Chapter 5: The Man Who Helped Me Build Northstar
I stared at the photograph.
Richard was standing beside Monica.
Both were smiling.
The building behind them was the office space I had inspected during the early days of Northstar.
I remembered that week clearly.
I had been looking for an inexpensive location with enough room for a small team.
Richard had introduced me to the property manager.
He had also helped negotiate the lease.
At the time, I thought he was doing me a favor.
Now I wondered whether he had been positioning himself inside my company from the beginning.
"Where did you get this?"" I asked Rebecca.
"Monica gave it to me.""
"Why?""
"She was angry with Richard. They had an argument about money.""
"What kind of argument?""
Rebecca looked uncomfortable.
"She said Richard had promised her something.""
"What?""
"That once Northstar became successful, he would make sure she received a position in your company.""
I almost laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because the absurdity was overwhelming.
"She expected me to hire her?""
Rebecca nodded.
"Richard told her he could arrange it.""
I leaned back.
"Did she know he was going to become my CFO?""
"She knew he was applying for the position.""
I looked at the photograph again.
Richard had not stumbled into my life.
He had entered it deliberately.
"Rebecca, did you know about this when I first started Northstar?""
"No.""
"Did Monica?""
"Yes.""
I looked at her.
"Why didn't she tell me?""
Rebecca lowered her eyes.
"Because she thought Richard could help her make money.""
I stood.
"Do you have the original photograph?""
"Yes.""
"Keep it safe. Don't send it to anyone except the investigators.""
Rebecca nodded.
I reached for my wallet.
"Let me arrange a meeting with our legal team.""
She shook her head.
"I'll cooperate, but I need protection.""
"From Richard?""
"From him and from Anthony.""
I frowned.
"Why Anthony?""
She looked at me.
"Because Anthony knew more than he admitted.""
I stopped.
"Explain.""
Rebecca took a breath.
"Anthony knew Richard was making payments. He approved the first few contracts himself.""
"Why?""
"Richard told him the agency was connected to a private marketing network. Anthony believed the payments would help him secure exclusive access to a group of investors.""
I studied her.
"Did Anthony know the money was being redirected?""
"I don't know.""
"Did Monica?""
"She knew some of it. Not all.""
I looked out the window.
The city was waking up.
People were walking toward offices, carrying coffee cups and briefcases.
Ordinary lives.
Ordinary mornings.
Meanwhile, my company was facing a potential internal betrayal that could reach back to its founding.
I called Sarah.
She answered immediately.
"Daniel?""
"I'm with Rebecca Ellis. She has original financial documents and photographs connecting Richard Cole to the Silverline arrangement.""
"Where are you?""
"Riverside Hotel.""
"Stay there. I'll send someone from legal.""
I ended the call.
Rebecca looked relieved.
"Thank you.""
"Don't thank me yet. We still need to establish exactly what happened.""
She nodded.
Then she reached into her folder and removed a small USB drive.
"There is something else.""
I looked at it.
"What?""
"An audio recording.""
"Of whom?""
"Richard and Monica.""
My fingers tightened around the coffee cup.
"Where did you get it?""
"Monica recorded one of their arguments. She sent it to me because she wanted proof that Richard had promised her money.""
"How long is it?""
"About twelve minutes.""
"Have you listened to it?""
"Yes.""
"What's on it?""
Rebecca looked at me.
"Richard tells Monica that your company was never supposed to become successful.""
I stared at her.
"What does that mean?""
She swallowed.
"He says he expected Northstar to collapse within six months.""
I felt something cold move through my chest.
Rebecca continued.
"He believed he could use your company to access investor information and move money through related accounts. When you started succeeding, he changed the plan.""
I sat down again.
"Changed it how?""
"He decided to stay with you.""
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
Richard had been beside me during our first acquisition.
He had celebrated when we signed our largest investment agreement.
He had attended my father's funeral.
He had stood beside me when we opened our second office.
And all that time, he might have been planning to use my company.
A black sedan stopped outside the hotel.
Sarah's investigator stepped out.
Rebecca recognized her and immediately gathered her documents.
Before she left, she looked at me.
"There's one more thing you should know about Monica.""
I waited.
"She wasn't the person who introduced Richard to Anthony.""
"Who was?""
Rebecca hesitated.
"Anthony introduced them.""
Then she walked toward Sarah's investigator.
I remained seated.
The pieces were beginning to connect.
But I still couldn't understand why Anthony had presented himself as someone who had discovered the problem only recently.
I called him.
He answered on the fourth ring.
"Daniel?""
"Good morning.""
"How are you?""
"Busy.""
He laughed awkwardly.
"Yes, I imagine so.""
I went straight to the point.
"Did you introduce Richard Cole to Monica?""
There was silence.
Then Anthony sighed.
"Where did you hear that?""
"Rebecca.""
Another silence.
"Daniel, I can explain.""
"Then explain.""
Anthony lowered his voice.
"Richard approached me several years ago. He had a consulting proposal involving marketing efficiency and investment referrals. He introduced Rebecca as someone who could provide specialized campaign services.""
"And Monica?""
"She was already working in my company. Richard suggested she could oversee the relationship.""
"Why?""
"Because she understood the luxury market.""
I closed my eyes.
"Anthony, did you know they were transferring money?""
"Not initially.""
"When did you find out?""
He hesitated.
"About eight months ago.""
I stared at the wall.
"Eight months?""
"Daniel, listen—"
"Your wedding was yesterday. You told me you had just discovered the discrepancies.""
"I discovered the full extent yesterday.""
"But you knew about the payments.""
"Yes.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I was trying to resolve it internally.""
"With the people involved?""
He didn't answer.
I stood.
"Anthony, did you receive any money?""
"No.""
"Did you authorize any payments?""
"I approved some consulting contracts.""
"Did you know the invoices were false?""
"No.""
"Did you suspect?""
He exhaled.
"Yes.""
I stared at the phone.
"That's a very different answer.""
"Daniel, I was trying to protect the company.""
"By hiding information from your investment partner?""
"I was trying to avoid a scandal.""
I let out a slow breath.
"Anthony, the scandal already exists. You just delayed discovering how serious it was.""
He went quiet.
Finally, he said:
"I need to meet you.""
"Not without Sarah.""
"Fine.""
"Tomorrow. Nine o'clock. Northstar headquarters.""
"Agreed.""
I ended the call.
By noon, Sarah had received Rebecca's documents and secured the audio recording.
Our independent forensic team began reviewing the original files.
I returned to Northstar headquarters that afternoon.
The familiar lobby smelled of polished wood and fresh coffee.
A receptionist greeted me.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Hayes.""
"Good afternoon, Emily.""
I walked toward the executive elevators.
On the top floor, the office was unusually quiet.
Richard's assistant, Laura, stood beside his office door.
She looked surprised to see me.
"Mr. Hayes.""
"Is Richard in?""
"He stepped out for lunch.""
"Did he say when he'd return?""
"Not exactly.""
I nodded.
"Has he taken any personal leave?""
"No.""
"Has he accessed the financial system today?""
She looked confused.
"I don't know.""
I walked into my office.
Sarah was already waiting.
She had a folder open on the conference table.
"Daniel, we found something.""
I sat down.
"What?""
She turned her laptop toward me.
It showed a series of electronic authorization logs.
"Someone used your credentials to approve three transfers.""
"When?""
"Over the last six months.""
I studied the dates.
The first was dated two weeks before Monica's wedding invitation arrived.
The second was dated four months earlier.
The third was dated eleven months earlier.
"Did I authorize any of these?""
"No.""
"Can you prove that?""
Sarah nodded.
"We compared the access records with your verified login history. The approvals came from a device assigned to Richard's office.""
I stared at the screen.
"Can we establish whether he used my credentials?""
"We can establish that the transactions were approved using a device under his control. We need the full forensic report before making a final attribution.""
I nodded.
"What's the total?""
"Three hundred and twelve thousand dollars.""
"Where did the money go?""
Sarah opened another spreadsheet.
"Some went to Silverline. Some went through a consulting account. And one payment went directly to a private investment company.""
"What company?""
She pointed to the name.
"Harbor Crest Ventures.""
I recognized it.
It was a small investment firm that had recently purchased commercial property in Cincinnati.
"Who owns it?""
Sarah clicked another tab.
"That's where things become interesting.""
A corporate registration document appeared.
The registered owner was Anthony Reed.
I stared at her.
"Anthony owns Harbor Crest?""
"According to the filing, yes.""
I leaned forward.
"How much money went there?""
"One hundred and forty thousand dollars.""
I sat back.
So Anthony had lied about receiving no money.
But perhaps there was another explanation.
"Has he personally withdrawn anything?""
"We don't know yet.""
Sarah closed the spreadsheet.
"Daniel, I need you to prepare for the possibility that this is larger than a simple kickback arrangement.""
I looked at her.
"How large?""
She hesitated.
"Potentially, the original investment proposal itself may have been designed to transfer control of assets.""
I frowned.
"Which assets?""
She opened another file.
A list of Northstar's recent acquisitions appeared.
One company was highlighted.
*Cedar Ridge Logistics.*
I remembered the acquisition.
It had been our biggest deal in the previous year.
We had purchased a controlling stake after Richard presented a detailed valuation.
Sarah pointed to a line near the bottom.
"There's an outstanding loan attached to the company. It wasn't disclosed in the acquisition documents.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"How much?""
"Two million dollars.""
I stared at her.
"Who owns the debt?""
Sarah looked directly at me.
"Harbor Crest Ventures.""
The room went silent.
Anthony's company had a financial claim against one of my subsidiaries.
And Richard had helped arrange the acquisition.
I looked at Sarah.
"Freeze every transaction involving Harbor Crest.""
"Already done.""
"Notify the board.""
"Yes.""
"And find out why Richard wanted me to buy Cedar Ridge.""
Sarah nodded.
Then she opened another document.
"There's one more thing.""
"What?""
"Richard accessed your personal calendar yesterday.""
I frowned.
"Why?""
Sarah pointed to an entry.
It was a private appointment I had scheduled for Monday morning.
The time was 9:00 a.m.
The title was:
*Monica Ellis — Executive Interview.*
Underneath it was a note.
Do not allow Daniel to meet her alone.
I stared at the screen.
"Who wrote that?""
Sarah shook her head.
"We're checking the access history.""
My phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number appeared.
*Mr. Hayes, Richard Cole is preparing to leave the country. If you want to stop him, you need to act before Monday.*
I looked at Sarah.
"Call the legal team.""
Then I read the message again.
May you like
Another one arrived.
*And don't trust Anthony Reed. He has already arranged the sale of your company.*
