Chapter 5: The Bride's Real Boss
Richard Vance entered the conference room without knocking.
He was older than I remembered, perhaps in his late sixties, with silver hair and a carefully trimmed beard.
His expensive suit hung loosely on his frame.
He looked thinner.
But his eyes were sharp.
He stopped when he saw Marcus.
“Hello, Richard,” Marcus said.
Richard stared at him.
For several seconds, neither man spoke.
Then Richard gave a small smile.
“I see you finally decided to stop hiding.””
Marcus didn't return the smile.
“I was never hiding from you.””
Richard placed his briefcase on the table.
“Perhaps not.””
I stood.
“I'm Ethan Carter.””
Richard turned toward me.
“I know exactly who you are.””
“Then you know I have questions.””
“I'm sure you do.””
“Start with why your former company is trying to take control of mine.””
Richard glanced at Rochelle.
“Before I answer, I need to know whether this conversation is being recorded.””
Rochelle replied calmly.
“I'm your attorney's counterpart in this room, not your legal representative. You are free to leave or decline to answer questions. We are preserving relevant documents, however.””
Richard nodded.
“Good.””
He opened his briefcase.
Inside were several thick folders.
He removed a stack of papers and placed them on the table.
“Vantage Holdings was established eleven years ago as an investment vehicle. It was designed to acquire distressed commercial properties and restructure them.””
I glanced at the documents.
“I know the company.””
“You probably know its public reputation. You don't know what happened behind the scenes.””
Richard sat down.
“Four years ago, I discovered that several million dollars had disappeared from our accounts. The transactions were approved through legitimate-looking corporate instructions. I initially suspected Marcus.””
Marcus folded his arms.
“You knew it wasn't me.””
Richard looked down.
“I suspected you because I wanted to believe someone else was responsible.””
“You let them frame me.””
Richard didn't respond.
I leaned forward.
“Who stole the money?””
Richard looked at me.
“Vanessa.””
The answer was so direct that it almost sounded rehearsed.
I shook my head.
“Why?””
“Because she wanted control of the business. She had become involved with Darius, and together they began moving money through companies that were registered under different names.””
Marcus spoke.
“Why didn't you report them?””
Richard looked at him.
“Because they had something I couldn't afford to lose.””
“What?””
Richard hesitated.
Then he opened a second folder.
Inside was a photograph of a young woman.
She had dark hair and bright eyes.
She looked about twenty-five.
I didn't recognize her.
Richard pushed the photograph toward me.
“My daughter, Olivia.””
I looked at him.
“What does she have to do with this?””
“Everything.””
Richard's voice cracked.
“Olivia was involved in an accident four years ago. She survived, but she suffered serious injuries. Her medical care required money I couldn't immediately access.””
Rochelle asked, “And Vanessa used that situation to control you?””
Richard nodded.
“She told me she could arrange financing through Vantage Holdings. But the financing came with conditions. I was forced to sign documents giving her control over several investment accounts.””
Marcus looked furious.
“You never told me that.””
“I was ashamed.””
Richard continued.
“Then Vanessa began threatening to expose financial irregularities that I had concealed for years. Some were legitimate business mistakes. Others were transactions I had approved under pressure. She knew I would be vulnerable.””
I looked at him.
“So you let her take the company?””
“I tried to stop her.””
“What happened?””
“Darius arranged for me to be declared mentally incapable of managing the business. They used medical reports and statements from people who claimed I was unstable.””
Rochelle frowned.
“Were those reports genuine?””
“Some were. Others were manipulated.””
Richard opened another folder.
“Eventually, I escaped the situation by leaving the country. I believed I could rebuild my life and protect my daughter.””
Marcus stared at him.
“And you left everyone else to deal with Vanessa.””
Richard lowered his eyes.
“Yes.””
The silence was heavy.
I looked at the papers.
“Why did Vanessa target me?””
Richard leaned forward.
“Because your company owns something she has wanted for years.””
“My properties?””
“Not exactly.””
He pulled out a map.
It showed several parcels of land near Atlanta's airport.
My largest development project was marked in red.
Richard pointed to a section near the center.
“Your company owns the old industrial site on Fulton Industrial Boulevard.””
“Yes.””
“Do you know what was underneath it?””
“An old manufacturing facility. We've completed environmental assessments.””
Richard shook his head.
“Not everything was documented.””
He placed another photograph on the table.
It showed an underground storage facility.
My eyes narrowed.
“What is that?””
“A private records archive.””
I stared at him.
“An archive?””
“Years ago, Vantage Holdings purchased several distressed businesses. Their original financial records, contracts, and ownership documents were stored beneath that facility.””
Marcus added, “Some of those records were never transferred into the digital system.””
I looked between them.
“And Vanessa wants them?””
Richard nodded.
“She believes those documents contain evidence that could expose the people who helped her steal the company.””
Rochelle leaned forward.
“Does Ethan's development project include that underground facility?””
“According to the original land survey, yes.””
I felt a chill.
My company had purchased the property two years earlier.
We had planned to demolish the old structure and build a logistics center.
I had never been told about a private archive.
“Why wasn't this disclosed during the sale?””
Richard looked uncomfortable.
“Because the previous ownership records were incomplete.””
Rochelle shook her head.
“That doesn't answer the question.””
Richard sighed.
“Because I was trying to keep those records away from Vanessa.””
I stared at him.
“So you sold me contaminated property without disclosing an existing underground archive?””
“I didn't sell you anything. A separate company controlled the transaction.””
“Through Vantage Holdings?””
He nodded.
I stood.
“Do you understand what you've done?””
Richard remained seated.
“I understand that I made mistakes.””
“Mistakes? You dragged my company into a criminal dispute and left me to discover it at my wedding.””
Richard didn't argue.
Marcus stepped between us.
“Ethan, I know you're angry. But we need to understand why the archive matters.””
Rochelle agreed.
“First, we need independent verification of the property's title, the corporate filings, and the alleged records.””
Richard opened his briefcase again.
“That's why I brought this.””
He removed a small envelope.
Inside was a photograph of a document.
It contained several names.
At the top was Richard Vance.
Below him was Darius Cole.
Then Vanessa.
And finally, a name I recognized.
My father's.
I felt my blood run cold.
“Why is my father listed here?””
Richard looked at me.
“Because your father worked on the original construction project that created the underground archive.””
I stared at him.
“My father repaired trucks. He was never involved in investment companies.””
Richard nodded.
“I know. But thirty years ago, he worked as a subcontractor on the industrial property.””
I remembered my father mentioning an old construction project once.
He had never said anything about an archive.
Richard tapped the paper.
“Your father was listed as a witness to the original storage agreement.””
Rochelle examined the document.
“Is that his signature?””
Richard nodded.
“Yes.””
I looked at the name.
The signature resembled my father's.
But something was wrong.
The date.
It was from thirty years earlier, when my father had been recovering from a serious back injury.
“He couldn't have signed this,” I said.
Richard looked surprised.
“Why not?””
“Because he was in the hospital.””
Marcus leaned closer.
“Are you certain?””
“I grew up visiting him there. He was recovering for months.””
Rochelle took a photograph of the document.
“We need to verify the hospital records and the original contract.””
Richard nodded.
“There's another reason Vanessa needs the archive.””
“What?””
“Your father wasn't simply a witness.””
Richard paused.
“He was listed as the original owner of a small company that later became part of Vantage Holdings.””
I laughed in disbelief.
“My father never owned an investment company.””
Richard's expression darkened.
“Then perhaps someone used his identity.””
The room went quiet.
My phone rang.
It was my mother.
I answered immediately.
“Mom?””
“Ethan, where are you?””
“I'm upstairs. Are you all right?””
She sounded frightened.
“Your father has disappeared.””
My stomach dropped.
“What?””
“I went to get him some water. When I came back, he was gone.””
“Did he leave the hotel?””
“I don't know.””
“Have you called him?””
“His phone is off.””
I stood.
“Mom, stay with security. Don't go anywhere.””
Then I turned to Rochelle.
“My father is missing.””
Rochelle immediately contacted hotel security.
Marcus stood.
“Where was he last seen?””
“Near the ballroom.””
Richard suddenly looked pale.
“Was he wearing a dark suit?””
“Yes.””
Richard closed his eyes.
“Then I know where he went.””
“Where?””
Richard looked at me.
“The underground archive.””
I stared at him.
“That's impossible. He's never been there.””
Richard shook his head.
“Your father knows exactly where it is.””
Before I could ask another question, my phone received a video message.
The footage showed my father standing in front of a metal door.
Behind him was a concrete wall covered in old warning signs.
He looked directly into the camera.
Then he said:
“Ethan, if you're watching this, don't trust Richard. He knows why Vanessa chose you.””
The video ended.
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A second message appeared.
*COME ALONE. BRING THE ORIGINAL DEED.*
