Chapter 3: The Name on the Confidential Report
Vanessa stared at the paper.
Her name appeared beneath a section titled:
*RELATED-PARTY CONNECTIONS AND POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.*
She read it twice.
Then a third time.
“What is this?””
Alexander didn't respond immediately.
He walked toward the elevator, expecting her to follow.
She caught his arm.
“Alexander, tell me what this is.””
He looked down at her hand.
“Not here.””
“Then where?””
“Upstairs.””
“Why is my name in a corporate report?””
Alexander lowered his voice.
“Because someone has been using your consultancy as a supplier for Sterling Global projects.””
Vanessa frowned.
“My consultancy?””
“Your company. The one you told me was doing branding work for several major clients.””
“It is!””
“How many employees do you have?””
“Six.””
“Six employees?””
“What's wrong with that?””
Alexander rubbed his forehead.
“Vanessa, your company has received nearly two million dollars in contracts from Sterling Global over the last eighteen months.””
She blinked.
“Those were legitimate projects.””
“Were they?””
“Of course.””
He opened the folder and pulled out a printed invoice.
“This invoice claims your company delivered a full international marketing campaign for our London division.””
“Yes.””
“Who managed it?””
“My team.””
“Which team?””
Vanessa hesitated.
“Alexander, I don't appreciate being interrogated.””
He held up the invoice.
“Because there is no record of the campaign being delivered. No final files. No approved media purchases. No signed acceptance from the London division.””
Her mouth went dry.
“Maybe the files are archived.””
“Maybe. But there's another problem.””
He turned the page.
A payment authorization form appeared.
The signature belonged to Alexander.
He looked at it as if he wished it belonged to someone else.
“I approved these payments.””
Vanessa's expression softened.
“Then what's the problem? You approved them.””
“That's exactly the problem.””
He moved closer.
“I approved them because you told me your company was struggling and needed a chance to grow. I believed you.””
She stared at him.
“You said you wanted to help me.””
“I did.””
“Then why are you acting like I've stolen something?””
Alexander's jaw tightened.
“Because the money may have been transferred without proper documentation. And now the chairman knows.””
Vanessa's confidence began to crumble.
“Marcus?””
“Yes.””
“He can't possibly care about my little company.””
Alexander looked at her.
“You still don't understand, do you?””
He pointed toward the elevator.
“Marcus isn't just a wealthy investor who happens to own shares. He built the original Reed Capital Group. He acquired Sterling Global after its previous owners nearly destroyed it. He personally appointed the board members who brought me here.””
Vanessa looked down.
Alexander continued.
“And he's been investigating unusual vendor payments for months.””
The elevator doors opened.
They stepped inside.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Vanessa asked the question she had been avoiding.
“Does Marcus know about us?””
Alexander looked at her reflection in the polished elevator wall.
“What do you mean?””
“That we're together.””
“Of course he does. I mentioned you at a company dinner.””
“And?””
“He didn't say anything.””
Vanessa exhaled.
“Then perhaps this is just personal revenge.””
Alexander turned sharply.
“Don't say that.””
“Why not? He used to date me. I left him.
Now he's rich, and suddenly he's threatening your position. What else am I supposed to think?””
Alexander looked genuinely alarmed.
“Vanessa, this isn't about your old relationship.””
“How do you know?””
“Because I saw the report last night. His team started reviewing these contracts before he ever saw you today.””
The elevator chimed.
The doors opened onto the executive floor.
A long corridor stretched toward a conference room with dark glass walls.
Employees moved quickly between offices, carrying laptops and documents.
Vanessa noticed that everyone seemed unusually quiet.
Alexander adjusted his tie.
“Listen. When we enter that room, don't speak unless you're asked a question.””
She frowned.
“I'm not an employee.””
“No. But your company is part of this investigation.””
A woman approached them carrying a tablet.
She wore a navy suit and had her hair tied into a neat bun.
“Mr. Cole?””
“Yes, Olivia.””
“The chairman is waiting.””
Her eyes briefly moved to Vanessa.
“Miss Vanessa, please come with me.””
Alexander looked surprised.
“She'll be attending?””
“The chairman requested her presence.””
Olivia turned and walked toward the conference room.
Vanessa followed.
The moment she entered, she felt the atmosphere change.
A dozen executives sat around a long black table.
At the far end stood Marcus.
His jacket was off, his sleeves were neatly folded, and he was reading a document.
He didn't look like the man she had mocked outside.
He looked like someone who could make decisions that changed thousands of lives without raising his voice.
Marcus glanced up.
“Good morning, Alexander.””
Alexander straightened.
“Good morning, Mr. Reed.””
“Please sit.””
Vanessa remained standing.
Marcus looked at her.
“Vanessa. Thank you for coming.””
She forced a smile.
“Of course, Marcus.””
He gestured toward an empty chair.
“Please.””
She sat.
Olivia placed a thick file in front of Marcus.
He opened it.
“Let's begin.””
A senior executive named Richard Hale cleared his throat.
“Mr. Reed, we've completed the initial review of the vendor contracts. The findings are concerning.””
Marcus nodded.
“Explain.””
Richard turned toward the screen.
A spreadsheet appeared, listing payments made to Vanessa's consultancy.
The amounts were arranged by date.
$85,000.
$120,000.
$175,000.
$240,000.
Vanessa shifted in her chair.
Richard continued.
“Over eighteen months, Sterling Global paid the company approximately $1.9 million. Several invoices lack delivery evidence, and three contracts were approved outside the normal procurement process.””
Alexander leaned forward.
“I authorized the payments.””
Marcus looked at him.
“We'll discuss your role in a moment.””
Alexander sat back.
Vanessa raised her hand slightly.
“May I explain?””
Marcus nodded.
“Please do.””
She cleared her throat.
“My company provided marketing and consulting services. We had a small team, but we worked with independent contractors. Some records may not have been properly filed, but that doesn't mean the work wasn't completed.””
Marcus studied her.
“Who were the independent contractors?””
“Different professionals.””
“Names?””
“I'd have to check.””
“Contracts?””
“In our office.””
“Payment records?””
She hesitated.
“Also in our office.””
Marcus closed the file.
“Then we'll need those documents.””
Vanessa nodded quickly.
“Absolutely.””
He looked toward Richard.
“Has the finance team identified where the payments went?””
Richard pressed a button.
The spreadsheet changed.
A list of bank transfers appeared.
Vanessa's face lost color.
One payment had gone to a luxury property company.
Another had been transferred to a private account.
A third had paid for a vehicle.
Marcus leaned back.
“Miss Vanessa, can you explain why a Sterling Global marketing payment was used to purchase a luxury vehicle?””
She opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
Alexander looked at her.
“Vanessa?””
She turned toward him.
“You told me those payments were business expenses.””
Alexander's expression hardened.
“I told you to submit legitimate invoices.””
“You approved them!””
“I approved the invoices you gave me!””
Marcus raised one hand.
“Enough.””
The room fell silent.
He looked at Vanessa.
“I want to make something clear. I did not arrange this review because of our personal history. The investigation began months ago, and the evidence will be examined independently.””
Vanessa swallowed.
“Then why did you ask me to come?””
“Because your company received the money.””
He paused.
“And because I want to give you an opportunity to explain before this matter moves beyond an internal investigation.””
For the first time, Vanessa seemed to understand that Marcus wasn't interested in humiliating her.
He was interested in the truth.
Marcus turned to Olivia.
“Bring in the procurement director.””
Olivia nodded and stepped outside.
A minute later, the door opened.
A middle-aged man entered carrying a leather briefcase.
Vanessa recognized him immediately.
It was Peter Lawson, the former procurement director who had introduced her company to Sterling Global.
He looked nervous.
Marcus gestured toward the empty chair.
“Peter, please sit.””
Peter placed his briefcase on the table.
“Good morning, Mr. Reed.””
Marcus didn't return the greeting.
“Do you recognize the vendor listed on the screen?””
Peter glanced at the spreadsheet.
“Yes.””
“Did you personally recommend the company?””
“Yes, sir.””
“Did you receive any financial benefit from those contracts?””
Peter shook his head too quickly.
“No.””
Marcus watched him.
“Are you certain?””
“Absolutely.””
Olivia placed another document in front of Marcus.
He examined it, then slowly turned it toward Peter.
“Then perhaps you can explain this.””
Peter stared at the page.
His face went white.
Vanessa leaned forward.
“What is it?””
Marcus didn't answer her.
He kept his eyes on Peter.
“It's a transfer confirmation. A payment made from Vanessa's company to an account registered under the name of a relative of yours.””
Peter's hands began to tremble.
“That... that isn't what it looks like.””
Marcus folded his hands.
“Then tell us what it looks like.””
Peter looked toward Vanessa.
For a moment, she thought he might defend her.
Instead, he spoke the words that made her blood run cold.
“Mr. Reed, I can explain the payments. But Miss Vanessa wasn't the person who arranged everything.””
Alexander frowned.
“What are you talking about?””
Peter swallowed.
“I was following instructions from someone inside the executive office.””
Marcus's expression remained unchanged.
“Whose instructions?””
Peter slowly turned his head.
And pointed directly at Alexander.
The room erupted in shocked whispers.
Alexander shot to his feet.
“That's a lie!””
Vanessa stared at her boyfriend.
“Alexander?””
Peter clutched his briefcase.
“I have emails. Messages. Signed instructions. Everything.””
Marcus looked at Olivia.
“Secure the documents.””
Then he turned toward Alexander.
“Sit down.””
Alexander remained standing.
“Mr. Reed, I can explain—”
“Sit. Down.””
Alexander slowly returned to his chair.
Marcus opened another folder.
“There's something else.””
He slid a photograph across the table.
Vanessa looked at it.
It showed Alexander entering a private restaurant with Peter Lawson several months earlier.
But that wasn't what made her heart stop.
Sitting at their table was a woman Vanessa recognized immediately.
Her own best friend.
*Claire Morgan.*
The same woman who had introduced Vanessa to Alexander.
The same woman who had encouraged her to leave Marcus years earlier.
Vanessa looked up.
“Why is Claire in this photograph?””
Nobody answered.
Marcus closed the folder.
“Because, Vanessa, this investigation may involve more than questionable invoices.””
He paused.
“Your boyfriend and your closest friend have been meeting behind your back.””
Vanessa turned toward Alexander.
His face had gone completely still.
And then his phone lit up on the table.
A message appeared on the screen.
*CLAIRE: He doesn't know about the second account yet. Don't let Marcus find it.*
Vanessa read it.
Once.
Twice.
Then she slowly lifted her eyes toward Alexander.
“What's the second account?””
Alexander didn't move.
Marcus looked at the message, then at the CEO.
For the first time that morning, the chairman's expression changed.
“Alexander,” he said quietly.
May you like
“Would you like to explain why someone is warning you about an account we haven't discovered yet?””
And Alexander had no answer.
