Chapter 2: The Man Behind the Company
Vanessa stared at me as if I'd suddenly started speaking another language.
"Daniel, what is happening?"" she asked.
Her husband didn't answer immediately.
Instead, I heard a chair scrape against the floor on his end.
"Mr. Reed," Daniel finally said, "I didn't realize you were with Vanessa.""
"Apparently, you know her quite well.""
"Yes, sir. She's my wife.""
"Former wife," Vanessa corrected automatically.
Then she looked at me.
"Wait. Why are you calling him Mr. Reed?""
I adjusted my jacket.
"Because that's my name.""
Daniel sounded increasingly uncomfortable.
"Vanessa, listen carefully. You're speaking to Marcus Reed, the founder and owner of Reed Meridian Development.""
Her mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
I watched her expression change as she processed the words.
The company.
The billion-dollar company.
The company whose name appeared on the side of the skyscrapers she'd photographed during her shopping trips.
The company whose executives attended charity galas and appeared in business magazines.
My company.
Vanessa shook her head.
"That's impossible.""
I smiled.
"Is it?""
She grabbed her phone with both hands.
"Daniel, tell me he's joking.""
"I'm not joking," Daniel said.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"I've told you who owns the company.""
"You told me the owner was some billionaire who never appeared in public!""
"That's because Mr. Reed doesn't attend most public events.""
Vanessa looked at my worn sneakers again.
Then at my jacket.
Then at the scattered cash.
Her cheeks turned red.
"Marcus...""
I bent down, picked up a hundred-dollar bill, and held it out.
"You dropped this.""
She didn't take it.
"Please don't do this.""
"Do what?""
"Make me look stupid.""
I glanced at the people still watching.
"You managed that without my help.""
Her eyes filled with frustration.
Daniel interrupted.
"Mr. Reed, I apologize for this situation. Whatever Vanessa said, I assure you I had no involvement.""
That sentence caught my attention.
I lowered the phone slightly.
"What exactly are you apologizing for, Daniel?""
He hesitated.
"I just don't want personal matters affecting business.""
"Then we should have nothing to worry about.""
"Of course, sir.""
I glanced at the time.
"Nine o'clock. Bring the financial records I requested.""
His breathing changed.
"All of them?""
"Every document.""
"Understood.""
"And Daniel?""
"Yes, sir?""
"Don't leave anything out.""
I ended the call.
Vanessa stood completely still.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then she stepped closer.
"Marcus, why didn't you tell me?""
I looked at her.
"When?""
"When you became successful!""
I almost laughed.
"During our divorce? When you told me I would never become anybody?""
"That was four years ago.""
"Exactly.""
She reached for my arm.
I stepped away.
"Can we talk somewhere privately?""
"We just did.""
"Marcus, please. I didn't know.""
I glanced at the cash scattered across the pavement.
"You knew enough to throw money at me.""
Her lips trembled.
"That was a joke.""
"Was it?""
She looked around.
The pedestrians had stopped watching and started moving again.
Her carefully constructed confidence was disappearing.
"Daniel and I have been married for three years," she said.
"You understand that our lives are connected.""
"Congratulations.""
"Don't be cruel.""
I looked at her for a moment.
"You called me a failure in front of strangers. You threw money at my feet. And now you're worried about cruelty?""
She lowered her eyes.
My phone vibrated.
Emily had sent another message.
The preliminary audit is complete. We located the $2.6 million transfer. The destination account is confirmed.
I opened the attachment.
The account details appeared on my screen.
*Account holder: Vanessa Reed.*
I stopped walking.
The account had been opened six weeks earlier.
Four years after our divorce.
I read the second line.
*Authorized signer: Jonathan Reed.*
My younger brother.
For a moment, the noise of downtown Atlanta seemed to disappear.
Jonathan and I hadn't spoken in nearly two years.
Not since our father's funeral.
He'd accused me of stealing his inheritance, although the estate documents showed that everything had been divided according to our father's wishes.
I'd offered to sit down with him.
He'd refused.
Now his name was appearing beside my ex-wife's on an account containing $2.6 million from my company.
Vanessa noticed my expression.
"What's wrong?""
I locked my phone.
"Nothing you need to worry about.""
She frowned.
"Is this about Daniel?""
"No.""
"Then what?""
I looked at her.
"How long have you had that bank account?""
Her face changed.
Only slightly.
But I noticed.
"What account?""
I said nothing.
She adjusted her handbag.
"I don't know what you're talking about.""
My phone rang.
Emily.
I answered.
"Go ahead.""
Her voice was unusually quiet.
"Mr. Reed, there's something else.""
"What?""
"The bank has provided the original authorization documents.""
"And?""
"There's a signature on the transfer approval that doesn't belong to Mr. Whitmore.""
I stared at Vanessa.
Emily continued.
"Mr. Reed, someone used your digital authorization credentials.""
My stomach tightened.
"Whose credentials?""
May you like
There was a pause.
"Yours.""
