Chapter 6 - The Truth About VanessaTwo months later, Vanessa contacted me again.
"I need to tell you something."
I met her at a quiet café.
She looked nervous.
"Daniel ended things."
"I know."
"He didn't come back to me."
I didn't answer.
She continued.
"I thought he would."
"Why are you telling me?"
"Because I found something."
She placed a folder on the table.
Inside were company documents.
Harrison Freight Systems had been losing money.
Millions.
"What's this?"
"Daniel didn't know."
I frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"Someone inside the company has been diverting money."
I looked at the documents.
The losses had begun two years earlier.
The same time Daniel started traveling constantly.
"Who?"
"I don't know."
"But you found this?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I was trying to understand why he was never available."
She pointed to one account.
"Look."
The transfers went to a consulting company.
Its owner was Daniel's chief operating officer.
I froze.
"Marcus."
"Yes."
"He's been with Daniel for ten years."
Vanessa nodded.
"Exactly."
I immediately called Daniel.
He answered.
"What happened?"
"I found something."
We met that evening.
I gave him the folder.
He stared at the documents.
"Marcus?"
"Yes."
Daniel's face hardened.
"If this is true..."
"It is."
He immediately called his attorney.
The investigation began.
Within days, they discovered millions had been stolen.
Marcus had created fake vendors.
He had forged signatures.
He had used Daniel's constant absence as cover.
And then something unexpected appeared.
A document with my signature.
Again.
I hadn't signed it.
Daniel looked at me.
"He used your name."
"Why?"
"To make it look like you approved the transfers."
I felt sick.
Marcus had been preparing to blame me if the fraud was discovered.
Daniel stared at the evidence.
Then he looked at me.
"I should have protected you."
"You should have been here."
"I know."
This time, I believed his regret.
May you like
Not because of his words.
Because he finally understood the consequences of his absence.
