Chapter 3: The Witness Who Refused to Lie
The recording began with the sound of a door closing.
Then Brandon's voice filled the terrace.
"Just sign the witness section. Nobody is going to check.""
A second voice answered.
Daniel's.
"I'm not signing something I didn't witness.""
Brandon laughed.
"Come on, Daniel. It's a formality.""
"Then why can't Emily sign it herself?""
"Because Emily doesn't understand corporate paperwork.""
A pause followed.
Then Brandon said something that made my blood turn cold.
"Once the voting rights are transferred, Richard won't have anything to threaten me with.""
The recording stopped.
Nobody moved.
The music had ended several minutes earlier. The waiters stood frozen near the outdoor kitchen, holding trays of untouched food.
Daniel lowered his phone.
"That was recorded in Brandon's office on Tuesday.""
Vanessa stepped toward him.
"You recorded us?""
Daniel finally looked at her.
"You told me you were working late. I went to your office because I wanted to surprise you.""
He let out a humorless laugh.
"Apparently, I was the surprise.""
Brandon moved closer.
"Give me your phone.""
"No.""
"Daniel, don't make this worse.""
Daniel raised the phone higher.
"You forged my name on a document that could transfer billions in voting control. How exactly could I make this worse?""
Brandon's eyes narrowed.
"You're misunderstanding the transaction.""
"Then explain it.""
"It's confidential.""
Daniel shook his head.
"Funny. You didn't seem concerned about confidentiality when you were discussing how to get rid of Emily's family's voting rights.""
Vanessa grabbed her husband's sleeve.
"Daniel, please. We can talk about this at home.""
He pulled away.
"At home? You haven't come home before midnight in months.""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"That's not fair.""
"You told me I was paranoid. You told me Brandon was just your boss. Then I found bank statements showing nearly three million dollars moving into an account I didn't know existed.""
Brandon interrupted.
"That's enough.""
Daniel turned toward him.
"No, Brandon. You've had enough.""
I stood silently, listening.
I should have been shocked by the affair.
I should have been devastated by the money.
But something else was bothering me.
The forged signature.
I knew the document had been prepared in advance. Someone had needed my personal information, access to old legal records, and a sample of my signature.
I looked at Brandon.
"Where did you get my signature?""
He rubbed his jaw.
"Emily, don't start.""
"Answer me.""
"Your signature is on hundreds of company documents.""
"Not the original shareholder agreement.""
He didn't respond.
My father spoke through the phone.
"Emily, the lawyers are reviewing the document now. Don't touch anything. Don't sign anything. And don't let Brandon leave with company records.""
Brandon laughed bitterly.
"Richard, you can't hold me hostage at my wife's anniversary party.""
"Nobody is holding you hostage," Dad replied.
"But you should understand that the board has already been notified.""
Brandon looked toward Thomas Whitaker.
Thomas was one of the company's longest-serving directors.
"Thomas, tell him this is ridiculous.""
Thomas folded his arms.
"I'd like to see the transfer documents before I tell anyone anything.""
Brandon's expression hardened.
"I am the CEO.""
"For now," Thomas replied.
That single sentence seemed to hurt Brandon more than anything my father had said.
He turned back toward me.
"Emily, we need to talk privately.""
I stared at him.
"We've had ten years to talk privately.""
"This isn't how we handle marriage problems.""
"You threw me into a swimming pool.""
"It was a joke!""
"Then why are you afraid of a board meeting?""
His face reddened.
Vanessa started crying.
"Brandon, tell her.""
He looked at her sharply.
"Stop talking.""
She wiped her cheeks.
"You promised me everything would be fine.""
I turned.
"Everything?""
Vanessa looked down.
Daniel gave a bitter laugh.
"Go ahead, Vanessa. Tell her what you told me.""
She shook her head.
"Daniel, please.""
"What did Brandon promise you?""
Nobody spoke.
Then Daniel answered for her.
"He promised her that once the voting rights were transferred, he'd make her vice president of the company.""
I stared at Vanessa.
"That's why you were so interested in my husband's position?""
She lifted her chin.
"I worked for that company for four years.""
"And I suppose you thought sleeping with the CEO was the quickest way to get promoted?""
Her mouth fell open.
Brandon stepped between us.
"Don't speak to her like that.""
I looked at him.
"You just defended the woman who helped you steal from your own company.""
"She didn't steal anything.""
"Then why is her account receiving the money?""
He had no answer.
My father interrupted.
"Emily, I've just received another message from the accountants.""
I brought the phone closer.
"What is it?""
"They found additional transfers.""
My heart began pounding.
"How much?""
"One million, four hundred thousand dollars over the past six months.""
I looked at Brandon.
"Six months?""
Dad continued.
"The money was moved through three consulting companies. Two are registered overseas. The third is registered under a name connected to someone in your household.""
My stomach tightened.
"Who?""
There was a pause.
Then Dad said, "Emily, the third company is registered to a business address associated with your personal financial adviser.""
I felt the blood drain from my face.
My financial adviser was someone I'd known since before I married Brandon.
Someone my father had personally recommended.
Someone who had access to my investment records.
"That doesn't make sense," I whispered.
Brandon suddenly looked toward the mansion.
For the first time that evening, he seemed genuinely frightened.
My father heard the silence.
"Emily, there's something else.""
"What?""
"The forged shareholder form wasn't prepared by Vanessa.""
I stared at the phone.
"Then who prepared it?""
Dad's voice lowered.
"The digital signature metadata shows it was created using credentials belonging to someone with authorized access to the family trust's legal files.""
I looked at Brandon.
He was staring at me.
Then I heard my father's final words.
"Emily, the person who prepared that document was someone you trusted long before you ever met Brandon.""
A cold silence settled over the garden.
I slowly turned toward my mother.
She had been standing beside me the entire time.
Her face had gone pale.
Because she knew exactly who my father was talking about.
May you like
And when she finally spoke, her voice was barely audible.
"Oh, Emily. Please tell me it wasn't him.""
