Chapter 2: The Name Hidden in the Financial Records
I didn't sleep that night.
At 11:47 p.m., I sat in my home office wearing the same beige sweater Diane had insulted, staring at a stack of financial documents.
My company, Carter Global Holdings, had spent six months negotiating the purchase of Williams Industrial Holdings.
It was a regional manufacturing business that supplied equipment to construction companies across the Midwest.
The company had once been profitable.
But over the previous two years, its performance had deteriorated.
The owners claimed rising material costs and delayed contracts were responsible.
My acquisition team had negotiated a price based on the company's remaining assets, customer relationships, and future potential.
I had personally approved the final offer.
I had also insisted on a complete financial review before signing.
Now I understood why.
"Rachel, bring up the loan documents again.""
My chief operating officer appeared on the video call.
Her dark hair was pulled into a bun, and she wore the expression she usually reserved for emergencies.
"Already on the screen.""
I enlarged the document.
"Explain the signatures.""
Rachel leaned forward.
"The company has taken out three loans over the last fourteen months. The first was legitimate. The second is questionable. The third appears to have been secured using Marcus Williams's personal information.""
"Does Marcus own shares in the company?""
"Not according to the official ownership records.""
"Then why is he listed as a guarantor?""
"That's what we need to establish.""
I rubbed my forehead.
"Has anyone contacted him?""
"Not yet. We wanted to confirm the information first.""
"Good. Don't contact his family, either.""
Rachel nodded.
"There's something else.""
I looked up.
"What?""
"Vanessa received payments from the company through a consulting firm registered six months ago.""
"How much?""
"Approximately four hundred and eighty thousand dollars.""
I sat back.
"Four hundred and eighty thousand?""
"Yes.""
"What services did she provide?""
Rachel gave me a humorless smile.
"That's the problem. We haven't found evidence of any.""
I looked at the screen again.
The amount was enormous.
But the payments weren't the only concern.
Several transfers had been made to an account associated with Diane.
"Has the company's founder approved these transactions?""
"Some of them.""
"All of them?""
Rachel hesitated.
"No.""
I narrowed my eyes.
"Rachel, I need a direct answer.""
"Mr. Williams's signature appears on the first loan. The remaining documents contain electronic approvals that don't match his usual signing pattern.""
"Meaning?""
"Someone may have accessed his account.""
I stood and walked to the window.
The city lights reflected across the glass.
"Find out who.""
Rachel nodded.
"There's another reason I called.""
I turned around.
"What now?""
She opened a separate document.
"The acquisition agreement contains a change-of-control clause. If we discover deliberate financial misrepresentation before closing, we can suspend the transaction without penalty.""
"Then suspend it.""
"Are you sure?""
"Until we understand what happened, we aren't purchasing anything.""
Rachel paused.
"Understood.""
I returned to my desk.
"One more thing. Don't let my relationship with Marcus influence the investigation.""
Rachel studied me.
"Are you sure you want to keep this acquisition?""
I looked at the photograph beside my laptop.
It showed my grandmother and me standing outside the tiny clothing store she had operated for twenty years.
She had raised me after my parents died.
She taught me to count money twice, read every contract, and never confuse someone's confidence with their honesty.
"I'm sure I want the truth," I replied.
Rachel nodded.
"Then we'll find it.""
At 12:36 a.m., my phone vibrated.
Marcus.
I stared at his name for several seconds before answering.
"Hello?""
"Nia?""
His voice sounded exhausted.
"Hey.""
"Are you home?""
"Yes.""
"Can I come over?""
I glanced at the clock.
"Marcus, it's almost one in the morning.""
"I know. I just... I need to see you.""
I closed my eyes.
"Okay.""
Twenty minutes later, the doorbell rang.
Marcus stood outside wearing jeans and a gray hoodie.
His hair was messy.
He looked like he hadn't slept either.
The moment I opened the door, he pulled me into his arms.
"I'm so sorry.""
I rested my hands against his chest.
"Come inside.""
He followed me into the living room.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then he looked around.
His eyes moved across the artwork, the floor-to-ceiling windows, and the expensive furniture.
He had visited before, but never seemed particularly interested in my surroundings.
Tonight, he noticed everything.
"Did you really buy that Lamborghini?""
I almost smiled.
"Yes.""
"How long have you had it?""
"About a year.""
He nodded slowly.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"I didn't think it mattered.""
"Eight months, Nia.""
"I know.""
He sat on the edge of the sofa.
"I knew you were successful. I just didn't realize...""
"How successful?""
He looked embarrassed.
"Yeah.""
I sat opposite him.
"Marcus, I never lied about owning a business.""
"No, you didn't.""
"I never pretended to be someone else.""
"I know.""
"Then what exactly are you upset about?""
He rubbed his hands together.
"Because my mother treated you like you were beneath us, and I didn't even know the woman she was insulting could buy the entire street without checking her bank balance.""
I let out a quiet breath.
"That's not the point.""
"I know.""
"Do you?""
He looked at me.
I continued.
"Would your mother have treated me differently if I had arrived wearing a designer dress and driving a Lamborghini?""
He didn't answer.
"Would she have respected me if she knew how much money I had?""
His eyes lowered.
"I don't know.""
"That's the problem, Marcus.""
He leaned forward.
"She was wrong. Vanessa was wrong. I told them that.""
"You did.""
"Then why do you look like you're about to leave me?""
I looked at him for a long moment.
"Because I don't know how much of your family I can trust.""
He frowned.
"What does that mean?""
I stood and walked toward the kitchen.
"Do you know anything about your father's company?""
His expression changed.
"Williams Industrial?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
I turned around.
"Because my company is preparing to acquire it.""
Marcus stared at me.
For several seconds, he didn't move.
Then he laughed once.
Not because anything was funny.
Because he couldn't believe what he had heard.
"You're buying my father's company?""
"We were.""
"Were?""
I folded my arms.
"We found some serious financial irregularities.""
He stood immediately.
"What kind of irregularities?""
"Loans taken out without proper authorization. Payments to a consulting company connected to your sister. Documents carrying your name.""
His face went pale.
"My name?""
I nodded.
"You're listed as a personal guarantor on one of the loans.""
"That's impossible.""
"Have you ever signed anything related to your father's company?""
"No.""
"Have you ever given your mother or sister permission to use your financial information?""
"No.""
He walked toward the window.
Then he turned back.
"How much?""
I hesitated.
"Approximately two million dollars in questionable borrowing and transfers.""
Marcus stared at me.
"My father would never do that.""
"I'm not saying he did.""
"Then what are you saying?""
"I'm saying someone may have used his authority and your identity to access money.""
He sank back onto the sofa.
I watched his hands begin to tremble.
"Vanessa wouldn't do that.""
I said nothing.
He looked up.
"She wouldn't.""
"Marcus, I haven't accused anyone. I'm telling you what the documents show.""
He shook his head.
"My mother has always handled Dad's paperwork. Vanessa helps with the business accounts.""
"Did you know she had a consulting company?""
"No.""
"Did you know she'd received almost half a million dollars?""
His eyes widened.
"What?""
I sat beside him.
He stared at the floor.
Then he whispered something I hadn't expected.
"Three months ago, my father asked me to come over. He said there was a problem with the company and asked whether I had signed a personal guarantee.""
My stomach tightened.
"What did you tell him?""
"That I hadn't.""
"What did he say?""
Marcus rubbed his face.
"He looked relieved. Then Mom came into the room and told him he was confused.""
"Confused?""
"She said he'd been under a lot of stress. She told him he'd probably forgotten asking me to sign.""
I leaned closer.
"What happened after that?""
"She told me to leave the paperwork alone. She said it was a family matter.""
I looked at him.
"Marcus, why didn't you tell me?""
He swallowed.
"Because I thought it was nothing.""
Before I could respond, his phone rang.
He checked the screen.
Dad.
Marcus answered immediately.
"Hey, Dad.""
A weak voice came through the speaker.
"Marcus? Are you alone?""
Marcus looked at me.
"Yes. What's wrong?""
His father's voice trembled.
"I need you to listen carefully. Your mother has been asking questions about your girlfriend.""
Marcus frowned.
"What?""
"She knows about the acquisition.""
I sat upright.
"How does she know?"" Marcus asked.
His father lowered his voice.
"Because Vanessa saw something on my computer. And now your mother is telling everyone that Nia is trying to steal our company.""
Marcus looked at me in disbelief.
"That's ridiculous.""
His father continued.
"Son, there's something you don't know about the money.""
Marcus stood.
"What money?""
A long silence followed.
Then his father whispered:
"Your mother didn't just borrow against the company.""
Marcus gripped the phone.
"What did she do?""
"She transferred the factory property into a separate company.""
I felt a chill move through my body.
"Who owns that company?"" Marcus asked.
His father's breathing became uneven.
Then he said the words that changed everything.
"Your sister does.""
The call abruptly ended.
Marcus stared at his phone.
I immediately called Rachel.
She answered on the second ring.
"Yes, Nia?""
"Find every company connected to Vanessa Williams. Especially property holdings.""
Rachel began typing.
"Give me a minute.""
Marcus stood beside me, his face drained of color.
Then Rachel spoke again.
"Nia, I found something.""
"What?""
"The factory property isn't the only asset that was transferred.""
I gripped the phone.
"What's the other asset?""
Rachel hesitated.
"The company's largest warehouse.""
I closed my eyes.
"How much is it worth?""
"Approximately six million dollars.""
Marcus whispered, "Oh my God.""
But Rachel wasn't finished.
"There's another name attached to the property transfer.""
I looked at Marcus.
"Whose?""
May you like
Rachel read the document.
"Marcus Williams.""
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