Chapter 4: The Man Who Signed the Secret Agreement
“There's no need. I'm already here.””
The voice came from behind the crowd.
Elijah Carter turned slowly.
A tall man in a black tuxedo stepped out from between two marble columns. His silver hair was neatly combed, and a diamond pin glittered on his lapel.
Naomi recognized him immediately.
“Uncle Marcus?””
Marcus Reed smiled faintly.
“Hello, sweetheart.””
Naomi felt her stomach tighten.
Marcus had been her father's closest business partner for nearly twenty years. He had attended her high school graduation, stood beside her father at her wedding, and helped organize her mother's funeral.
He had even held baby Amara during her first family gathering.
Naomi looked at the tablet again.
“Your signature?””
Marcus glanced at the document.
Then he looked at Elijah.
“Before anybody makes accusations, I think we should all remember that this is a complicated financial arrangement.””
Elijah didn't blink.
“Did you authorize the transfer?””
Marcus straightened his cufflinks.
“Yes.””
Naomi stared at him.
“You signed it?””
“I approved a temporary reallocation.””
“Of the money for my mother's project?””
Marcus sighed.
“Naomi, this is business. You wouldn't understand the entire situation.””
She took a step backward.
“Don't do that.””
“Do what?””
“Don't talk to me like I'm a child.””
Marcus looked toward Elijah.
“You see? This is exactly why I wanted to handle this privately.””
Elijah's expression hardened.
“You wanted to handle it privately because you knew what you were doing.””
Marcus gave a short laugh.
“Come on, Elijah. We've worked together for two decades. You're going to destroy everything we've built over a misunderstanding?””
Elijah looked at the document.
“Two million dollars was approved for a community arts program.””
“Yes.””
“It was transferred to a private company.””
“Temporarily.””
“Without the board's approval.””
Marcus didn't answer.
Richard Lawson stepped forward.
“Mr. Reed, the transfer record shows the money entered Whitmore Event Consulting's account eight months ago. There is no record of repayment.””
Marcus turned toward him.
“Richard, I suggest you stay out of matters you don't understand.””
Richard's face reddened.
“This is museum money.””
“And I'm the treasurer of the foundation.””
“Not anymore,” Elijah said.
The words landed heavily.
Marcus stared at him.
“Excuse me?””
Elijah removed a folded document from his inside jacket pocket.
“I came here tonight to announce the new community arts initiative. I also brought the results of an independent financial review.””
Catherine Whitmore stiffened.
“You conducted an audit without informing the chairwoman?””
“I commissioned an independent review after receiving several irregular financial reports.””
Marcus shook his head.
“This is unbelievable.””
Elijah continued.
“The auditors identified three questionable transfers. One was connected to the arts program Naomi proposed. Another was connected to a private consulting company. The third was connected to an account used to pay expenses for tonight's gala.””
Victoria's face drained of color.
Daniel looked at her.
“What expenses?””
Victoria snapped, “Don't say anything.””
Elijah noticed.
“Interesting. You two seem to know quite a bit about those expenses.””
Victoria stepped forward.
“Mr. Carter, I have nothing to do with the foundation's finances.””
Richard looked at his tablet.
“Your department approved the invoices.””
“I approved event invoices, not financial transfers.””
Marcus interrupted.
“She followed instructions. This has nothing to do with her.””
Elijah looked at him.
“Then why are you defending her?””
Marcus's mouth tightened.
Naomi shifted Amara against her shoulder.
“Uncle Marcus, why?””
He finally looked at her.
“Because your father doesn't understand the pressure this foundation has been under.””
“My mother wanted to help artists.””
“Your mother was a wonderful woman. But her project wasn't financially practical.””
“You approved it.””
Marcus exhaled sharply.
“Because Elijah wanted it approved.””
Naomi frowned.
“What?””
Marcus looked directly at her.
“Your father was grieving. He wanted to turn your mother's name into a public project. I supported him because I thought it would help him move forward.””
Elijah stepped closer.
“Don't use Patricia's name to justify stealing money.””
Marcus's face hardened.
“Watch your words.””
“No. You watch yours.””
For a moment, the two men stood inches apart.
Then Marcus lowered his voice.
“You're forgetting how much I know about your business.””
Elijah didn't move.
“And you're forgetting that I trusted you with it.””
A murmur passed through the guests.
Evelyn Brooks approached Naomi.
“Sweetheart, would you like to sit down?””
Naomi nodded.
Evelyn helped her settle onto the marble bench.
Amara had finally stopped crying. Her tiny hand rested against Naomi's collarbone.
Naomi looked toward her father.
“Dad, I need to ask you something.””
Elijah immediately turned.
“Anything.””
“Did you know the project had been approved?””
He hesitated.
“No.””
Naomi swallowed.
“Did you know Uncle Marcus was involved?””
“No.””
She looked at Marcus.
“Then why did Catherine tell me you didn't want the project?””
Elijah's expression changed.
“What?””
Naomi continued.
“She told me you had personally asked the foundation not to move forward. She said you thought Mom's idea was too emotional and that you didn't want the museum associated with it.””
Elijah looked genuinely wounded.
“I never said that.””
Naomi's eyes filled.
“I believed her.””
He walked over and knelt beside her.
“Naomi, look at me.””
She did.
“Your mother spent thirty years supporting young artists who couldn't get gallery space. She believed art should belong to everybody, not just people who could afford private collections.””
He gently touched her hand.
“When she was sick, she made me promise that we wouldn't let her work disappear. I would never reject something that honored her.””
Naomi looked down.
“I thought you didn't care.””
Elijah closed his eyes briefly.
“I am sorry you were made to believe that.””
Across the lobby, Marcus began speaking loudly.
“This is ridiculous. Elijah, we need to stop this performance. The guests are watching.””
Elijah stood.
“Good. Let them watch.””
Marcus's face reddened.
“You cannot remove me from the foundation without a formal board vote.””
Elijah nodded.
“Correct.””
He turned toward Richard.
“Call an emergency board meeting. Tonight.””
Richard looked uncertain.
“Tonight?””
“Now.””
Catherine stepped forward.
“You cannot convene an emergency meeting during a formal event.””
Evelyn Brooks gave a quiet laugh.
“Catherine, this institution has survived wars, recessions, and three renovations. I believe it can survive a meeting.””
A few guests chuckled.
Catherine didn't.
Elijah continued.
“Until the financial review is complete, all disputed accounts are frozen. Marcus is suspended from financial authorization. Catherine is suspended from her position as chairwoman pending investigation.””
Catherine looked horrified.
“You can't be serious.””
“I am.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“You'll regret this.””
Elijah turned toward him.
“I already regret trusting you.””
A security supervisor approached Richard and whispered something.
Richard's expression changed.
He looked toward Daniel.
“Mr. Price, the security system has just recorded an attempt to delete the original footage.””
Daniel went rigid.
“What?””
Richard held up the tablet.
“Someone tried to access the camera archive using your staff credentials.””
Daniel shook his head.
“That wasn't me.””
The supervisor spoke again.
“The login came from the event management office.””
Victoria immediately looked at Daniel.
“You told me you had taken care of that.””
Silence.
Naomi's head snapped toward her.
Elijah stared at Victoria.
“What did you just say?””
Victoria's lips parted.
“I meant the guest list.””
Daniel looked at her desperately.
“Victoria, stop.””
But the damage was done.
Elijah turned to the supervisor.
“Secure every computer in the event management office. Nobody touches anything.””
The supervisor nodded and walked away.
Marcus adjusted his jacket.
“This conversation is over.””
He started toward the exit.
But before he reached the doors, Evelyn spoke.
“Marcus.””
He stopped.
She approached him slowly.
“Your wife donated a collection of paintings to this museum last year, didn't she?””
Marcus looked confused.
“Yes.””
“Then I hope you haven't been using the museum's money to pay for things that belong in your private collection.””
Marcus's face changed.
Elijah turned sharply.
“Evelyn, what are you talking about?””
She looked at him.
“Three months ago, I attended a private viewing. I recognized several paintings from the museum's proposed community exhibition. Marcus told me they were personal acquisitions.””
Naomi looked at the tablet.
The room suddenly seemed smaller.
Richard opened another financial file.
He scrolled through several entries.
Then he looked up.
“Mr. Carter, there are payments to an art storage facility.””
Elijah's eyes narrowed.
“Whose name is on the storage contract?””
Richard read it.
“Whitmore Event Consulting.””
Naomi looked at her father.
“Dad, what was supposed to happen to Mom's collection?””
Elijah didn't answer.
Because the next document on the tablet revealed something even worse.
The collection hadn't simply been delayed.
May you like
It had been sold.
And the buyer's name was Catherine Whitmore.