Chapter 11 - THE TRAITOR AT THE TABLE
Dominic called an emergency meeting that night.
Not at the mansion.
At Mercer Maritime headquarters.
Only six people were invited.
His CFO, Daniel Price.
His attorney, Susan Kellerman.
Marcus.
Emma.
Natalie.
And Dominic.
Daniel arrived irritated.
“This couldn’t wait until morning?”
Dominic sat at the head of the conference table.
“No.”
Daniel looked at Emma.
“Why is domestic staff in a corporate meeting?”
Emma smiled politely.
“Good to see you too.”
Dominic slid a copy of the forged amendment across the table.
Daniel’s face stayed neutral.
“Recognize it?”
“No.”
Susan examined it.
“This signature is yours.”
Dominic nodded.
“I was told it was part of the premarital property package.”
Daniel looked at Susan.
“Did your office prepare it?”
“No.”
“Then how was it executed?”
Dominic watched him.
“Good question.”
Marcus placed banking records on the table.
“Eastern Heritage Holdings received internal projections from Mercer Capital.”
Daniel’s face tightened.
“Lots of people have projections.”
“Not these.”
Marcus tapped the page.
“These were draft numbers.”
Susan looked up.
“Only executive finance had access.”
Daniel leaned back.
“You accusing me?”
Dominic said nothing.
Daniel laughed.
“This is insane.”
Emma spoke.
“Brooke met you here three times last month.”
Everyone looked at her.
Daniel’s face changed.
“How would you know?”
“She had me bring lunch.”
“You’re mistaken.”
“No.”
Emma’s voice stayed calm.
“You ordered turkey on rye. No mustard.”
Daniel stared.
Dominic leaned forward.
“My mother once told me servants hear everything because rich people forget they’re human.”
Daniel looked at him.
“Dominic—”
“Did you help Brooke forge that document?”
“No.”
“Did you give Martin access to company information?”
“No.”
“Did you create accounts in Natalie’s name?”
Daniel stood.
“I’m leaving.”
Marcus blocked the door.
“Sit.”
“You can’t hold me here.”
Dominic looked toward Susan.
She nodded.
“We have enough for authorities to question him.”
Daniel slowly sat.
Then his phone vibrated.
He looked down.
Marcus noticed.
“Give me the phone.”
“No.”
“Daniel.”
He grabbed it.
Daniel lunged.
Marcus twisted his arm and took the phone.
A message was open.
MARTIN: IF I GO DOWN, YOU GO WITH ME.
Silence.
Daniel stopped fighting.
Dominic stared at the man who had handled his money for eleven years.
“Why?”
Daniel looked tired now.
“Because you never noticed.”
“Noticed what?”
“That I built half your legitimate companies while you got all the credit.”
Dominic’s eyes narrowed.
“You were paid millions.”
“I made you hundreds of millions.”
“So you decided to steal?”
“I decided to take a piece.”
Natalie whispered, “You were going to frame me.”
Daniel looked at her.
“You were collateral.”
Dominic stood.
That word nearly broke his restraint.
Collateral.
His sister.
His nephew.
His mother’s legacy.
Collateral.
Then Daniel smiled.
“You think this ends with me?”
Dominic stopped.
Daniel leaned back.
“Brooke and Martin were desperate.”
He looked around the table.
“I wasn’t.”
Dominic’s voice dropped.
“What does that mean?”
“It means the money is already gone.”
Marcus frowned.
“How much?”
May you like
Daniel smiled wider.
“Forty-eight million dollars.”
