Chapter 6
I hadn't seen Anthony Price in three years.
Not in person.
Not since the day we signed the papers ending our partnership.
He looked almost exactly the same.
Tall.
Broad shoulders.
Clean-shaven.
Expensive watch.
But there was something different about his expression.
The man walking toward me didn't look confident.
He looked exhausted.
Nia noticed him.
“Marcus?”
I nodded.
“That's Anthony.”
Her face changed.
“I should go.”
I looked at her.
“Thank you for telling me what you know.”
She nodded and hurried toward the exit.
Anthony entered the restaurant seconds later.
He stopped when he saw me.
For a moment, we simply stared at each other.
Then he smiled faintly.
“Marcus.”
I folded my arms.
“Anthony.”
He looked around.
“Place looks good.”
“Thank you.”
He nodded.
“You've done well.”
I stared at him.
“We need to talk.”
His smile disappeared.
“I know.”
I gestured toward my office.
He followed.
As we walked, I noticed Claire watching from the reception area.
I gave her a discreet signal to remain nearby.
Once inside, I closed the door.
Anthony stood near the window.
He looked at the dining room.
“Remember when we thought opening one restaurant would solve all our problems?”
I didn't smile.
“I remember.”
He turned.
“Those were good days.”
“Some of them.”
He sighed.
“I guess I deserve that.”
I walked toward my desk.
“Why are you here?”
Anthony looked down.
“To warn you.”
I laughed without humor.
“That's interesting.”
He frowned.
“What?”
“Someone used your old executive access card to enter my office.”
His face went pale.
I continued.
“Someone accessed our archived records.”
He opened his mouth.
“And someone is trying to use an outdated partnership agreement to sell my building.”
Anthony took a step backward.
“Marcus—”
“Did you do it?”
He looked away.
I felt anger rising.
“Answer me.”
He swallowed.
“I didn't know what they were planning at first.”
My heart sank.
“So you were involved.”
He covered his face.
“It's complicated.”
“No.”
I stepped closer.
“Complicated is arguing about restaurant locations.”
He looked at me.
“Complicated is disagreeing about financing.”
My voice hardened.
“Helping someone forge documents to take my business is not complicated.”
Anthony sank into a chair.
“I didn't forge your signature.”
“Then who did?”
He remained silent.
I stared at him.
“Anthony.”
He looked up.
“Richard Williams.”
I felt my stomach twist.
“How?”
“His legal team prepared the papers.”
“Who signed my name?”
“I don't know.”
I studied him.
“Why should I believe anything you say?”
He looked exhausted.
“Because I'm here.”
I shook my head.
“That doesn't erase what you've done.”
He nodded slowly.
“I know.”
I sat across from him.
“Tell me everything.”
Anthony stared at his hands.
After we ended our partnership, he invested in a restaurant technology company.
The business failed.
He borrowed money.
Then borrowed more.
Eventually, he owed nearly two million dollars.
Richard Williams approached him with a proposal.
He offered to clear Anthony's debt in exchange for information about Bennett Hospitality.
“At first, he only wanted financial details,” Anthony explained.
“What details?”
“Property values. Debt obligations. Expansion plans.”
I stared at him.
“You gave him confidential information?”
Anthony nodded.
My chest tightened.
“Then what?”
“He asked about the old operating agreement.”
I leaned forward.
“Why?”
“Because he knew you bought me out, but he thought he could use the earlier paperwork to complicate the ownership records.”
I shook my head.
“And you helped him?”
Anthony's eyes filled.
“I was desperate.”
I looked away.
I understood financial desperation.
I had lived through it.
But I had never believed desperation justified betrayal.
“How much did he promise you?”
Anthony swallowed.
“Five million.”
The same amount Vanessa mentioned.
“And how much have you received?”
“Two hundred thousand.”
I stared at him.
“For what?”
“Consulting payments.”
I felt sick.
He continued.
“Richard said the remaining money would come after the property transaction closed.”
“And my office?”
Anthony looked ashamed.
“I used the old card.”
“Why?”
“He needed a copy of the original purchase documents.”
“Did you take anything?”
“Copies.”
I closed my eyes.
“Anthony.”
“I know.”
I leaned back.
“You committed serious violations of our agreement, and possibly crimes.”
He nodded.
“I know.”
“Why are you warning me now?”
His expression changed.
“Because Richard is planning something worse.”
I sat forward.
“What?”
“He doesn't just want the building.”
I felt a chill.
“He wants the entire company.”
I stared at him.
Anthony continued.
“Sterling Capital's investment agreement contains a clause that could let their representatives gain control if certain financial conditions are triggered.”
I frowned.
“Rachel reviewed that agreement.”
“Not the version Richard wants you to sign.”
My stomach tightened.
“What version?”
Anthony reached into his jacket.
He removed a flash drive.
“It's here.”
I stared at it.
“What is that?”
“Copies of the revised documents.”
I didn't touch it.
“How did you get them?”
“Richard sent them to me for review.”
“Why would he do that?”
“Because he thought I could convince you the terms were standard.”
I looked at him.
“And you finally decided not to?”
Anthony's eyes filled.
“He asked me to help manufacture a financial default.”
I stared.
“What?”
“He wanted us to make it look like your company had violated loan covenants.”
My blood ran cold.
“That's fraud.”
“I know.”
He looked down.
“And I couldn't do it.”
I remained silent.
He continued.
“Marcus, I was angry when you bought me out.”
I looked at him.
“I thought you pushed me aside.”
“You wanted to take risks that could have destroyed us.”
“I know that now.”
He wiped his face.
“I convinced myself I deserved a bigger piece of what you built.”
I felt pain beneath my anger.
“You did help build it.”
He looked up.
“But that doesn't mean you could steal it.”
He nodded.
“I know.”
There was a long silence.
Then Anthony whispered, “I'm sorry.”
I stared at my former friend.
Part of me wanted to believe him.
Part of me wanted to throw him out.
Instead, I picked up my phone.
“I'm calling my attorney.”
Anthony nodded.
“That's fair.”
I called Rachel.
When she answered, I explained who was sitting in my office.
She immediately told me not to handle the flash drive.
She arranged for a secure transfer and an independent forensic examination.
Then she said something unexpected.
“Marcus, keep Anthony there if he's willing. I want to speak with him.”
I looked at Anthony.
He nodded.
For the next hour, he answered questions.
He gave Rachel names.
Dates.
Payments.
And information about Richard's proposed agreements.
He also agreed to provide a formal statement through counsel.
But near the end of the conversation, his phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His face went white.
“Who is it?” I asked.
He swallowed.
“Richard.”
I looked toward Rachel on the speakerphone.
She said, “Don't answer unless your attorney advises you to.”
Anthony let the call ring.
It stopped.
Then a message appeared.
He showed it to me.
“Where are you? We need to finish what we started.”
A second message followed.
“Remember what happens if you talk.”
Anthony began shaking.
I looked at him.
“What does he have on you?”
He closed his eyes.
Then whispered, “My daughter.”
My stomach dropped.
Anthony had a ten-year-old daughter named Grace.
I remembered holding her when she was a baby.
“What about Grace?”
Anthony's voice broke.
“Richard knows where she goes to school.”
I stood immediately.
“Are you saying he threatened your child?”
Anthony nodded.
Tears rolled down his face.
“He told me accidents happen when people betray him.”
I reached for my phone.
This wasn't only about my business anymore.
May you like
A child might be in danger.
And suddenly, protecting my company felt far less important than protecting a little girl.
