She Laughed When the Intern Fell Into the Pool—Then the $4.7 Billion Deal Stopped

Maya photographed the page and sent it to her attorney, Evelyn Park.

Evelyn called within a minute.

“Where did you get this?”

“In an archive cabinet.”

“Do not remove it.”

“I haven’t.”

“Good. Maya, this note could mean a dozen things. We need the original agreement and the payment records.”

Maya looked at the signature. She had seen her grandfather sign birthday cards, grocery lists, and the title to his old truck. His capital R always looped back through itself. The R on this document did not.

“What if his signature isn’t real?”

Evelyn went quiet. “Then we need to prove that carefully.”

The next morning, Maya arrived to find someone had moved the Reed folder. She searched the cabinet twice. It was gone.

At lunch, an analyst named Eli Moreno sat across from her without asking.

“You’ve been looking at the Reed deal,” he said.

Maya kept her face still. “Should I know what that is?”

“I saw the folder on your desk yesterday.”

“And?”

“And I saw Martin Vale take it this morning.”

Martin was Whitmore’s chief financial officer. He was also the person leading the financial presentation for a pending $4.7 billion merger with Northline Medical.

Eli lowered his voice. “If you’re digging into old deals, be careful.”

“Why?”

“Because Martin’s assistant told me to delete a payment report last month. Not archive it. Delete it.”

“Did you?”

“I kept a copy.”

Maya stared at him. “Why tell me?”

Eli gave a humorless smile. “Because I asked what the report was for. Two days later, I lost access to every system I need to do my job.”

Before Maya could answer, Claire appeared beside the table.

“Eli,” she said. “I didn’t realize you had time for lunch.”

He stood. “I’m heading back.”

Claire watched him leave, then turned to Maya.

“My father’s hosting investors on the roof Friday,” she said. “You’ll be there to help the event staff.”