“Tell me the truth.”
Richard looked at the page and slowly sat down.
“I was hoping this day would never come.”
“Who is Margaret Hale, and what did she do to Daniel Carter?”
Richard rubbed his forehead.
“Your fiancée’s mother was the chief financial officer of our company when the agreement was signed.”
Alexander felt the room tilt around him.
“Victoria told me her mother had nothing to do with the old business.”
“She may not know everything.”
“Then tell me what you know.”
Richard looked toward the dark windows.
“Twelve years ago, Daniel discovered that money was being transferred through a network of companies that didn’t officially exist. He believed someone inside our organization was using those companies to conceal fraudulent transactions.”
“Who?”
“Margaret Hale.”
Alexander stared at him.
“Why wasn’t she investigated?”
“Because Daniel’s signature appeared on the documents authorizing the transfers.”
“But you just said—”
“I know what I said.”
Richard’s voice broke.
“Daniel insisted the signatures were forged. He asked me to help him prove it. I promised I would.”
“What happened?”
“Before I could act, the evidence disappeared. Daniel was publicly accused of fraud. His company collapsed, and he died before the investigation could be reopened.”
Alexander stood up.
“And you did nothing?”
Richard’s eyes filled with tears.
“I made the worst decision of my life. I protected the company instead of the man who trusted me.”
The confession hung between them.
Then Richard reached into his pocket and placed a small brass key on the desk.
“Emily is right about the second file. It contains the original transaction records.”
“Where is it?”
“In a private storage room beneath our old headquarters.”
“Why didn’t you retrieve it?”
“Because I was afraid of what it would reveal.”
Alexander picked up the key.
