Chapter 4: The Name on the Missing Pages
The name on the complaint was Ethan Brooks.
I recognized it immediately.
Ethan had been Olivia's research assistant for four years. I'd met him twice when I visited her university. He was a quiet young man who always carried a backpack full of notebooks and seemed uncomfortable around expensive equipment.
According to Olivia, he was brilliant but socially awkward.
Now his name was attached to a formal accusation that could destroy her academic career.
Richard Whitmore adjusted his glasses.
"Who is Ethan Brooks?""
Michael answered before Olivia could.
"He's listed as a contributing research assistant in Dr. Parker's laboratory records. According to this complaint, he developed several of the mathematical models presented in her doctoral thesis.""
Alexander laughed dismissively.
"This is absurd. Ethan was an assistant. He barely understood the commercial applications.""
Olivia shook her head.
"That's not true.""
I looked at her.
"Then why are you afraid of this document?""
She didn't answer.
Michael turned another page.
"There's an attached statement.""
Richard began reading silently.
His expression grew increasingly serious.
"What does it say?"" I asked.
Michael looked at me.
"Ethan claims he was responsible for developing the original thermal prediction algorithm. He says Dr. Parker presented his work as her own, then incorporated your father's patented cooling architecture into the final design.""
I slowly sat back.
Two people.
My father and Ethan.
Both apparently had their work presented under Olivia's name.
Richard placed the document on the table.
"Dr. Parker, I need an explanation.""
Olivia pressed her hands together.
"I worked with Ethan. We collaborated on several projects. That's normal in research.""
"Collaboration isn't the issue," Michael replied.
"The issue is whether the contributions were accurately represented.""
Alexander interrupted.
"Father, this is exactly why we shouldn't have invited outside lawyers into the preliminary meeting.""
Richard turned sharply.
"Your emails are in this file, Alexander. You don't get to decide what we should investigate.""
Alexander's jaw tightened.
I watched him carefully.
He wasn't embarrassed.
He was calculating.
Finally, Olivia looked directly at me.
"Daniel, please. I know you're angry, but you need to understand what happened.""
I folded my arms.
"Six years, Olivia. I gave you six years. I sold the only thing my father left me. You told me we were building a future together.""
Her eyes filled.
"I loved you.""
"Then why did you call me an old friend?""
She looked down.
Alexander shifted in his chair.
"Can we stop discussing their relationship?""
I ignored him.
"Did you ever intend to marry me?""
Olivia whispered, "I don't know.""
That answer hurt more than I expected.
Michael quietly closed his folder.
"Daniel, perhaps we should adjourn.""
I nodded.
Richard stood.
"Agreed. This negotiation is suspended pending an independent investigation.""
Alexander pushed his chair backward.
"You're making a mistake.""
Richard looked at his son.
"No. I believe we've already made several.""
I gathered my father's notebook.
As I reached the door, Olivia hurried after me.
"Daniel, wait!""
I stopped but didn't turn.
"Please, just give me five minutes.""
"What for?""
"To explain everything.""
I faced her.
"You had six years to explain yourself.""
She wiped her cheeks.
"I was scared. When I started working with Alexander, everything changed so quickly. He introduced me to investors, important researchers, people who could give me opportunities I never imagined.""
"And I was what? Something embarrassing from your past?""
"No!""
"Then what was I?""
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
I walked toward the elevator.
But before the doors closed, she said something that made me turn around.
"Daniel, Alexander wasn't the only person who knew about your father's notebooks.""
I stepped out of the elevator.
"What does that mean?""
She glanced toward the conference room.
"Ethan knew too.""
My stomach tightened.
"How?""
"Because he helped me scan them. He was the one who organized the diagrams for my research.""
"Did you tell him they belonged to my father?""
She nodded slowly.
"Yes.""
"And did he know you were claiming them as your own?""
Olivia's face crumpled.
"He confronted me about it.""
"When?""
"Months ago.""
I stared at her.
"What did he do?""
"He threatened to report me. Alexander said he would handle it.""
The elevator doors began closing again.
I stepped back inside.
"Olivia, where is Ethan now?""
She hesitated.
"I don't know.""
Then she lowered her voice.
"But I think Alexander does.""
The doors closed.
I stood alone in the elevator, holding the notebook that had once belonged to my father.
For the first time, I understood that this wasn't just about Olivia's ambition.
Someone had deliberately built a plan around my father's invention.
And Ethan might be the only person who could explain how far it went.
That afternoon, Michael called me.
"Daniel, I've found something.""
"What?""
"Ethan Brooks contacted our engineering firm two weeks ago.""
I stopped walking.
"Why?""
"He wanted to speak with the legal owner of your father's patents.""
"Did he leave a message?""
Michael paused.
"Yes. He said he had evidence that could change everything.""
"What kind of evidence?""
"I don't know. But there's something else.""
"What?""
"He requested a meeting with you specifically.""
I looked through the office window toward the busy Boston streets.
"Set it up.""
Michael lowered his voice.
"Daniel, there's a complication.""
"What now?""
"Ethan says he doesn't trust anyone at Whitmore Technologies.""
"Why?""
May you like
Michael hesitated.
"Because he believes someone has been following him.""
