Chapter 7: The Woman Sarah Trusted
The woman standing in Sarah’s old office looked exactly the way memory had preserved her.
Older.
Tired.
But unmistakable.
“Emma?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Hello, Ethan.””
For a moment, I couldn’t speak.
Emma Carter had been Sarah’s closest friend.
Her assistant.
Her right hand.
She was there when Sarah built the first Grand Regent.
She was there when we signed our biggest contracts.
She was there the night Sarah told me she was pregnant.
Then one day, after Sarah died, Emma disappeared.
No goodbye.
No explanation.
Nothing.
I thought she abandoned us.
Now she was standing in front of me.
Holding the answers.
“Why are you here?””
Emma looked at Daniel.
Then at me.
“Because Sarah asked me to come back if you ever found the truth.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Everyone knew except me.””
“That’s not fair.””
I looked at her.
“Not fair?””
My voice shook.
“My wife was dying. My company was being stolen. My employees were turning against the values we built.””
I pointed at the door.
“And everyone decided I couldn’t handle the truth.””
Emma looked down.
“You’re right.””
That surprised me.
She didn’t defend herself.
She accepted it.
“I was wrong.””
The room became quiet.
“Then explain.””
Emma sat down.
“I found the first irregular payment four years ago.””
“Four years?””
“Yes.””
Daniel looked away.
“I told Sarah.””
“What did she do?””
“She investigated.””
“And?””
Emma took a deep breath.
“She found someone was using company accounts to create fake vendors.””
“Who?””
She hesitated.
“Someone with access.””
“Who?””
“Someone who knew how Sarah thought.””
I clenched my jaw.
“Stop protecting them.””
Emma looked at me.
“I’m not.””
She reached into her bag.
She placed a folder on the desk.
Inside were copies of financial records.
Names.
Dates.
Transfers.
I scanned the pages.
The money trail was complicated.
But one thing was obvious.
Millions had disappeared.
“How much?””
Emma swallowed.
“Almost eighteen million dollars.””
The number felt unreal.
“Over how long?””
“Five years.””
I looked at Daniel.
“You knew?””
“I knew money was missing.””
“Not who?””
“No.””
I believed him.
Because Daniel looked like a man carrying guilt.
Not a man hiding victory.
Emma pointed at one page.
“This company was created six months after Sarah became sick.””
I read the name.
Vantage Hospitality Consulting.
It sounded legitimate.
But I had never heard of it.
“Who owns it?””
Emma’s silence answered before her words did.
“Your father.””
I froze.
“My father?””
“He passed away years ago.””
“Exactly.””
The room went cold.
“That company was created using his identity.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“Someone used a dead man’s name.””
I stared at the documents.
Someone was hiding behind my family.
Someone who knew enough about us to create the perfect disguise.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
Again.
I answered.
“Who is this?””
A calm voice replied.
“You’re getting close.””
“Who are you?””
“You know me.””
“No, I don’t.””
A small laugh.
“Yes, you do.””
My blood ran cold.
“Why are you doing this?””
The person on the phone paused.
Then said:
“Because Sarah took everything from me.””
The call ended.
I looked at Emma.
“What did Sarah take?””
Emma’s face changed.
Like she suddenly understood.
“She didn’t take anything.””
“Then why would someone say that?””
Emma whispered:
“Because they don’t know the truth.””
“What truth?””
She looked terrified.
“Sarah was trying to give something back.””
I stared at her.
“What?””
Emma opened her mouth.
Then stopped.
A sound came from outside.
Footsteps.
Someone running.
Daniel moved toward the door.
He opened it.
A security officer stood there.
“Mr. Brooks.””
“What happened?””
The officer looked nervous.
“We found someone inside the restricted archive room.””
My heart tightened.
“What someone?””
The officer looked at me.
May you like
Then said:
“It was Caleb Vance.””
