Chapter 7: The Voice She Never Expected
Grace connected the phone to her laptop.
The recording began with rustling papers and Susan speaking to Laura.
“Use Natalie’s signature from the mortgage scan.
Nathan has already given me access.”
Laura’s recorded voice sounded uncertain.
“Does Natalie know?”
“She knows what her husband tells her.”
“What about Mr.
Bennett’s receipt?”
“Copy his approval from last year.
By the time anyone checks, Nathan’s login will be all over the files.”
Nathan gripped the edge of the table.
Susan continued on the recording.
“Nathan thinks he’s going to Seattle.
He isn’t.
Once the money clears, the board will see he mishandled the account, and I’ll take his place.”
Laura covered her mouth.
Grace stopped the recording.
“Why did you participate?”
“I needed the job,” Laura said.
“My mother’s medical bills were behind, and Susan reminded me every week that she could replace me.”
She looked at me, tears running down her face.
“I should have spoken sooner.
I’m sorry.”
I moved my chair beside hers.
“You came when she told you to destroy the truth.
That matters.”
Nathan looked at me.
“You can forgive her?”
“She brought me evidence.
You brought Susan my private documents.”
He lowered his eyes.
Grace called the board and demanded an emergency meeting.
Two hours later, we sat in the company conference room while Susan entered with an attorney.
She stopped when she saw Laura.
“You stole company property,” Susan said.
Laura set the second phone on the table.
“No.
I saved it.”
Susan turned to me.
“You’re trusting an assistant who copied confidential files?”
“I’m trusting your own voice.”
Grace played the recording.
Susan’s attorney leaned toward her.
“Is that you?”
“It’s manipulated.”
“The server logs are manipulated too?” Grace asked.
“They show you accessed Nathan’s account from your workstation while he was logged into a video meeting from home.”
Susan folded her arms.
“He asked me to.”
“Did he ask you to create Parker Relocation Services?”
“I don’t own that business.”
Grace slid a registration form across the table.
“Your brother owns it.
You filed the paperwork as its authorized agent.”
Susan’s attorney stopped taking notes.
Mr.
Bennett placed another document beside it.
“The Seattle client also confirmed they requested one project manager.
Not two.”
Nathan stared at Susan.
“You were never assigned.”
“I was building the team.”
“You let me destroy my marriage for a trip you knew you weren’t taking.”
Susan leaned forward.
“You did that yourself.”
The words struck him silent.
I faced her.
“Why use me?”
“Because no one checks a wife’s signature when her husband submits the paperwork.”
“You thought I would be too embarrassed to speak.”
“I thought you would protect him.”
“I protected the truth instead.”
Susan pushed back her chair.
“Then enjoy the truth.
Nathan chose me every time he hid something from you.”
My throat tightened, but I kept my eyes on hers.
“He chose cowardice,” I said.
“That does not make you loved.”
Her attorney whispered, “We need to leave.”
Grace stood.
“Your access is disabled.
Your employment is suspended pending termination, and the company is referring the forged documents and diverted funds to the authorities.”
Susan grabbed the registration form.
Grace held the other end.
“Release it,” Grace said.
Susan tore it down the middle.
Nobody moved.
Grace opened her folder and removed three identical copies.
Susan’s hand fell to her side.
“You think this is over?” she said to me.
“When Nathan loses everything, he’ll blame you for refusing my deal.”
Nathan stood.
“No,” he said.
“For once, I’ll blame the person who lied.
That includes me.”
Susan looked around the table.
Her attorney would not meet her eyes.
As she reached the door, she gave me one final smile.
“You still have no idea what your husband promised me.”
Nathan’s face changed.
And I knew she had saved her cruelest truth for last.
