Chapter 5 - THE SECRET PRESTON WAS HIDING
Preston Wade had a problem.
A serious one.
His software company, WadeSphere Technologies, was running out of money.
The investors didn't know.
The employees didn't know.
Camille didn't know.
But Preston did.
He had spent eighteen months inflating revenue projections, delaying vendor payments, and convincing potential investors that a major acquisition was imminent.
There was no acquisition.
There was only debt.
And a desperate hope that Elias North would invest before the truth emerged.
Preston had spent months trying to arrange a meeting.
Elias refused.
Then Preston discovered Laurel would be managing the Brightstep gala.
And Elias would attend.
Preston assumed humiliating Laurel would make her look small.
He believed Elias would see him as the successful man who had moved beyond an ordinary woman.
Instead, Elias had watched Laurel handle a crisis with remarkable competence.
And Preston had made himself look cruel.
Now he sat in his office staring at a message from his chief financial officer.
WE NEED $12 MILLION BEFORE FRIDAY OR PAYROLL WILL FAIL.
Preston closed his eyes.
His phone rang.
Camille.
He ignored it.
Then another message arrived.
This one from an unfamiliar number.
YOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT LAUREL ALONE.
Preston stared.
A second message appeared.
WE KNOW ABOUT THE NUMBERS.
His stomach dropped.
He typed:
WHO IS THIS?
The reply came immediately.
SOMEONE WHO KNOWS WHAT YOU STOLE.
Preston stood.
His office suddenly felt too small.
Because there was one secret nobody knew.
Not Camille.
Not his investors.
Not even Laurel.
Three years earlier, Preston had used a financial model Laurel created for a charity fundraising platform.
He'd presented it to investors as proprietary WadeSphere technology.
The platform became the foundation of his company's first major funding round.
Laurel had never received credit.
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Or compensation.
And now someone knew.
