Chapter 3: The Brother Behind the Betrayal
The name on the email was Daniel's assistant, Olivia Grant.
But the message contained something more disturbing than her involvement.
It mentioned a second account.
An offshore account.
And a transfer scheduled to happen after the university signed the development agreement.
I looked at Rebecca.
"Has the agreement been signed?""
She shook her head.
"No. The board postponed the final approval yesterday because of a discrepancy in the financial projections.""
"Who requested the postponement?""
"Your brother, actually.""
That made no sense.
Daniel had spent months encouraging me to secure this project.
He'd told me it would establish Reed Meridian as one of the biggest development firms in the Southeast.
Why would he suddenly delay it?
I handed the email back.
"Dr. Harrison, I need copies of everything. Every submission, every communication, and every financial record connected to Whitmore Construction.""
"Of course.""
Ethan interrupted.
"This is getting ridiculous. My father has nothing to do with any of this.""
I turned toward him.
"Then you shouldn't have anything to worry about.""
He straightened his jacket.
"Are you threatening me?""
"No. I'm asking a question.""
"My family has been in construction for thirty years.""
"And yet someone used my company's official seal to recommend your company.""
"That wasn't me.""
"Then explain the photograph.""
Ethan looked at Vanessa.
She was crying quietly now.
"Vanessa, tell him we discussed this.""
She stared at him.
"You told me Daniel had everything handled.""
"Because he did!""
The words escaped before Ethan could stop himself.
Everyone went silent.
I stepped closer.
"Handled what?""
Ethan's eyes widened.
"I meant the proposal.""
"Which proposal?""
"The university project.""
"With a forged signature?""
He looked toward Dr. Harrison.
"I want a lawyer.""
"That's probably a good idea," I replied.
At that moment, Vanessa reached for my hand again.
"Marcus, please. Can we talk somewhere private?""
I didn't move.
"About what?""
"About us.""
I almost didn't recognize the woman standing in front of me.
Only twenty minutes earlier, she had laughed at my proposal.
Now she looked desperate to restore something she'd deliberately destroyed.
"There's no us anymore, Vanessa.""
Her lips trembled.
"You don't mean that.""
I looked at her.
"You called me someone you used to know.""
"I was embarrassed.""
"Of me?""
She nodded slowly.
"Yes. But I didn't mean it the way it sounded.""
"How else could it sound?""
She wiped her cheeks.
"I was nervous. Ethan's family is influential, and I thought he could help my future.""
"So you decided I wasn't good enough.""
"Marcus, you don't understand.""
"Then explain it.""
She looked at the expensive bracelet on her wrist.
"Ethan promised me a position at his father's company. A senior management position. He said I could earn more than I'd ever imagined.""
"And the $250,000?""
Her eyes filled with tears again.
"He told me it was an advance consulting payment.""
"Did you provide any consulting services?""
She didn't answer.
I nodded.
"That's what I thought.""
She grabbed the ring box that was still visible in my jacket pocket.
"Marcus, I didn't know you were this successful. Why didn't you tell me?""
I gently pulled the box away.
"Because I didn't think I needed to prove my worth to someone who claimed to love me.""
"That's not fair.""
"Neither was paying your rent while you were telling another man you were single.""
She flinched.
Ethan looked increasingly uncomfortable.
Then his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen and walked several steps away.
"Hello, Dad?""
I couldn't hear the entire conversation, but I heard enough.
"What do you mean they found out?""
A pause.
"No, I'm at the university.""
Another pause.
"Then call Daniel. He said the documents were already secured.""
My head snapped toward him.
Ethan turned around.
For the first time, he looked genuinely frightened.
I walked toward him.
"Give me your phone.""
He stepped back.
"That's private.""
"Then put it on speaker.""
He refused.
I didn't move.
"Your father is discussing a forged document involving my company. I think we can all agree privacy isn't the priority anymore.""
Dr. Harrison signaled to campus security.
Two officers approached.
Ethan finally lowered the phone.
"Fine.""
He placed the call on speaker.
A man's voice immediately filled the courtyard.
"Ethan, listen carefully. Get out of there. Do you understand? Get away from Reed.""
Ethan swallowed.
"Dad, they have the documents.""
"Which documents?""
"The recommendation letter.""
Silence.
Then Richard Whitmore spoke again.
"Did you tell them about Daniel?""
Ethan closed his eyes.
I leaned closer.
"Richard, this is Marcus Reed.""
The line went quiet.
Then the older man's voice changed.
"Marcus. I can explain.""
"Then explain.""
"There's been a misunderstanding between our companies.""
"Was my signature forged?""
"That document was prepared by an outside consultant.""
"Was my company seal used without authorization?""
"I wasn't personally involved in that.""
"Did you transfer $250,000 to Vanessa Collins?""
Another pause.
Then he said something I would remember for the rest of my life.
"Ask your brother why he requested the payment.""
The call ended.
Ethan stared at the phone.
Vanessa began crying harder.
I turned toward her.
"Did you know about the transfer before today?""
She shook her head.
But this time, I didn't believe her completely.
I looked at the university president.
"Dr. Harrison, I'm going to need a moment.""
He nodded.
"Take whatever time you need.""
I walked away from the crowd and called my chief financial officer, Michael Turner.
He answered immediately.
"Marcus? Everything okay?""
"Michael, I need you to check something.""
"Go ahead.""
"Freeze the Whitmore-related payment approvals. I want a complete audit of every transaction involving Daniel Reed, Olivia Grant, and the university development project.""
There was a long silence.
Then Michael lowered his voice.
"Marcus, are you sure?""
"Why?""
"Because I've been trying to reach you since this morning.""
My stomach tightened.
"What happened?""
"Daniel came into the office last night and requested an emergency transfer of six million dollars.""
"Six million?""
"He said it was authorized by you.""
"I never authorized anything.""
"I know. That's why I stopped it.""
I closed my eyes.
"Where is Daniel now?""
Michael hesitated.
"That's the problem.""
"What problem?""
"His office is empty. His computer has been wiped, and security footage shows him leaving headquarters at 2:14 this morning.""
"Did he take anything?""
"His personal belongings. Two external hard drives. And the original company seal.""
I looked across the courtyard.
Ethan was speaking quietly with one of the security officers.
Vanessa was sitting on a bench, her face buried in her hands.
Then Michael spoke again.
"Marcus, there's something else you need to know.""
"What?""
"Before Daniel disappeared, he left an envelope on your desk.""
"What was inside?""
"A resignation letter.""
My heart sank.
"Read it.""
Michael hesitated.
"There's a handwritten note attached.""
"Read that too.""
I heard paper rustling.
Then Michael read the words slowly.
"Dear Marcus, if you're hearing this, then I finally did what I should have done years ago. I took what was supposed to be mine.""
I felt the world become strangely quiet.
Michael continued.
"You always got the company, the respect, the opportunities, and Dad's trust. I got to stand in your shadow. But this time, I'm walking away with something you can't buy back.""
I stared at the graduation stage.
My brother and I had built our company from almost nothing.
I remembered sharing a tiny office with him when we were twenty-two.
I remembered the first contract we won.
I remembered promising him that when the company became successful, we would never let money come between us.
Now he had disappeared with our company seal.
And possibly millions of dollars.
"Marcus?"" Michael asked.
I forced myself to answer.
"Keep the audit running. Contact our attorneys. Don't let anyone destroy another record.""
"Understood.""
I ended the call.
Then my phone buzzed.
An unknown number.
A single message appeared.
Stop looking for Daniel. He didn't act alone.
A second message followed.
Ask Vanessa what she did with the second payment.
I slowly raised my eyes.
Across the courtyard, Vanessa was no longer crying.
She was staring directly at me.
May you like
And when she realized I'd seen the message, she stood up, took two steps backward, and whispered:
"Marcus... there's something I haven't told you about your brother.""
