Chapter 4: The Secret Vanessa Was Hiding
"Marcus... there's something I haven't told you about your brother.""
Vanessa's voice barely rose above the noise of the graduation crowd.
I slipped my phone into my pocket.
"What did you do?""
She looked toward Ethan, who was still speaking with campus security.
Then she lowered her voice.
"Can we please talk somewhere private?""
"No.""
"Marcus, please. This involves Daniel.""
I studied her face.
Four years of memories suddenly felt like photographs belonging to someone else. The woman standing before me was wearing the same necklace I'd given her on her birthday, but I couldn't recognize anything behind her eyes.
"Whatever you have to say, say it here.""
Vanessa swallowed.
"Daniel contacted me six weeks ago.""
My jaw tightened.
"Why?""
"He said he wanted to discuss an investment opportunity.""
"What investment?""
She looked down at her hands.
"He said he was planning to establish a new property development company. He wanted me to help arrange some financial paperwork because I was graduating with a business degree.""
I stared at her.
"My brother wanted you to arrange financial paperwork?""
"Yes.""
"And you agreed?""
"He offered to pay me.""
"How much?""
"Fifty thousand dollars.""
I almost laughed.
"Vanessa, you were receiving money from my brother while dating me?""
"He said it was legitimate!""
"Did you tell him we were together?""
She looked away.
That was answer enough.
I took a breath.
"Continue.""
Vanessa pulled out her phone and opened a folder of photographs.
There were screenshots of conversations between her and Daniel.
The first message was dated September 12.
*Daniel: I need someone outside the company to receive a few transfers. Someone whose name won't immediately raise questions.*
*Vanessa: Why can't you use your own account?*
*Daniel: Because my brother monitors the company's financial activity. This is temporary.*
I kept scrolling.
Another message appeared.
*Daniel: Once the university agreement is finalized, everything will be settled.*
Then Vanessa's response.
*Vanessa: What happens if Marcus finds out?*
Daniel's reply made my blood run cold.
*Daniel: He won't. He trusts me more than anyone.*
I looked at her.
"You knew.""
Vanessa shook her head desperately.
"I didn't know what he was planning!""
"You knew he wanted to hide money from me.""
"He told me it was his personal investment.""
"Then why did you receive the payments?""
"He said his bank accounts were temporarily restricted.""
I stared at her.
"Do you hear yourself?""
She began crying.
"I needed the money, Marcus.""
"You needed $250,000?""
She flinched.
I took her phone and examined the transaction history.
There were three incoming transfers.
The first was $50,000.
The second was $100,000.
The third was $250,000.
Total: $400,000.
I looked up.
"Where is the other $150,000?""
Vanessa covered her mouth.
"I spent some of it.""
"On what?""
"An apartment deposit. Clothes. A car.""
"What car?""
"A Mercedes.""
I looked toward the parking lot.
A white Mercedes-Benz sat near the entrance.
I had seen it earlier.
Ethan's car.
"Who bought it?""
Vanessa didn't answer.
"Vanessa.""
"Ethan helped me.""
I slowly shook my head.
"So you were receiving money from my brother, and Ethan was spending it with you?""
She began shaking.
"Daniel told me to trust Ethan. He said Ethan's father was going to help him establish the company.""
I handed her phone back.
"How much money is left?""
"About $180,000.""
"Where?""
"In an account Daniel told me to open.""
"Whose name?""
"Mine.""
I closed my eyes for a moment.
My brother had used my girlfriend as a financial intermediary.
And she had accepted.
Before I could ask another question, Ethan approached.
"Vanessa, we need to leave.""
She turned sharply.
"No. I'm not going anywhere.""
He grabbed her wrist.
"Stop making this worse.""
I stepped between them.
"Take your hand off her.""
Ethan released her.
"Listen, Marcus. This is a family matter.""
"Your family transferred money into her account.""
"My father has nothing to hide.""
"Then he won't mind explaining the transactions to investigators.""
Ethan's face hardened.
"You think you're untouchable because you've got eighty-five million dollars?""
"No. I think people who steal from my company should answer for it.""
He leaned closer.
"You have no idea what you're getting into.""
I looked at him.
"Then enlighten me.""
He glanced at Vanessa.
She stepped away from him.
"Tell him, Ethan.""
He said nothing.
"Tell him what Daniel said about Marcus.""
Ethan's jaw tightened.
I turned toward her.
"What did Daniel say?""
Vanessa wiped her face.
"He said you were going to lose the company.""
The courtyard suddenly seemed colder.
"Why?""
"Because he claimed you had been making bad investments. He said the board was preparing to remove you.""
I frowned.
"That's ridiculous.""
"He told me you were hiding financial problems.""
"From whom?""
"Everyone.""
Ethan interrupted.
"Vanessa, shut up.""
She looked at him.
"No. I'm done protecting you.""
Then she revealed the part that made everything worse.
"Daniel told me that once the university deal was signed, the money would be transferred into a new company. Ethan's father would become a partner, and Daniel would take control of Reed Meridian.""
I stared at Ethan.
"Was that the plan?""
He looked away.
Before he could answer, a security officer approached with a phone in his hand.
"Mr. Reed, Dr. Harrison needs you immediately.""
"What's happened?""
The officer swallowed.
"Someone just accessed the university's development database remotely.""
"Who?""
He showed me the screen.
The login credentials belonged to Daniel Reed.
Then another notification appeared.
A new document had been uploaded.
Its title was:
*REED MERIDIAN — CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP AGREEMENT.*
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And the document listed me as having voluntarily surrendered control of my company.
My signature was already on it.
