Chapter 6: The Enemy Inside the Company
At 7:18 a.m., Daniel was standing beside the hotel window, staring at the city below.
The wedding was scheduled to begin at 11:00.
We had less than four hours.
And now someone inside his company was apparently helping Vanessa fabricate financial evidence against him.
"Who?"" I asked.
Chloe was still on the phone.
"I don't know his full name," she said.
"Vanessa called him Mark.""
Daniel turned around.
"Mark?""
He looked at me.
"There's a Mark in my department.""
"What's his surname?""
"Ellison.""
I repeated the name to Chloe.
She went quiet.
"Yes. That's him.""
Daniel ran a hand through his hair.
"Mark is my operations director.""
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Mark Ellison had worked with Daniel for nearly four years. He'd attended our engagement party, congratulated us, and given a speech about how Daniel was the most dependable man he'd ever worked with.
He'd even offered to organize the company table at our wedding.
"Does Vanessa know him?"" I asked.
Daniel nodded slowly.
"They met at the engagement party. I introduced them.""
"Have they been in contact?""
"I don't know.""
I looked at Chloe.
"Can you send the screenshots?""
"Yes. I'm doing it now.""
The phone buzzed.
Three images arrived.
The first showed a group conversation titled Tomorrow Changes Everything.
Participants:
Vanessa.
Chloe.
Rebecca.
And a number saved as Mark E.
The messages were dated over several weeks.
I opened the first screenshot.
Vanessa had written:
Once the rings disappear, everyone will be distracted. Daniel will be furious, and Emma will look unstable.
Rebecca replied:
And the envelope?
Vanessa:
That comes later. The money screenshots need to look real.
Then Mark:
I can make the figures match the old quarterly reports. Nobody will question them at first.
I read the message twice.
Daniel stepped closer.
"Show me.""
I handed him the phone.
His expression changed as he read.
"That's Mark's number.""
"Are you sure?""
"Absolutely.""
The next screenshot showed another conversation.
Vanessa:
I need something that makes Daniel look guilty.
Mark:
Give me until Friday.
Vanessa:
The wedding is Saturday.
Mark:
Then Friday night. I'll have something ready.
Daniel sat down.
"He has access to our internal financial reports.""
"Could he actually create something convincing?"" Sophie asked.
Daniel nodded.
"He could copy old reports and manipulate figures. But he couldn't transfer money without leaving an audit trail.""
"Would people understand that?"" I asked.
"Not immediately.""
He looked at me.
"That's the point. She doesn't need to prove anything. She just needs to make people believe it long enough to destroy my reputation.""
I thought about the wedding reception.
My parents.
Daniel's parents.
Our friends.
His colleagues.
Everyone gathered in one room, watching a slideshow, listening to speeches, celebrating a marriage Vanessa intended to turn into a public scandal.
I looked at Detective Miller.
"Can we stop her?""
"With the evidence you've provided, we can investigate the suspected forgery and theft. But we also need to consider the timing. If she intends to distribute false documents at the venue, inform the organizers and preserve any material she provides.""
I nodded.
Daniel picked up his phone.
"I'm calling my company's compliance director.""
"Now?"" Sophie asked.
"Now.""
He walked into the adjoining room.
I could hear him explaining the situation.
He didn't shout.
He didn't swear.
But when he said Mark's name, his voice became very quiet.
A few minutes later, he returned.
"Mark has been suspended pending an internal review. The compliance team is preserving his account activity and email records.""
"Can they prove whether he created those screenshots?""
"They're checking.""
My phone buzzed again.
A message from Chloe.
Please don't tell Vanessa I sent those.
I replied:
I won't. Thank you for telling me the truth.
Then another message arrived.
Emma, I need to apologize.
I stared at it.
I laughed last night. I knew she was planning something, and I didn't stop her.
I didn't know what to say.
Chloe had helped Vanessa.
But she was also the person who'd finally given us evidence.
I typed:
We'll talk later. Right now, stay safe and cooperate with the police.
At 8:06, Claire called.
"Emma, I need to discuss the ceremony.""
"What happened?""
"Vanessa has just arrived at the ballroom.""
My shoulders stiffened.
"Why?""
"She's telling the venue staff that you're unwell and that she has authority to make changes.""
I closed my eyes.
"Of course she is.""
"She wants to move the reception speeches forward and arrange a private presentation before dinner.""
"What presentation?""
"She says it's a surprise for you and Daniel.""
I looked at Daniel.
He shook his head.
"Tell her nothing is authorized without my approval," I said.
Claire hesitated.
"Emma, she's getting quite aggressive.""
"What is she doing?""
"She's telling the staff that she's your closest friend and that you're too emotional to make decisions this morning.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"Put her on the phone.""
Claire transferred the call.
A moment later, Vanessa's voice filled the room.
"Emma! Finally!""
Her tone was bright.
Almost affectionate.
"Vanessa.""
"Darling, where have you disappeared to? I've been running around trying to get everything ready.""
"I'm sure you have.""
She laughed.
"Listen, there's been a tiny misunderstanding with the room arrangements. Your original suite is available again, so I thought I'd move the dress back.""
"No.""
A pause.
"Sorry?""
"The dress stays where it is.""
"Emma, you're being difficult.""
I looked at Daniel.
He mouthed, Don't react.
Vanessa continued.
"Also, I need Daniel's suit measurements. The tailor is asking for them.""
"Why do you need his measurements?""
"Because I have a little surprise.""
I almost laughed.
"Another one?""
"Yes! You'll love it.""
I heard a faint voice in the background.
A man.
Then Vanessa said, "Not now, Mark.""
Daniel's head snapped toward me.
I pressed the phone closer.
"Was that Mark?""
Silence.
Then Vanessa laughed.
"Who?""
"Mark Ellison.""
"Emma, I have no idea what you're talking about.""
I heard movement.
A door closing.
Then her voice changed.
"Listen to me. You need to stop making everything complicated. Today is supposed to be about you and Daniel. Don't ruin it by listening to people who want to upset you.""
I kept my voice steady.
"You're right, Vanessa.""
She seemed surprised.
"Well, good.""
"I want today to be perfect.""
"Exactly.""
"So let's agree on something.""
"What?""
"Don't touch my dress. Don't touch my rings. Don't speak for me. And don't make any decisions about my wedding.""
There was a long silence.
Then Vanessa laughed.
"Emma, you're exhausted. Get some sleep. I'll handle everything.""
The call ended.
Daniel stared at me.
"She knows.""
"Maybe.""
"She heard Mark's name and immediately denied knowing him.""
I nodded.
Then Claire sent another message.
Emma, Vanessa has brought a laptop into the ballroom. She's asking the technician to connect it to the main projector.
I felt the blood drain from my face.
"She's preparing the presentation.""
Daniel took his jacket from the chair.
"I'm going down there.""
"Wait.""
I opened the group chat screenshots again.
There was one image I hadn't examined carefully.
At the bottom, beneath Vanessa's messages, Mark had written something.
Make sure Daniel is there when she opens it. He needs to see what happens when he chooses the wrong woman.
I zoomed in.
Then I noticed the message immediately above it.
Vanessa had sent a photograph of a document.
The heading was partially visible.
*TRANSFER AUTHORIZATION — EMMA CARTER.*
I looked at Daniel.
"That's my name.""
He took the phone.
His face went pale.
"Emma, that's not just a fake financial report.""
"What is it?""
He enlarged the image.
At the bottom of the document was a signature.
My signature.
And beneath it, a bank account number I recognized.
It belonged to my personal savings account.
I stared at the screen.
Vanessa hadn't simply planned to accuse Daniel of stealing my money.
She'd apparently created a document suggesting I had authorized the transfers myself.
Daniel looked at me.
"Emma, did you ever sign anything for a transfer from your account to mine?""
"No.""
He studied the document again.
Then he whispered:
"She's not trying to prove I stole from you.""
He turned the phone toward me.
"She's trying to make it look like you helped me.""
And at that exact moment, my bank sent me a notification.
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<badge color="danger">URGENT ACCOUNT ALERT</badge>
*A transfer request of $85,000 has been submitted for verification.*
