Chapter 5 - THE BROTHER WHO STOLE THE COMPANY
Curtis Wycliffe had spent thirty years waiting for his older brother to retire.
Warren built the company.
Curtis helped manage it.
But Warren remained chairman.
Warren received the praise.
Warren controlled the final decisions.
And Warren's son Ethan was expected to inherit leadership.
Curtis resented all of it.
When the waterfront project began struggling, Curtis saw an opportunity.
He established a network of consulting companies.
Inflated invoices.
Redirected payments.
And quietly moved money into accounts he controlled.
Ethan knew some of the expenses were questionable.
But he looked away.
Because Curtis promised the project would recover.
And because Ethan was too distracted by Celeste to ask difficult questions.
Now the audit threatened everything.
Curtis arrived at Warren's office furious.
“You're letting Maren destroy this family.”
Warren looked up.
“Maren didn't create the discrepancies.”
Curtis folded his arms.
“She's using the affair as leverage.”
Warren's expression hardened.
“Then explain the missing money.”
Curtis froze.
“What?”
Warren placed a report on the desk.
“Fourteen million dollars.”
Silence.
Curtis stared.
Warren continued.
“Transferred through companies connected to your associates.”
Curtis swallowed.
“That's not what it looks like.”
Warren leaned forward.
“Then tell me what it is.”
Curtis said nothing.
Warren slowly stood.
For the first time in decades, the brothers looked like strangers.
“You stole from the company.”
Curtis's face twisted.
“I built this company too!”
May you like
Warren stared.
“And you nearly destroyed it.”
