Chapter 2: The Man Who Thought He Owned My Company
I didn't ask Tiana another question.
Not in that café.
I had learned something during the three years she was gone: people who betrayed you often became very talkative when they realized you had something they wanted.
And Tiana suddenly had plenty to say.
"Marcus, wait," she called as I stood.
I tucked the acquisition folder beneath my arm.
"I have a meeting.""
"Please. This is important.""
"Then you should talk to Devon.""
Her face tightened.
"You don't understand.""
"You're right. I don't.""
Daniel opened the door.
I walked outside into the cold November air.
Behind me, I heard Tiana call my name again.
I didn't turn around.
My black SUV was waiting at the curb.
Daniel opened the rear passenger door.
Once we were inside, he handed me a tablet.
"We received another alert twenty minutes ago," he explained.
"Someone attempted to download the preliminary acquisition valuation.""
"From where?""
"An employee account assigned to Devon Hayes. The login came from an unfamiliar IP address.""
"Did they get anything?""
"No. Our security system blocked the download.""
I studied the screen.
The attempted access had occurred at 12:17 p.m.
Tiana had received Devon's call at approximately 12:19.
Two minutes apart.
"Daniel, I want the complete access history. Every file Devon has opened in the last ninety days.""
"Already requested.""
"And don't alert him.""
Daniel nodded.
"Understood.""
I looked through the window as the café disappeared behind us.
Three years ago, I had lost almost everything because I trusted the wrong person.
I wasn't going to repeat that mistake.
Reed Global occupied forty-two floors of a glass tower overlooking the Chicago River.
When I entered the executive lobby, employees greeted me with familiar nods.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Reed.""
"Welcome back, sir.""
I returned their greetings and headed toward the private elevator.
The company hadn't started this way.
Our first office had been a rented room above a printing shop. The carpet smelled like old cigarettes, the air conditioner rattled constantly, and our conference table was a secondhand dining table I had purchased for eighty dollars.
I remembered working until three in the morning with my original development team.
I remembered eating instant noodles because we couldn't afford lunch.
I remembered calling Tiana one night after securing our first major contract.
She had answered from Devon's apartment.
She hadn't even bothered to lie.
Now Reed Global employed more than four thousand people across several countries.
And Devon Hayes was still on the payroll.
That was the part I regretted.
My executive assistant, Olivia Chen, met me outside the boardroom.
"Marcus, the directors are waiting.""
"Anything else?""
She lowered her voice.
"Legal received an unusual inquiry this morning.""
"From whom?""
"A company called Hayes Strategic Advisory.""
I stopped walking.
"Hayes?""
"Yes. They requested access to our preliminary acquisition documents, claiming they represented a private investment group.""
"Who signed the request?""
Olivia handed me a printed copy.
At the bottom was Devon's signature.
I stared at it.
"Does he have authorization to represent us?""
"No.""
"Then why was the request forwarded to legal?""
"Because the letter included a copy of an internal authorization certificate.""
My jaw tightened.
"Where did he get that?""
"We're investigating.""
I entered the boardroom.
Seven directors sat around the long table. At the far end, our general counsel, Rebecca Shaw, had already opened her laptop.
"Marcus," she said, "we need to discuss Devon.""
I took my seat.
"Apparently, he's become very busy.""
Rebecca didn't smile.
"We found three suspicious transactions involving a subsidiary account. The amounts are relatively small, but the pattern is concerning.""
"How small?""
"Approximately sixty thousand dollars combined.""
I leaned back.
"Why wasn't this reported earlier?""
"Because the transactions were categorized as consulting expenses. They were approved through a department-level authorization.""
"Whose department?""
Rebecca glanced at the screen.
"Devon's.""
The room went quiet.
I folded my hands.
"Freeze the account. Preserve every record. Nobody contacts him until we understand what we're dealing with.""
Rebecca nodded.
"There's something else.""
She turned her laptop toward me.
An email appeared on the screen.
It had been sent from Devon's company account to an external address.
The subject line read:
*RE: THE ORIGINAL REED FILES.*
I opened it.
The message contained only two sentences.
The old arrangement still stands. Once the acquisition closes, the ownership dispute becomes irrelevant.
Make sure she keeps quiet until then.
I read it twice.
"Who is she?"" I asked.
Rebecca shook her head.
"We haven't identified the recipient.""
I thought about Tiana's expression in the café.
The spilled coffee.
The sudden panic.
"Find out.""
At 4:30 p.m., I returned to my office.
A familiar number appeared on my phone.
Tiana.
I let it ring twice before answering.
"Marcus.""
Her voice sounded different now.
No laughter.
No sarcasm.
Just urgency.
"What did Devon tell you?"" she asked.
"Hello to you too.""
"Please don't play games.""
"I'm not.""
She exhaled sharply.
"Listen. I need to explain something.""
"Then explain.""
There was a pause.
"Devon and I are engaged.""
I stared through the glass wall at the city.
"Congratulations.""
"Don't do that.""
"Do what?""
"Act like you don't care.""
I almost laughed.
Three years earlier, she had left because she thought I didn't have enough money.
Now she was calling because she thought I had too much power.
"Tiana, what do you want?""
"I want to meet.""
"Why?""
"Because Devon has been lying to me.""
I said nothing.
"He told me he was one of the original founders of Reed Global. He said you pushed him out and stole his share.""
I closed my eyes briefly.
There it was.
The story Devon had apparently been telling her.
"He told you that?""
"Yes.""
"And you believed him?""
"He showed me documents, Marcus.""
"What documents?""
"Contracts. Financial statements. Something with your signature.""
I stood.
"Do you still have them?""
Another pause.
"Yes.""
"Where?""
"At home.""
"Bring them to my office.""
She hesitated.
"Marcus, there's something else.""
"What?""
Her voice dropped.
"Devon told me that if you ever found out what happened three years ago, you'd destroy both of us.""
I felt a cold pressure settle in my chest.
"What happened three years ago, Tiana?""
She didn't answer.
Instead, I heard a door slam somewhere behind her.
Then her voice became a whisper.
"Marcus, I think he's been listening to our calls.""
The line went dead.
I immediately called Daniel.
"Find Tiana's current location.""
"Sir?""
"Now.""
A few seconds passed.
Then Daniel spoke.
"Marcus, there's a problem.""
"What?""
"Someone just entered the parking garage at her apartment building.""
"Who?""
Daniel hesitated.
"Devon Hayes.""
At 6:12 p.m., Rebecca received a package at the executive reception desk.
There was no return address.
Inside was a USB drive and a handwritten note.
The note contained seven words.
*Ask your ex-wife what she signed.*
I read it twice.
Then I looked at Rebecca.
"Call her.""
Rebecca picked up her phone.
But before she could dial, mine vibrated.
A message from an unknown number appeared.
It contained a photograph.
Tiana was sitting in what looked like a hotel room, her face pale and her hands clasped together.
May you like
Below the photograph was a message.
*She knows what happened to your first company. And so do I.*
