Chapter 6 - THE COMPANY HE THOUGHT WAS HIS
By morning, Martin Shaw had vanished.
His apartment was empty.
His company badge was dead.
Grace sat at Nathan's house reading account records until the numbers blurred.
Ethan called again.
This time she answered.
"Where is Martin?"
"What?"
"Don't lie to me."
"I don't know where he is."
Grace looked at Caleb across the room.
"Did you sign the amended loan?"
"Yes."
"Did you forge my signature?"
"No."
"It's on the guarantee."
Ethan went silent.
Then he said, "Martin told me your lawyer cleared it electronically."
Caleb shook his head.
Grace laughed bitterly.
"You risked eight million dollars and never asked me?"
"I was desperate."
"We had payroll."
Grace's voice sharpened.
"Then why did two point six million go to Pierce Advisory?"
Another silence.
"Lauren handled the acquisition payment."
Grace closed her eyes.
Of course she had.
Ethan lowered his voice.
"Grace, she told me you were planning to remove me as CEO."
"That was a lie."
"I know."
"Did that lie move your hand too?"
"No."
His answer came quickly this time.
"No."
Before Grace could end the call, Caleb's computer chimed.
He turned the screen.
A traffic camera showed Martin's SUV entering a private airfield before dawn.
A woman sat beside him.
Lauren.
Grace unmuted Ethan.
"Did you give Lauren access to the corporate seal?"
A pause.
"Yes."
Grace felt sick.
With the seal and a copied signature, Lauren could make false resolutions look real.
Then another alert appeared.
A new filing had been submitted to the state.
It claimed Grace had resigned from Wren Holdings the night Ethan slapped her.
Ethan whispered, "Grace, I didn't file that."
She stared at the screen.
"I believe you."
May you like
He exhaled.
Then she added, "That doesn't mean I trust you."
