Chapter 4: The Betrayal Inside My Own Company
I didn't accuse Olivia immediately.
That was the first thing my father taught me about handling a serious problem.
“Don't let anger make decisions that evidence hasn't earned,” he used to say.
So I asked our legal director, Daniel Price, to join us.
Within an hour, we had secured the relevant documents, restricted access to sensitive files, and requested a full audit of the company's digital records.
Olivia arrived at 10:30.
She walked into my office wearing a gray blouse and carrying her usual laptop bag.
“Good morning, Marcus.””
I gestured toward the chair.
“Olivia, please sit.””
She glanced at Claire.
“Is something wrong?””
I placed the Sterling Capital document on the desk.
“Do you recognize this?””
She looked down.
For half a second, her face went blank.
Then she smiled.
“It looks like one of the investment proposals.””
“Did you prepare it?””
“No.””
“Did you send it to Sterling Capital?””
“Absolutely not.””
Daniel opened his folder.
“Your account accessed the confidential financial projections at 3:17 yesterday afternoon.””
Olivia turned toward him.
“I access those files regularly.””
“Not the particular folder containing the expansion projections. That folder was accessed from your workstation.””
She folded her hands.
“Maybe someone used my computer.””
Claire spoke.
“The office was locked after you left. The access records show your card was used again this morning.””
Olivia's expression hardened.
“Are you accusing me of something?””
I kept my voice calm.
“I'm asking you to explain why a document containing my forged signature was submitted to our potential investors.””
She stood.
“This is ridiculous.””
“Please sit down.””
“I've worked here for five years, Marcus. Five years. And now you're treating me like a criminal?””
“Then help me understand what happened.””
She looked at the document again.
Then she said something I hadn't expected.
“Vanessa told me you would do this.””
The room went silent.
I leaned forward.
“Vanessa?””
Olivia's mouth tightened.
She had said too much.
“What does Vanessa have to do with this?””
Olivia sat down slowly.
“She contacted me two weeks ago.””
“How?””
“Through a former colleague.””
“What did she want?””
Olivia stared at the desk.
“She said she was developing a commercial property project. She wanted information about your expansion plans.””
“And you gave it to her?””
“I only shared preliminary information.””
“Without authorization?””
She said nothing.
Daniel opened another page.
“We also found a payment.””
Olivia looked up.
“Payment?””
“A transfer of fifteen thousand dollars to a personal account associated with your name.””
Her face went pale.
I felt something heavy settle in my chest.
“Olivia, did Vanessa pay you?””
She swallowed.
“Yes.””
Claire looked away.
I had trusted Olivia with the business because I believed loyalty was more than a salary.
Now I was looking at someone who had sold confidential information for fifteen thousand dollars.
“Why?”” I asked.
Her eyes filled.
“My husband lost his job. We were behind on the mortgage. Vanessa said it was harmless.””
“Harmless?””
“She said she only needed the information to prepare a proposal.””
“Did she tell you she would forge my signature?””
Olivia began crying.
“No.””
“Did you know the letter had been submitted?””
She nodded.
I looked down.
That hurt more than the money.
“You knew.””
“I thought it would help me keep my job. Vanessa said if the partnership went through, she could get me a better position.””
Daniel closed his folder.
“We'll need a formal statement.””
Olivia wiped her cheeks.
“Marcus, please. I made a mistake.””
I looked at her.
“Do you remember your first week here?””
She nodded.
“You were nervous about speaking in meetings. I told you that you belonged in the room.””
She lowered her head.
“I know.””
“I gave you access because I trusted you. Not because I couldn't find someone else to do the job.””
“I know.””
I stood.
“Your access is suspended pending the investigation. Daniel will explain the next steps.””
Olivia began crying harder.
I didn't enjoy watching it.
But I couldn't allow sympathy to become an excuse for dishonesty.
After she left, Claire remained in the office.
“I'm sorry, sir.””
I shook my head.
“Don't apologize for someone else's decisions.””
She glanced at the forged signature.
“What happens now?””
“We find out how far this goes.””
My phone rang.
Richard Coleman.
I answered.
“Richard.””
“Marcus, I just reviewed the document. This is serious.””
“I agree.””
“Someone is claiming your company has approved a partnership with Williams Development.””
“We haven't approved anything.””
“I know. But the proposal has already circulated to two members of our investment committee.””
I rubbed my forehead.
“I'm preparing a formal response.””
Richard paused.
“There's something else. Vanessa called me this morning.””
“What did she say?””
“She claimed you had personally invited her to join the development negotiations.””
I almost laughed.
“That's completely false.””
“I assumed so.””
He lowered his voice.
“Marcus, I need to ask you something. Is there any chance someone inside your organization has been working with her?””
I looked at Claire.
“Yes.””
Richard exhaled.
“Then we need to postpone tomorrow's signing.””
I closed my eyes.
The partnership was worth forty million dollars.
One forged document could destroy months of work.
“I understand.””
“I'm not canceling the deal, Marcus. But I need to know exactly what happened.””
“You will.””
We ended the call.
Claire walked to the window.
“There's one more thing.””
I looked at her.
“What?””
“The security team found a visitor log from last week.””
She handed me a printed page.
Olivia had signed in a visitor named Vanessa Williams.
The meeting had taken place after normal business hours.
I read the entry.
Then I noticed the destination.
Executive records room.
I looked up.
“Why was Vanessa in our records room?””
Claire shook her head.
“We're checking the cameras.””
My phone buzzed.
A message from an unknown number.
It contained a photograph.
Vanessa was standing outside our headquarters beside a man in a dark suit.
The man was holding a folder.
I enlarged the image.
I recognized him immediately.
It was my younger brother.
David Bennett.
I stared at the screen.
David had been living in Florida for three years.
We had barely spoken since our father died.
And now he was standing beside the woman who had just tried to steal my company.
May you like
The message beneath the photograph contained seven words.
*Ask your brother who really owns Williams Development.*
