Chapter 5 - THE MAN WHO CONTROLLED THE MONEY
Daniel Mercer had spent fourteen years making himself indispensable.
He knew Adrien's schedule.
His accounts.
His attorneys.
His weaknesses.
And the names of people who owed the Voss family favors.
He also knew something Adrien didn't.
Bellwether Development Trust had been losing money for years.
Not because its housing projects were failing.
Because Daniel had been moving funds through inflated contracts and fabricated expenses.
The scheme had begun small.
A questionable consulting fee.
An inflated maintenance invoice.
A payment to a contractor who performed little or no work.
Over time, the amounts grew.
Daniel used legitimate transactions to conceal suspicious ones.
He relied on complicated accounting records and the assumption that Adrien wouldn't examine every detail.
Samuel Bennett had noticed.
And now Isabella had found enough to bring the matter back into the light.
Adrien called an emergency meeting with his legal and compliance teams.
He suspended Daniel's access to company systems pending investigation.
He authorized an independent forensic review.
And he instructed his attorneys to cooperate with law enforcement.
Marco stood beside him after the meeting.
"Daniel knows too much."
Adrien nodded.
"I know."
"He could hurt us."
"Then we make sure everything is documented."
Marco hesitated.
"That's not how your father would've handled it."
Adrien looked at him.
"My father is dead."
Silence.
Then Adrien continued.
"And I'm tired of inheriting his mistakes."
That evening, Isabella sat in a secure apartment arranged through her attorney.
She was reading her father's old notes when Adrien called.
"How are you?"
She smiled faintly.
"Still breathing."
"Good."
A pause.
"Have you eaten?"
She laughed softly.
"You're starting to sound like me."
Adrien smiled.
"Occupational hazard."
They spoke for nearly an hour.
Not about Daniel.
Not about Bellwether.
About ordinary things.
Books.
Coffee.
The weather.
Noah's classes.
At the end, Adrien hesitated.
"Isabella."
"Yes?"
"I miss you."
She closed her eyes.
The words were simple.
But they hurt.
Because she missed him too.
She whispered:
"I know."
May you like
Then, after a long pause:
"I miss you too."
