Chapter 6 - THE DEAD FOUNDER'S SECRET ACCOUNT
My father had been dead for eleven years.
Yet someone was using his name to move millions of dollars.
For a moment, I felt as though Julian had found a way to betray even the dead.
"What company?" I asked.
"Robert Hart Strategic Holdings."
"I've never heard of it."
Daniel nodded.
"Neither has our legal team."
Margaret examined the report.
"Who authorized the payment?"
"Julian and the chief financial officer, Peter Wallace."
Peter.
My father's longtime employee.
A man who'd attended my childhood birthday parties.
Someone Dad once described as dependable enough to trust with the factory keys.
I stared at the authorization.
"Peter signed this?"
"Yes," Daniel replied.
My stomach tightened.
Had Julian corrupted everyone?
Or had I misunderstood something much larger?
Margaret's voice interrupted my thoughts.
"The board is waiting."
I looked toward the conference room.
"Then let's begin."
Inside, eleven directors sat around a polished walnut table.
At the far end stood Julian.
He smiled when I entered.
But the smile vanished when he noticed Rachel and Daniel beside me.
"Maya?"
"Good morning, Julian."
He glanced at Margaret.
"What is she doing here?"
Margaret calmly took her seat.
"Mrs. Bennett is attending in her capacity as the authorized representative of Hart Family Holdings."
Julian laughed nervously.
"This is highly irregular."
"No," Rachel replied. "It's fully permitted under the company's governing documents."
I took the chair beside Margaret.
The chair my father used to occupy.
Julian's eyes hardened.
"Fine. Let's get on with the meeting."
Margaret opened the agenda.
"Item one: review of irregular vendor payments."
Julian leaned back.
"We've already addressed that."
"Not adequately."
"These are routine accounting matters."
Daniel connected his laptop to the conference display.
A chart appeared.
Crownbridge Consulting.
Unverified invoices.
Related-party payments.
The overnight transfer.
And the questionable trust amendment.
Julian's smile disappeared.
"Where did you get those records?"
"From a duly authorized independent review," Margaret answered.
Peter Wallace sat near the opposite end of the table.
His face looked gray.
Julian turned toward him.
"Peter, explain these transactions."
Peter's mouth opened.
Then closed.
Julian's voice sharpened.
"Peter."
The older man slowly stood.
"I can't."
Silence.
Julian stared.
"What do you mean?"
Peter looked at me.
Tears filled his eyes.
"Miss Maya, I tried to stop it."
My chest tightened.
"Stop what?"
He reached into his briefcase.
Julian immediately stood.
"Peter, sit down."
But Peter ignored him.
He placed a sealed envelope on the table.
"This was supposed to be destroyed after your father's funeral."
I stared at it.
"What is it?"
Peter looked directly into my eyes.
"Your father knew someone was stealing from Hartwell before he died."
Julian's face went white.
Peter pushed the envelope toward me.
"And he left proof."
I opened it carefully.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
Dad's familiar handwriting filled the page.
But it wasn't the first line that stopped my heart.
May you like
It was the final sentence.
MAYA, IF JULIAN BENNETT EVER BECOMES CEO, FIND OUT WHO HELPED HIM GET RID OF ME.
