Chapter 3: The Red Folder
The chief financial officer walked between the tables and placed the folder in my hands.
His name was Daniel Mercer, and he had worked beside my father for twenty-two years.
“Tell her what’s inside,” my husband said.
“Then tell her what happens to you if you’re lying.”
Daniel faced him.
“Are you threatening me in front of four hundred witnesses, Adrian?”
“I’m reminding an employee of his obligations.”
“You suspended me this morning.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“Then you had no right to bring company records here.”
Daniel opened the folder.
“These are not company records.
They belong to the Vale Family Trust.”
His mistress, Vanessa, stared at the first page.
“That’s my name.”
“Yes,” I said.
“Beside a transfer of twelve percent of my shares.”
“I didn’t prepare that.” She moved away from Adrian.
“He brought it to my apartment and told me to sign.”
Adrian pointed toward the doors.
“Security, remove him.”
No one moved.
I looked at the head of security.
“Mr.
Sutton, who owns the company employing you?”
“The Vale Family Trust, ma’am.”
“And who controls that trust?”
“You do.”
“Then Mr.
Mercer stays.”
Adrian snatched his champagne glass from the table.
“This performance changes nothing.
Eleanor gave me authority to restructure her holdings.”
“That authority expired two years ago,” my attorney, Grace Bell, said through my phone.
Margaret, Adrian’s mother, stepped between us.
“Eleanor, stop this before you disgrace your husband.”
“He kissed another woman onstage.”
“A wife protects her family in public.”
Vanessa let out a bitter laugh.
“Is that what you told him when you helped him hide me?”
Margaret’s diamond-covered hand went still.
“Mind your place.”
“My place?” Vanessa pulled the Bentley key from her purse and dropped it on the table.
“Apparently, my place is inside a forged document.”
Daniel removed a ledger from the folder.
“The false transfer was only one piece.
Twenty-four million dollars was moved out of the employee retirement reserve over eighteen months.”
A board member stood.
“That reserve requires Eleanor’s written approval.”
“Which is why her signature appears on every transfer,” Adrian said.
“Perhaps you should question your precious owner.”
I turned a page.
Each authorization carried my name, my initials, and a copy of my father’s private seal.
“These are not mine.”
Adrian leaned close.
“Prove it.”
Grace’s voice sharpened through the speaker.
“Daniel, show Eleanor the server report.”
Daniel placed three pages on the table.
“Every authorization was uploaded from the CEO’s private terminal after midnight.”
Adrian smiled.
“A terminal anyone could access.”
“It requires your fingerprint.”
“So does Eleanor’s executive terminal.”
“I have never used the CEO’s office.”
Adrian lifted his hands toward the guests.
“She owns the shares, controls the trust, and benefits from every transfer.
Yet she expects you to believe she knew nothing.”
Vanessa looked at him.
“You told me the money came from a property sale.”
“You misunderstood.”
“You said Eleanor would take the blame if anyone checked.”
His smile vanished again.
“Be very careful.”
Daniel turned to the final page.
“There is one more detail.”
I looked down and felt my fingers tighten around the folder.
The missing millions had not gone to Vanessa.
Every transfer ended in an offshore account opened under my name.
May you like
Adrian lowered his voice.
“Now tell them which one of us looks guilty.”
