Chapter 5 - THE DOCUMENTS THEY DIDN'T WANT ME TO SEE
The pouch contained forty-three pages.
Bank statements.
Correspondence.
Internal audit notes.
And copies of disputed transfer authorizations.
But one document made Rebecca stop reading.
An instruction for a $68.4 million transfer from Jenkins Capital into a holding company called Silver Swan Holdings.
Dad's signature appeared at the bottom.
So did Samantha Bell's.
Above both signatures was a third name.
Graham Voss.
According to the document, all three had approved the transfer.
According to Dad's handwritten notes, he had refused to sign the final version.
“Then this is the document he was talking about,” I whispered.
Rebecca nodded.
“Possibly. But we need the original electronic records and independent verification.”
The next page contained something equally troubling.
Silver Swan had received the money.
Then distributed it through several investment vehicles.
One was eventually acquired by a venture fund that invested in early-stage technology companies.
Including Vanguard Systems.
Nathaniel Reed's company.
I stared at the name.
“Does that mean Nathaniel stole my father's money?”
“No.”
Rebecca answered immediately.
“Not at all. The investment could have reached his company through an intermediary without his knowledge.”
But the connection was real.
Vanguard's early financing history might contain clues to where the missing money had gone.
And Vivien was engaged to the company's founder.
Coincidence?
I was beginning to hate that word.
When I arrived at the Winslow that evening, Charles intercepted me before I reached the changing room.
“Harper, we need to talk.”
My stomach tightened.
He handed me an envelope.
Inside was a formal disciplinary notice.
Vivien had filed another complaint.
This one alleged that I improperly approached her about a private financial matter and demanded money.
I stared at the paper.
“She offered me money.”
Charles looked exhausted.
“I don't know what happened.”
“Then why am I being disciplined?”
“Because her attorney contacted the club.”
I felt anger rise.
Charles lowered his voice.
“I don't want to fire you.”
“But you will.”
He didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
Then he surprised me.
“There's something you should see.”
He opened a locked drawer and removed a copy of an old email.
It had been sent to the club's membership office six months earlier.
The sender was an executive assistant working for Vivien.
The instruction was simple.
Please ensure no individual associated with the Jenkins Capital matter is assigned to Miss Croft's table or granted access to her private events.
My heart started pounding.
“Why did you hire me?”
Charles looked uncomfortable.
“Because I needed a competent employee, and your application didn't mention the hedge fund.”
“But my name—”
“Jenkins isn't an unusual name.”
He hesitated.
“Vivien apparently noticed the connection only when Calvin appeared.”
So she had not expected to encounter me.
But she had been afraid of someone from my father's past appearing for months.
That mattered.
Then Charles said something I hadn't expected.
“I checked the complaint before signing the disciplinary notice.”
“And?”
“The club's audio system recorded part of the conversation near Table 4.”
I stared at him.
Charles opened a file on his computer.
Vivien's voice came through clearly.
Think carefully, Harper. I'm offering you a way to make your life easier.
Rebecca would want that recording.
I looked at Charles.
“Why are you helping me?”
He gave me a tired smile.
“Because I've spent too many years letting important people decide which employees deserve dignity.”
Then his expression became serious.
“But Harper, there's another problem.”
He opened a second email.
It was a payment confirmation from a private foundation.
Twelve thousand dollars.
Sent that afternoon.
Directly to my mother's care facility.
The sender?
The Croft Foundation.
Vivien had paid my mother's medical bill without asking me.
May you like
And attached to the payment was a note.
We hope Miss Jenkins now understands the value of discretion.
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