Chapter 3: The Signature of a De@d Man
Ethan handed the photograph to the technician.
An enlarged image appeared on the ballroom screen.
Grace stepped closer.
“That’s my mother.”
Eleanor Miller stood in the background of the photograph, clutching a red accounting ledger.
Charles Ashford was seated at a desk beside Marcus Vale, Caldwell Global’s chief financial officer.
Ethan pointed at the document between them.
“That is my father’s signature.”
Charles straightened his jacket.
“Then your father approved the transfer.”
“He couldn’t have.”
“Why not?”
“The date is April nineteenth.” Ethan’s finger touched the corner of the image.
“My father was de@d by April sixteenth.”
The guests erupted.
Victoria grabbed the microphone.
“A photograph proves nothing.
It could have been altered.”
Grace looked at her.
“Then why did you try to take it?”
“I wanted to stop this circus.”
“No,” Grace said.
“You wanted to hide your father’s safe.”
Charles walked toward the stage.
“You entered private property under false pretenses,” he said.
“Whatever you found is inadmissible.”
“My mother took that photograph,” Grace replied.
“She hid it before you dismissed her.”
“Your mother was dismissed because money disappeared.”
“She found the money trail.”
“She signed a confession.”
Grace’s mouth fell open.
“That’s a lie.”
Charles smiled.
“Ask her.”
Ethan stepped between them.
“You will not intimidate Grace.”
“You’re destroying your company over a servant’s daughter.”
“I’m protecting my foundation from a thief.”
Charles’s smile vanished.
Victoria pulled the engagement ring from her finger and held it toward Ethan.
“If you continue this humiliation, we are finished.”
Ethan looked at the ring.
“We were finished when you raised your hand against Grace.”
The ring dropped onto the stage.
Victoria stared at it.
“You’ll regret that.”
“No,” Ethan said.
“I regret not seeing you clearly sooner.”
Charles climbed the steps.
“Think carefully, Ethan.
Ashford Capital guarantees two of your largest construction loans.”
“And that bought you access to the foundation accounts?”
“It bought you stability.”
“You diverted housing money.”
“You cannot prove who authorized those transfers.”
Ethan raised the photograph.
“This proves my father did not.”
“It does not prove I did.”
A slow clap came from the rear of the ballroom.
Marcus Vale stood between two uniformed officers and a gray-haired man carrying a leather case.
Ethan lowered the photograph.
“Marcus?”
The chief financial officer walked forward.
“I warned the board that your private investigation had become irrational,” Marcus said.
“Now you have publicly released confidential financial records.”
“You approved three of those transfers.”
“I approved documents carrying your authorization.”
“I never signed them.”
Marcus nodded toward Grace.
“Perhaps your new friend can explain how your electronic signature appeared.”
Grace gripped the edge of the table.
“I have never touched his accounts.”
Victoria lifted her chin.
“She had access to your house, your office, and your computer.”
“She served drinks,” Ethan said.
“She lied to enter your home.”
The gray-haired man opened his case.
“I’m Bernard Shaw, counsel for Caldwell Global’s board,” he said.
“Mr.
Caldwell, the executive committee has called an emergency meeting.”
Ethan did not move.
“On whose authority?”
“Mine,” Marcus answered.
“Until the board reviews your conduct, your access to company systems is suspended.”
The ballroom screen went black.
Grace looked toward the officers.
“Why are they here?”
One officer held out his hand.
“Grace Miller, a report has been filed concerning unlawful entry and the removal of private documents.”
Victoria’s smile returned.
“Give him the photograph, Grace.”
Grace held it against her chest.
“No.”
The officer reached for it.
Ethan stepped down from the stage.
“She has legal representation.”
“Not anymore,” Charles said.
Grace turned.
Charles held up his phone.
On the screen was a scanned confession bearing Eleanor Miller’s signature.
May you like
“Your mother already admitted everything,” he said.
“And by morning, the whole world will believe her.”
