martin.
Martin stared at the window.
Angela continued.
“The revised structure gave Ms. Hargrove authority over the foundation's public relations, staffing, and vendor selection.””
Richard frowned.
“Those responsibilities were never approved.””
“Correct.””
Angela turned another page.
“Then, two days later, the financial office created a consulting allocation worth four million dollars.””
James nodded.
“We've seen that.””
Angela placed another document beside it.
“This is the original consulting agreement.””
Richard read the company's name.
His eyes narrowed.
“Bennett Strategic Advisory.””
Angela nodded.
“The registered business address is a residential property in Evanston.””
James examined the signature.
“Who signed this?””
Angela pointed to the bottom.
“Martin Shaw.””
Martin slammed his briefcase onto the table.
“That's enough!””
Angela remained calm.
“Mr. Shaw, this document is part of a compliance review. You may submit a written response.””
Martin pointed toward her.
“You don't understand how these transactions work.””
“Then explain them.””
He looked toward Richard.
“Richard, you know how much work I've done for this company.””
Richard didn't answer.
Martin's voice softened.
“I was trying to make the foundation successful.””
Nia finally spoke.
“By taking four million dollars?””
Martin turned toward her.
“You don't understand corporate finance.””
Nia looked down at Amara, then back at him.
“Maybe I don't understand everything about corporate finance.””
She paused.
“But I understand that someone wanted to keep me out of a building where my father invited me.””
Martin said nothing.
“And I understand that your people hit me while I was holding my baby.””
Her voice trembled.
“Whatever this money was supposed to be for, none of it explains that.””
Richard placed a hand on her shoulder.
Angela looked toward James.
“There's something else.””
She opened the back of the folder.
“Yesterday evening, an employee submitted a complaint concerning Victoria's treatment of visitors and staff.””
Victoria laughed bitterly.
“An employee complaint? People complain about managers all the time.””
Angela nodded.
“This complaint included several recordings.””
She placed her laptop on the table.
The first recording showed Victoria in the building management office.
Her voice was unmistakable.
“Make sure nobody from the Bennett family gets upstairs without my approval.””
A second voice asked, “Even Mr. Bennett's daughter?””
Victoria replied:
“Especially his daughter. If she comes here, she's not getting anywhere near the executive floor.””
Nia's mouth fell open.
Richard stared at the screen.
The recording continued.
Victoria spoke again.
“Martin wants the foundation announcement delayed. We can't have Richard introducing his daughter before the new structure is finalized.””
A man's voice responded.
“Understood.””
Angela paused the recording.
Ethan's face had gone pale.
Richard turned toward him.
“Was that you?””
Ethan looked down.
“I was following management instructions.””
Richard leaned forward.
“Did you know my daughter was being deliberately blocked?””
Ethan swallowed.
“I knew there was a concern about her appointment.””
“Did you know Victoria intended to remove her physically?””
“No, sir.””
Victoria suddenly stood.
“Stop pretending you were innocent! You were the one who changed the appointment permissions!””
Ethan turned toward her.
“Because you told me to!””
“I told you to correct the visitor schedule!””
“You told me to make sure she never reached the executive floor!””
Victoria stared at him.
The two began arguing over one another.
Angela raised her voice.
“Enough.””
Both fell silent.
She closed the laptop.
“Until this investigation is complete, both of you will be placed on administrative leave. You will surrender your company access cards and devices.””
Victoria looked horrified.
“You cannot do that!””
Angela replied evenly.
“Your employment status will be reviewed under the company's investigation procedures.””
Richard nodded.
“Proceed.””
Ethan reluctantly removed his access card.
Victoria remained standing.
“You're making a mistake, Richard.””
Richard looked at her.
“I'm beginning to think I made several mistakes.””
She stared at him.
“I gave eleven years to this building.””
“And my daughter gave you eleven minutes of her morning.””
Richard's voice hardened.
“You used those minutes to humiliate her.””
Victoria grabbed her handbag.
“This isn't over.””
She walked out.
Ethan followed.
Martin remained seated, staring at his hands.
Angela collected the documents.
“I'll secure the records and begin formal interviews.””
Richard nodded.
“Thank you.””
After she left, Nia finally exhaled.
“Dad, I just wanted to have lunch with you.””
Richard turned toward her.
“I know, sweetheart.””
She looked at the sleeping baby.
“I didn't know coming here would become all this.””
Richard pulled out the chair beside her.
“Neither did I.””
He sat down.
Then he noticed something.
The anonymous message on Nia's phone had been followed by another notification.
This one was an image.
It showed a photograph of Nia leaving her apartment building three days earlier.
Amara's stroller was visible beside her.
Underneath it were five words:
We know where you live.
Richard's face went completely still.
James walked back into the room.
He saw the photograph.
“Richard?””
Richard slowly stood.
“Get security to Nia's apartment.””
James looked at the screen.
“Do you think someone has been following her?””
Richard looked at his daughter.
“I don't think.””
He picked up his phone.
“I'm certain.””
Then Nia noticed something in the photograph.
A reflection in the window of a parked black SUV.
She zoomed in.
The driver's face was partially visible.
Her fingers began trembling.
“Dad.””
Richard turned.
“What?””
Nia enlarged the image.
“I know that man.””
Richard looked closer.
“Who is he?””
Nia swallowed.
“He's the man who came to my apartment last week.””
James stepped forward.
“Why?””
Nia looked at her father.
“He told me to sign something.””
“What?””
“A document saying I didn't want anything to do with your company.””
Richard stared at her.
“And you signed it?””
“No.””
Nia's voice dropped.
“Because he told me something that frightened me.””
Richard took her hand.
“What did he say?””
May you like
Nia looked toward Amara.
“He said if I refused, they would make sure you lost everything.””