Chapter 7
The next morning, I walked into Bennett Property Group's headquarters feeling older than I had the day before.
My cream wedding dress was gone.
I wore a navy business suit.
My pearls rested against my collar.
And for the first time in months, I felt like myself again.
Grace was waiting near the elevator.
"Good morning, Mrs. Bennett."
I smiled faintly.
"Good morning."
She studied my face.
"How are you holding up?"
I took a breath.
"One decision at a time."
She nodded.
"That's all any of us can do."
We entered the executive conference room.
Samuel sat at the table with our finance director and an outside forensic accountant.
Marcus arrived a few minutes later with his own attorney.
He looked nervous.
I was relieved he had taken Samuel's advice.
For once, he wasn't expecting his mother to solve everything for him.
The forensic accountant opened a presentation.
"We've reviewed the attempted transfer and the related company documents."
I sat straighter.
"Tell me what you found."
She displayed a chart.
V Holdings Consulting had been registered three months earlier.
Vanessa was listed as managing member.
Marcus appeared as a minority member.
He stared at the screen.
"She told me it was a wedding planning company."
I looked at him.
"Did you sign the registration?"
He nodded slowly.
"Yes."
My heart sank.
His attorney leaned toward him.
"Marcus, we'll discuss the implications separately."
The accountant continued.
"V Holdings received funds from several private investors."
I gripped my pen.
"How much?"
"Approximately six hundred and seventy thousand dollars has been confirmed so far."
The room went silent.
I thought about Olivia's warning.
Two million dollars in commitments.
Not all of it had been collected.
But the amount already received was enormous.
"Where did the money go?"
The accountant displayed another chart.
Some funds had been used for event expenses.
Some had been transferred to other accounts.
And a large portion remained unaccounted for.
I felt sick.
Samuel spoke.
"We've contacted the affected parties through counsel. Investigators are reviewing the transactions."
I nodded.
Then the accountant showed us the attempted transfer from Bennett Property Group.
Eight hundred thousand dollars.
The authorization request had used Marcus's credentials.
But the digital trail pointed to a device associated with Vanessa.
Marcus covered his mouth.
"I can't believe this."
I looked at him.
"Did you ever ask where the money for your wedding was coming from?"
He looked ashamed.
"I thought you were paying."
"I was."
"Vanessa said she was covering the extras."
I felt a bitter smile form.
Apparently, Vanessa had been using investor money to fund the extravagant details she demanded.
The imported flowers.
The custom decorations.
The designer gifts.
She wanted a wedding that looked like a royal celebration.
And she was willing to risk other people's savings to create it.
I looked at Samuel.
"What happens next?"
He answered carefully.
"The criminal investigation will determine responsibility. Civil claims may also follow. Our immediate priority is protecting the company and notifying anyone who may have relied on false representations."
I nodded.
"Do whatever is necessary."
Marcus looked toward me.
"Mom, I want to help."
I studied him.
"Then cooperate fully with your attorney and the investigators."
He nodded.
"I will."
I continued.
"And understand something, Marcus."
He looked up.
"You won't return to an executive role until you've rebuilt the trust you lost."
His eyes filled.
"I understand."
I took a breath.
"I love you. But I won't place this company at risk to spare you embarrassment."
He nodded slowly.
"You're right."
For the first time, those words didn't sound like something he was saying to end an argument.
They sounded sincere.
Over the following weeks, the investigation expanded.
Several investors came forward.
Some had been promised guaranteed returns.
Others believed Bennett Property Group was directly backing the venture.
A few were longtime business acquaintances of mine.
Their disappointment hurt deeply.
I personally contacted those I knew.
I explained that my company had not authorized the investment.
I promised full cooperation with the investigation.
But I did not make promises I couldn't keep.
I couldn't guarantee everyone would recover their money.
I couldn't undo Vanessa's lies.
All I could do was tell the truth.
One afternoon, Olivia visited my office.
She carried a folder.
"Mrs. Bennett, I wanted you to know the investors appreciate your transparency."
I smiled sadly.
"I wish I could do more."
She shook her head.
"You could have hidden behind attorneys and refused to speak to anyone."
I looked down.
"That wouldn't have been right."
Olivia smiled.
"Your reputation wasn't built by accident."
Her words touched me.
For months, Vanessa had made me feel outdated.
Controlling.
Unwanted.
Now someone was reminding me that integrity still mattered.
After Olivia left, Grace entered.
"Mrs. Bennett, there's someone here to see you."
I looked up.
"Who?"
"Vanessa's former bridesmaid."
I frowned.
"Which one?"
"Her cousin, Brianna."
I remembered Brianna.
She had been standing beside Vanessa when my corsage hit the table.
She looked uncomfortable.
But she hadn't spoken.
"Send her in."
Brianna entered wearing a simple gray dress.
Her eyes were swollen.
"Mrs. Bennett?"
I stood.
"Hello, Brianna."
She swallowed.
"I know you probably don't want to see me."
I gestured toward a chair.
"Sit down."
She obeyed.
For a moment, she stared at her hands.
Then she whispered, "I'm sorry."
I waited.
"I should've said something at the wedding."
My throat tightened.
"Why didn't you?"
She began crying.
"Because Vanessa threatened me."
I frowned.
"With what?"
"She said she'd tell my employer I stole money from her."
I stared at her.
"Did you?"
"No."
She wiped her cheeks.
"But I was afraid she'd make something up."
I took a breath.
"What do you need to tell me?"
Brianna opened her purse.
She removed a small flash drive.
"Vanessa asked me to help prepare a slideshow for the reception."
I stared at it.
"The company announcement?"
Brianna nodded.
"Yes."
Then she said something that made my stomach tighten.
"The slideshow wasn't just about the company."
I leaned forward.
"What else?"
Brianna's voice shook.
"Vanessa planned to show a video making you look mentally unfit to run your business."
I froze.
"What?"
She began crying harder.
"She edited clips of you forgetting things and made it look like you were confused."
My hands went numb.
I remembered Vanessa recording me during family dinners.
Laughing when I couldn't remember a restaurant's name.
Asking me questions while I was distracted.
I had thought she was joking.
Now I understood.
I stared at Brianna.
"She planned to humiliate me in front of investors?"
Brianna nodded.
"And then announce Marcus was taking over."
I sat back slowly.
For months, Vanessa had been preparing to destroy my credibility.
Not just my relationship with my son.
My life's work.
I looked at the flash drive.
May you like
Then I whispered:
"Thank God that wedding never happened."
