Chapter 5
Thomas Whitmore was already sitting in my office when I returned.
He stood as I entered.
"Nia."
His familiar smile appeared.
"Margaret said you wanted to see me."
For eleven years, Thomas had been part of my professional life.
We had celebrated our first major contract together.
We had worked through nights when the company could barely cover payroll.
When my mother died, Thomas had attended the funeral.
When I became seriously ill, he had sent flowers every week.
I had considered him family.
Now I couldn't stop thinking about Northbridge Capital.
"Close the door," I said.
Thomas looked surprised.
"Of course."
Daniel entered behind me.
Thomas's smile weakened.
"Legal counsel too? This sounds serious."
"It is."
I sat behind my desk.
He sat opposite me.
For a moment, I looked at the man I had trusted for more than a decade.
Then I asked one question.
"Who owns Northbridge Capital Holdings?"
Thomas didn't blink.
"It's one of my investment companies."
"Does it receive payments from Bennett Global?"
He leaned back.
"Possibly. We have hundreds of commercial relationships."
"Thomas."
He sighed.
"Yes?"
"Don't insult me."
His smile disappeared.
I placed three invoices on the desk.
"These companies received payments for services they cannot substantiate. The money was then transferred to Northbridge."
He glanced at the documents.
"Where did you get those?"
"Answer the question."
Thomas folded his hands.
"Nia, large companies use complicated financial structures. You know that."
"I also know the difference between a legitimate investment and a false invoice."
He looked at Daniel.
"Is this some kind of accusation?"
Daniel spoke calmly.
"It's a formal inquiry. We need complete documentation explaining these payments."
Thomas laughed.
"Unbelievable."
I said nothing.
He leaned forward.
"After everything I've done for you?"
I felt a familiar sting.
There it was.
The same sentence people used when they believed loyalty should excuse wrongdoing.
"Then help me understand," I replied.
He stared at me.
I continued.
"Why did these payments begin shortly before I went on medical leave?"
His jaw tightened.
"Coincidence."
"Why did Richard approve later payments?"
"That's an operational question."
"Why did Evelyn Carter lose her job after discovering the invoices?"
Thomas went still.
It lasted less than a second.
But I saw it.
"Evelyn who?"
"A cleaning employee."
He shook his head.
"Why would I know anything about a cleaner?"
"Because she found evidence connected to your company."
Thomas stood.
"This meeting is ridiculous."
I stayed seated.
"Sit down."
He stared at me.
For a moment, I saw the arrogance he normally hid behind charm.
Then he sat again.
"Nia, you're exhausted. You only just returned."
My stomach turned.
He was using my illness against me.
"I'm fully capable of understanding financial records."
"I'm not questioning your intelligence."
"Then stop questioning my judgment."
He looked toward the door.
"I think we should continue this when you've calmed down."
Daniel placed another document on the desk.
"Thomas, the board has suspended your signing authority pending the investigation."
Thomas's face changed.
"You have no right."
"The independent directors approved it this afternoon."
Thomas looked at me.
"You let them do this?"
I met his eyes.
"I requested it."
For the first time, I saw genuine anger.
"You wouldn't have this company without me."
"Neither would you."
His mouth tightened.
I continued.
"We built it together. But that doesn't give either of us permission to steal from it."
He stood again.
"I'm leaving."
Daniel nodded.
"You're free to go. Your building access has been temporarily disabled, and we're asking you to preserve all relevant records."
Thomas pointed at me.
"You'll regret this."
He walked out.
The door closed.
I sat perfectly still.
Daniel waited.
Finally, I whispered, "Do you think he did it?"
Daniel answered carefully.
"I think the evidence justifies a serious investigation."
I rubbed my temples.
For years, Thomas had told me that my greatest weakness was trusting people too easily.
Perhaps he had been right.
My phone rang.
It was my younger brother, Marcus.
I answered.
"Hey."
"Nia, are you all right?"
His voice was tense.
"Why?"
"Thomas called me."
I closed my eyes.
"Of course he did."
"He said you're having some kind of breakdown at work."
My blood went cold.
"What?"
"He said you're accusing people of stealing because you're stressed after your illness."
I gripped the phone.
"Marcus, that's not true."
"I know."
The certainty in his voice almost made me cry.
"I told him to stop talking about you like that."
I exhaled.
"Thank you."
"What's really happening?"
I told him enough to understand.
The false invoices.
Evelyn's dismissal.
Richard and Victoria.
Thomas's investment company.
Marcus remained silent.
Then he asked, "Do you remember the night you collapsed?"
I stiffened.
"Of course."
"You called me before the ambulance arrived."
"I remember."
"No, Nia. I don't think you remember everything."
I sat upright.
"What do you mean?"
Marcus hesitated.
"You said you'd found something strange in the company accounts."
I stared at the wall.
"I said that?"
"Yes."
I tried to remember.
That evening had been a blur.
A terrible headache.
Dizziness.
Then waking up in a hospital room.
"You said Thomas was coming to meet you."
My heart began pounding.
"Marcus, are you sure?"
"Absolutely."
I closed my eyes.
Pieces of that night began returning.
The office lights.
A stack of financial statements.
Thomas knocking on my door.
A cup of tea.
Then confusion.
Fear.
I opened my eyes.
"Marcus, I need you to come over tonight."
"I'm already on my way."
After the call, I told Daniel everything.
He listened without interrupting.
Then he said something important.
"Nia, don't assume the illness was caused by anyone. We need medical records and independent evidence before reaching that conclusion."
I nodded.
He was right.
But the coincidence frightened me.
Daniel stood.
"I'll have investigators review the original records and interview anyone who was there that evening."
I looked at him.
"Start with my former assistant."
"Rachel?"
"Yes."
Rachel had worked directly outside my office before transferring to another division.
She knew my schedule better than anyone.
Daniel made the call.
A few minutes later, he returned.
His expression was grim.
"Rachel resigned yesterday."
I stared at him.
"Why?"
"Personal reasons, according to the file."
"Can we contact her?"
"We're trying."
My phone suddenly vibrated.
An unfamiliar number.
A message appeared.
I opened it.
There were only two sentences.
Rachel didn't resign.
She ran because she knows what happened the night you collapsed.
I stared at the screen.
Then another message arrived.
May you like
If you want the truth, stop looking at the invoices.
Look at who entered your office after midnight.
