Chapter 6: The Price of His Betrayal
"Daniel had been demanding money," Malcolm repeated.
"He wanted more than he was entitled to.""
Vanessa stared at him.
"So you forged my signature?""
"I didn't forge anything.""
"Then who did?""
Malcolm rubbed his face.
"Vanessa, you need to understand how things worked back then. Andre's company was desperate. Daniel was threatening legal action.
Investors were getting nervous. We needed to move quickly.""
"That doesn't answer my question.""
"Your name was already on the financial records. It made the transfer easier.""
"Did I authorize it?""
Malcolm looked at her.
"No.""
The answer came so quietly that Vanessa almost missed it.
She stepped backward.
"You're admitting it?""
"I'm telling you that nobody intended to hurt you.""
"Someone used my identity to move fourteen million dollars!""
"Not all fourteen million went to me.""
Vanessa stared.
"How much went to you?""
Malcolm remained silent.
"How much, Malcolm?""
"Approximately two million.""
She felt sick.
Two million dollars.
She thought about the designer handbag sitting in the hallway. The expensive holidays. The house. The diamond necklace she had worn at the gala.
She had spent years believing Malcolm was a successful businessman who had earned every dollar.
Now she wondered how much of their life had been purchased with someone else's stolen work.
"Did you use that money to buy this house?""
"Some of it.""
"And my jewelry?""
"Vanessa, stop.""
"My car?""
He slammed his palm against the desk.
"Enough!""
She flinched.
Malcolm immediately lowered his voice.
"Look, I made a decision. It was a business decision. Nobody was supposed to discover the original paperwork.""
"Except Andre did.""
"Yes.""
"And now?""
Malcolm walked toward the window.
"Now he's trying to destroy me.""
Vanessa picked up her phone.
"I'm calling the police.""
Malcolm spun around.
"Don't be stupid.""
"Move.""
"Listen to me. If you involve the police, they'll investigate every transaction connected to that document.""
"Good.""
"They'll investigate you, too.""
She froze.
Malcolm saw the hesitation.
He moved closer.
"Your signature is on the authorization. Your name is on the release. You were married to Andre, and you had access to the company records. Do you understand what that means?""
Vanessa's fingers tightened around her phone.
"You're threatening me.""
"I'm explaining reality.""
"You used me.""
"I protected you.""
"From what?""
"From being associated with a failing company.""
She stared at him.
Then she laughed.
It was a small, broken sound.
"You know what's strange? Six years ago, I left Andre because I thought he was going nowhere. I thought you were the man who understood success.""
Malcolm said nothing.
"Now I'm standing in your office, looking at evidence that you stole from the man I left.""
She opened the door.
Malcolm stepped in front of her.
"Vanessa, don't walk away.""
"Get out of my way.""
"You're going to regret this.""
She looked him in the eyes.
"I already regret marrying the wrong man twice.""
He moved aside.
She walked out.
At 8:40 that evening, Andre received a call from Eleanor Price.
"Mr. Bennett, we've received Daniel's documents.""
"Have you reviewed them?""
"Yes. The original authorization contains two signatures. Yours and Vanessa Cole's.""
Andre closed the report he was reading.
"Is mine authentic?""
"Preliminary examination suggests it is.""
"And Vanessa's?""
"Almost certainly forged.""
He stood.
"Who submitted the document?""
"Malcolm Hayes.""
Andre looked through the glass wall toward the city.
"Where is Daniel?""
"At our legal office. He's willing to make a formal statement.""
"Arrange for him to come here tomorrow morning.""
Eleanor hesitated.
"There's another issue. The original transfer was made through a company registered to Malcolm's brother-in-law. The company later received consulting payments from a subsidiary of Helix.""
"How much?""
"Two million, four hundred thousand dollars.""
Andre's expression hardened.
"That's the amount Malcolm admitted receiving?""
Eleanor paused.
"Admitted?""
Andre explained what Daniel had told him.
"Then we have a starting point.""
Eleanor lowered her voice.
"Mr. Bennett, I also need to tell you something. Vanessa has contacted our legal department.""
Andre looked at his desk.
"What did she want?""
"She asked how to preserve evidence of the forged document.""
For several seconds, Andre said nothing.
Then he replied, "Tell her to communicate through counsel. We will cooperate with any legitimate investigation.""
"Understood.""
After the call ended, Andre sat alone.
He opened a drawer.
Inside was an old photograph of his father.
He studied it for a moment.
Six years ago, he had been a different man.
He had believed that if he worked hard enough, loved deeply enough, and sacrificed enough, the people closest to him would eventually understand.
His father had warned him otherwise.
"Son," the older man had once said, "never let somebody else's impatience make you ashamed of your own journey.""
Andre had understood those words only after everything fell apart.
He placed the photograph back in the drawer.
Then his phone rang.
It was Vanessa.
He watched it vibrate twice before answering.
"Yes?""
"Andre, it's me.""
"I know.""
"I need to tell you something.""
"Then tell me.""
"I found the original authorization on Malcolm's laptop. He admitted that my signature was used without my permission.""
Andre closed his eyes briefly.
"Did he admit to submitting the document?""
"Yes.""
"Did he explain the transfer?""
"He said it was a business decision.""
Andre's voice became colder.
"That's not an explanation.""
"I know.""
A pause followed.
Then Vanessa said, "I'm sorry.""
Andre leaned back.
"For what?""
"For what I did at the gala. For the way I spoke to you. For leaving when you were struggling.""
Andre looked toward the photograph of his father.
"Vanessa, I appreciate you telling me about the document. But I don't want to confuse that with forgiveness.""
"I understand.""
"Do you?""
She didn't answer.
Andre continued.
"You didn't leave because I failed. You left because you believed I would never succeed. Those are different things.""
Her breathing became uneven.
"I was scared.""
"So was I.""
"I thought we were going to lose everything.""
"We almost did.""
"Why didn't you tell me how close the contract was?""
"I did. You didn't want to listen.""
Silence.
Then Vanessa whispered, "I wish I had.""
Andre looked at the clock.
"I have work to do.""
"Andre?""
"Yes?""
"Did you ever stop loving me?""
He didn't answer immediately.
When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet.
"I stopped waiting for you to come back.""
Then he ended the call.
The next morning, Malcolm arrived at Helix before eight.
He entered his office and found his access card no longer worked.
A security officer approached.
"Mr. Hayes?""
Malcolm turned.
"What's the problem?""
"Your building access has been temporarily suspended.""
"By whose authority?""
"Human Resources and the legal department.""
Malcolm laughed.
"This is ridiculous. I'm the vice president of strategic partnerships.""
"Sir, I was instructed to escort you to the executive conference room.""
Malcolm stared at the officer.
"By whom?""
A familiar voice answered from behind him.
"By me.""
Andre stood at the end of the corridor.
Beside him was Eleanor Price.
Malcolm straightened his jacket.
"Andre, this is unnecessary.""
"Then it should be easy to resolve.""
They entered the conference room.
On the table lay three folders.
Andre opened the first.
"Fourteen million dollars transferred through unauthorized channels.""
The second.
"Two million, four hundred thousand dollars paid to an advisory company connected to your family.""
The third.
"A forged financial authorization bearing Vanessa Cole's signature.""
Malcolm sat down.
"You're missing context.""
"Then provide it.""
Malcolm glanced at Eleanor.
"Can we discuss this privately?""
"No.""
Andre placed another document on the table.
"Daniel Mercer will be providing a sworn statement. Our forensic accountants have also identified altered records.""
Malcolm's face changed.
"Daniel?""
"Yes.""
"He's lying.""
"Then you'll have an opportunity to challenge his evidence.""
Malcolm pushed the documents away.
"You can't do this to me.""
Andre looked at him.
"I haven't done anything to you, Malcolm. I've simply stopped protecting you from the consequences of your decisions.""
Malcolm's jaw tightened.
"You're making a mistake.""
Andre closed the folder.
"Your employment is suspended pending the investigation. Your access to company systems has been revoked. Our legal team will contact your attorney.""
Malcolm stood abruptly.
"You're going to regret this.""
Andre remained seated.
"No, Malcolm. I regret that I didn't find this sooner.""
The security officer opened the door.
Malcolm walked out.
But before he reached the elevator, his phone vibrated.
A message appeared from an unknown number.
*You need to find the original recording before Daniel does.*
Malcolm stopped walking.
For the first time that morning, he looked genuinely terrified.
May you like
Because the recording wasn't supposed to exist.
And if Daniel had it, the forged authorization would be only the beginning.
