Chapter 2: The Name That Changed Everything
"Marcus Reed? The Marcus Reed?""
Ethan's voice sounded different now.
The confidence had disappeared.
Dr. Harrison smiled warmly.
"Yes. Marcus Reed, founder and chief executive officer of Reed Meridian Development.""
A strange silence spread through the small crowd.
I could hear someone whispering behind us.
Vanessa stood completely still.
Dr. Harrison continued.
"Mr. Reed's company is investing eighty-five million dollars in our new engineering and business innovation center. Without his commitment, this project would still be sitting on our planning department's desk.""
Ethan lowered his champagne glass.
Vanessa stared at me.
"That's impossible.""
I looked at her.
"What is?""
"You're a contractor.""
Dr. Harrison frowned slightly.
"Mr. Reed owns one of the most successful commercial development companies in the Southeast.""
I adjusted the roses in my arms.
"I still work in construction, Vanessa.""
She opened her mouth but couldn't find an answer.
Ethan finally stepped forward.
"Mr. Reed, it's an honor. My father has spoken highly of your company.""
I looked at the name printed on his graduation badge.
Whitmore.
The name was familiar.
Very familiar.
"Your father is Richard Whitmore?""
Ethan nodded quickly.
"Yes, sir. He founded Whitmore Construction.""
"Interesting.""
Ethan smiled nervously.
"My father has been trying to arrange a meeting with your investment team for months.""
"I know.""
His expression brightened.
"Perhaps we could discuss a potential partnership.""
I looked at Vanessa.
She had moved closer to Ethan, but her eyes were fixed on me.
Before I could answer, Dr. Harrison's assistant approached.
Her name was Rebecca Mills. She had worked in the president's office for almost seven years, and I'd always known her to be calm and professional.
Today, she looked frightened.
"Dr. Harrison, I'm sorry to interrupt.""
He turned.
"Rebecca, what's wrong?""
She held a thick folder against her chest.
"We have a serious problem with the Whitmore development submission.""
Ethan's expression changed immediately.
"What problem?""
Rebecca glanced at him.
"Several documents appear to have been submitted without proper authorization.""
Dr. Harrison frowned.
"Is this related to the recommendation letter?""
"Yes, sir.""
I looked at the folder.
"What recommendation letter?""
Rebecca opened it.
"The one supposedly issued by Reed Meridian Development, confirming that Mr. Reed had personally approved Whitmore Construction as the preferred contractor.""
My eyebrows tightened.
"I never approved that.""
Ethan immediately shook his head.
"That must be a misunderstanding.""
Rebecca removed a printed letter.
At the bottom was a signature.
My signature.
It even included the distinctive curve I used when signing official documents.
I took the paper.
"This is a forgery.""
Dr. Harrison looked at me.
"You're certain?""
"I signed hundreds of documents last year. I know my signature.""
Ethan moved his hands into his pockets.
"Perhaps someone from your office approved it.""
"Nobody from my office had permission to issue this recommendation.""
Rebecca opened another page.
"There is something else.""
She placed a bank transfer record on the table.
A payment of $250,000.
The recipient was a private account belonging to Vanessa Collins.
The date was three days before the recommendation letter had been submitted.
Vanessa's face turned white.
Ethan immediately looked away.
Dr. Harrison stared at her.
"Ms. Collins, can you explain why a company bidding on this university's development project transferred a quarter of a million dollars into your personal account?""
Vanessa shook her head.
"I can explain.""
"Then please do.""
She looked toward Ethan.
He shook his head almost imperceptibly.
I noticed.
So did Rebecca.
Vanessa took a shaky breath.
"The money wasn't for me.""
Dr. Harrison raised an eyebrow.
"Then why was it deposited into your account?""
"Ethan told me it was a legitimate consulting payment.""
Ethan stepped forward.
"Vanessa, be careful what you're saying.""
She turned toward him.
"You told me everything was approved!""
"I said we were discussing it.""
"You said Marcus's business partner had signed everything!""
My stomach tightened.
"Which business partner?""
Vanessa hesitated.
Then she reached into her handbag and pulled out her phone.
"I have a photograph.""
She unlocked the screen and handed it to me.
The image showed a man standing inside a glass-walled executive office.
He wore a gray suit and held a black leather folder.
Beside him stood Ethan.
On the desk was the official Reed Meridian Development company seal.
I recognized the office immediately.
It was on the thirty-second floor of our headquarters.
But it was the man in the photograph who made my chest tighten.
Daniel Reed.
My younger brother.
My only sibling.
The person I'd trusted with my life.
For the past three years, Daniel had managed the company's legal documentation and commercial contracts while I focused on acquisitions and development.
He had access to the executive office.
He had access to the company seal.
And he'd been the person I trusted most.
I stared at the photograph.
"Where did you get this?""
Vanessa's voice trembled.
"Ethan sent it to me.""
"When?""
"Last Tuesday.""
"Why?""
She wiped her eyes.
"He said his father needed help getting the university contract. He told me Daniel had already agreed to arrange everything.""
I looked at Ethan.
"Is that true?""
He swallowed.
"My father has a business relationship with Daniel.""
"What kind of relationship?""
"I don't know the details.""
"Then why were you standing in my office with my brother?""
Ethan's jaw tightened.
"I was discussing a potential partnership.""
I placed the phone on the table.
"Then why was my signature forged?""
He didn't answer.
Dr. Harrison turned toward Rebecca.
"Secure every document related to this proposal. Nobody leaves with the original files.""
Rebecca nodded.
"Already done, sir.""
Vanessa suddenly grabbed my sleeve.
"Marcus, please. You have to believe me.""
I looked down at her hand.
She had rejected me less than fifteen minutes earlier.
Now she was holding onto me as if I were the only person who could save her.
"Vanessa, did you know the money was connected to this contract?""
She shook her head.
"I swear I didn't.""
"Did you know my signature was forged?""
"No!""
"Did you know Daniel was involved?""
She looked at the ground.
"I thought he was helping Ethan's father.""
I pulled my sleeve free.
"That's not an answer.""
Her tears began falling.
"Marcus, I made a mistake.""
I looked at the roses still resting against my arm.
One of them had been crushed during the confrontation.
Its red petals were scattered across the pavement.
A few hours earlier, I'd imagined giving those flowers to the woman I wanted to marry.
Now I couldn't even look at them without remembering her laughter.
Dr. Harrison spoke quietly.
"Marcus, we need to discuss this privately. The university cannot proceed with any financial arrangement until the allegations are investigated.""
"Agreed.""
Rebecca began collecting the documents.
Then she stopped.
"There's one more thing.""
Everyone turned toward her.
She pulled a second envelope from the folder.
"This was attached to the original submission.""
I opened it.
Inside was a printed email exchange between Daniel and someone whose name had been partially hidden.
The final message was dated two nights earlier.
It read:
Once Marcus signs the final development agreement, the transfer will be complete. He won't discover the missing funds until the first audit.
I read it twice.
Then I looked at Rebecca.
"Who sent this email?""
She pointed to the sender's address.
My blood ran cold.
Because the account didn't belong to Daniel.
It belonged to someone inside my own company.
Someone who had access to every financial record.
May you like
Someone whose name I had never expected to see.
And when I read it aloud, Ethan took one step backward.
