Chapter 4: The Person Standing Beside Him
“Impossible.””
My father said the word so quietly that, for a moment, I wondered if I had imagined it.
But I hadn’t.
I saw the paper in his hand.
I saw the way his fingers tightened around the edges.
I saw the expression of a man who had spent his entire life trusting his instincts suddenly questioning everything.
Marcus looked down.
“I know how this appears, Mr. Carter.””
My father didn’t answer.
“Say the name again.””
Marcus hesitated.
Then he spoke.
“David Holloway.””
The air disappeared from the room.
I didn’t recognize the name immediately.
But my father did.
That was obvious.
David Holloway wasn’t just an employee.
He was the person who had stood beside my father since the beginning.
The man who appeared in old photographs from the earliest days of Carter Enterprises.
The man newspapers called Isaiah Carter’s right hand.
His closest adviser.
His friend.
My father looked at Marcus.
“You’re telling me David stole from the foundation?””
Marcus shook his head.
“No. I’m saying the transfers were connected to an account under a company registered to him.””
“That doesn’t mean he did it.””
“I agree.””
Marcus handed him another folder.
“That’s why we continued investigating.””
My father opened it.
I watched his eyes move across the pages.
Every second made him look more exhausted.
“What else?””
Marcus took a breath.
“The company receiving the money was created six months ago.””
“By David?””
“Yes.””
My father looked away.
For the first time that night, he looked less like a billionaire.
He looked like a father.
A husband.
A man who had just discovered that the people closest to him might have been hiding something.
I stepped closer.
“Dad.””
He didn’t look up.
“Your mother knew.””
I froze.
“What?””
He looked at the letter again.
“She knew someone inside the foundation was dangerous.””
His voice became quieter.
“She left because she thought she was protecting you.””
I felt a strange ache in my chest.
All those years.
All those questions.
I had believed my mother left because she couldn’t stay.
But maybe she left because she had to.
My father closed the folder.
“Marcus, where is David?””
Marcus looked uncomfortable.
“He was supposed to attend tonight.””
“Was?””
“He left twenty minutes ago.””
My father’s expression hardened.
“Before Brielle was exposed.””
“Yes.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“Dad.””
He looked at me.
“Do you think he knew?””
My father didn’t answer.
And that was the answer.
A sudden noise came from behind us.
A glass dropped.
Everyone turned.
A waiter stood frozen near the entrance.
He quickly bent down to pick it up.
But Marcus immediately noticed.
“Wait.””
The waiter stopped.
My father looked over.
“Who is that?””
Security moved closer.
The young man lifted his head.
And I saw fear in his eyes.
Not the fear of being caught doing something wrong.
The fear of someone who had been discovered.
“Sir,” Marcus said, “we need to ask you a few questions.””
The waiter looked toward the exit.
Then back at us.
He was about to run.
Security grabbed his arm.
“Let go of me!””
The entire ballroom reacted.
My father stepped forward.
“Who are you?””
The man struggled.
“I’m nobody.””
Nobody.
That word bothered me.
Because I had heard it too many times tonight.
People used it when they wanted to make someone disappear.
Marcus searched the man’s employee badge.
His face changed.
“Mr. Carter.””
“What?””
“This badge belongs to someone else.””
The waiter went still.
My father stared at him.
“Who sent you?””
The man said nothing.
“Who?””
Still nothing.
Then his eyes moved toward me.
And my blood ran cold.
Because he wasn’t looking at my father.
He was looking at me.
“You’re Brianna Ellis.””
I stepped back.
My father immediately moved between us.
“How do you know my daughter?””
The man smiled nervously.
“I know a lot about your family.””
Security tightened their grip.
My father’s voice became dangerous.
“Explain.””
The man looked around.
Then whispered:
“Your wife was right.””
Nobody moved.
My father’s face changed.
“What did you say?””
“Your wife was right to leave.””
The ballroom went silent.
The man continued.
“Because if she stayed, Brianna wouldn’t have survived what they planned.””
My stomach twisted.
“What they planned?””
The man looked at me.
“I was told never to say your name.””
“Who told you?””
He didn’t answer.
“Who?””
The man suddenly pulled away from security.
Not to escape.
To reach inside his jacket.
Everyone reacted instantly.
Security grabbed him.
But he wasn’t reaching for a weapon.
He pulled out a small envelope.
And threw it toward me.
It landed at my feet.
My father picked it up before I could.
The front had no name.
Only one word.
RUN.
My father opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
He stared at it.
Then slowly handed it to me.
The picture showed my mother.
Standing outside the Carter Foundation offices.
But she wasn’t alone.
Standing beside her was David Holloway.
And they were arguing.
My heart sank.
My father looked confused.
“Your mother met with David?””
I shook my head.
“I didn’t know.””
The waiter spoke again.
“She tried to warn him.””
My father looked at him.
“Who are you?””
The man lowered his eyes.
“My name is Ethan.””
“Ethan what?””
He hesitated.
“Ethan Reed.””
Marcus immediately reacted.
“Wait.””
Everyone looked at him.
Marcus stared at Ethan.
“I know that name.””
Ethan looked nervous.
“How?””
Marcus stepped closer.
“Because Ethan Reed was one of our foundation accountants.””
My father’s eyes narrowed.
“But he disappeared.””
Ethan nodded.
“I wasn’t stealing.””
Nobody spoke.
“I found something.””
He looked at my father.
“Something David didn’t want anyone seeing.””
My father held up the photo.
“What?””
Ethan swallowed.
“The money transfers were only the beginning.””
A chill moved through me.
“What else is there?””
Ethan looked at the crowd.
Then lowered his voice.
“Someone has been planning to take over Carter Enterprises.””
My father stared at him.
“And David is involved?””
Ethan looked away.
“Yes.””
The answer was simple.
Too simple.
My father took a step forward.
“Who else?””
Ethan’s silence lasted too long.
Then he said:
“Someone you trust more than David.””
My father’s expression changed.
“Who?””
Ethan looked directly at me.
And suddenly I knew.
Whatever he was about to say would change everything.
“It’s someone in your family.””
The room erupted.
Guests started whispering.
Security looked uncertain.
Marcus immediately turned toward Ethan.
“What are you talking about?””
But Ethan didn’t answer.
He only reached into his pocket again.
This time, he pulled out a small recording device.
“I recorded the conversation.””
My father took it.
“Between who?””
Ethan looked terrified.
“Between David Holloway…”
He paused.
“And the person who gave him the order.””
My father pressed the button.
Static filled the ballroom.
Then a voice appeared.
A familiar voice.
A voice I had heard many times before.
A voice that made my father’s entire body go still.
Because the person speaking wasn’t a stranger.
It wasn’t an enemy.
It was someone we had welcomed into our home.
Someone who had hugged me.
Someone who had called me family.
The recording continued.
May you like
And then the voice said five words that shattered everything.
“Isaiah Carter will lose everything.””
