Chapter 9: The People Who Thought They Could Hide the Truth
Richard didn't speak immediately.
He listened to the silence on the other end of the phone.
Then Michael finally answered.
“Richard, this isn't something we should discuss over the phone.””
Richard's grip tightened.
“Then come to the hotel.””
“I can't.””
“Why?””
Michael hesitated.
“I'm out of town.””
Richard looked at Martin.
Martin silently checked the calendar.
Michael had no scheduled business travel.
Richard turned away from the reception desk.
“Michael, I'm going to ask you one more time. Where did the scholarship money go?””
His brother exhaled.
“The foundation had expenses.””
“What expenses?””
“Administrative costs. Legal fees. Event management. You know how expensive these things can become.””
Richard glanced at the figures.
“Three hundred and eighty thousand dollars?””
Silence.
Then Michael said quietly:
“It's not what you think.””
Richard closed his eyes.
“That's what everyone seems to be saying today.””
He ended the call.
Thomas stood beside him.
“Richard, do you think Victoria and Michael were working together?””
Richard looked at the document.
“I don't know. But I'm going to find out.””
Victoria suddenly stood.
“This is getting out of hand.””
Richard turned.
“You haven't answered my question.””
“I already told you. The foundation had expenses.””
“You told me to ask Michael. I did. Now he's refusing to speak.””
Victoria grabbed her handbag.
“I'm leaving.””
Thomas stepped in front of her.
“Not until you explain what happened to that money.””
She looked at him with disbelief.
“You're taking his side?””
“I'm taking the side of the truth.””
Victoria's eyes narrowed.
“You have no idea what you're doing.””
Thomas shook his head.
“No, Victoria. I think I'm finally beginning to understand what you've been doing.””
She lowered her voice.
“You'll regret humiliating me.””
Thomas looked at her.
“You humiliated yourself.””
Richard turned toward Martin.
“Please bring up the foundation's financial reports from the last three years.””
Martin accessed the system.
A moment later, the reports appeared on the monitor.
Richard examined the transactions.
There were repeated transfers from the scholarship fund into an account labeled administrative reserve.
The amounts were irregular.
Some were small.
Others were substantial.
He pointed at one entry.
“What's this?””
Martin zoomed in.
“An outgoing transfer of forty-eight thousand dollars.””
“To whom?””
Martin opened the details.
The recipient name appeared.
*Hayes Strategic Consulting.*
Thomas stared.
“That's my company.””
Victoria went completely still.
Richard turned toward her.
“Did your company receive foundation money?””
Victoria shook her head.
“I don't handle the company's accounts.””
Thomas looked at her.
“That's not true. You managed the consulting division for two years.””
Victoria's voice became defensive.
“Those were legitimate consulting fees.””
Richard looked at the transaction dates.
“Three payments. Same amount. Forty-eight thousand dollars each.””
Thomas took the tablet.
He checked the dates.
Then he looked at Victoria.
“These payments were never approved by our board.””
Victoria's eyes widened.
“Thomas—”
“You told me these were payments from a private client.””
She didn't answer.
Thomas scrolled through the records.
“Why did you tell me that?””
Victoria's voice dropped.
“Because you wouldn't have understood.””
Thomas stared at her.
“Try me.””
She looked toward Richard.
Then toward the security guards.
Finally, she whispered:
“Michael arranged the transfers.””
Richard's expression hardened.
“What?””
“Michael told me the foundation needed a consulting company to manage the annual fundraising events. He said the money would be paid back after the next donation cycle.””
Thomas looked sick.
“Did you receive the money?””
Victoria nodded.
“But I didn't keep it all.””
Richard stepped closer.
“Where did it go?””
Victoria's eyes filled.
“Some of it went toward event expenses. Some went toward the scholarship gala. And some was used to cover debts.””
“Whose debts?””
Victoria looked at Thomas.
He slowly shook his head.
“Victoria. Tell me.””
She finally said it.
“Mine.””
Thomas closed his eyes.
Richard remained silent.
Victoria continued.
“I had personal debts. Investments that failed. I thought I could replace the money before anyone noticed.””
Thomas stared at her.
“You stole from a scholarship fund?””
“I was going to put it back!””
“How long ago?””
“Two years.””
Thomas stepped away.
For a moment, he seemed unable to breathe.
Richard looked at the financial records again.
“Where is the remaining money?””
Victoria shook her head.
“I don't know.””
“You don't know?””
“Michael handled the transfers. He told me the accounts were balanced.””
Richard picked up his phone.
He called his lawyer again.
This time, he requested an immediate forensic audit of the foundation's finances.
Then he called the foundation's independent board chair.
Within minutes, the wheels of a formal investigation were moving.
Victoria sat down heavily.
The woman who had entered the hotel believing she could command everyone now looked small beneath the enormous chandelier.
Thomas removed his wedding ring again.
This time, he placed it on the counter.
“I'm not going home with you tonight.””
Victoria stared at him.
“Thomas, please.””
He shook his head.
“Don't.””
She began crying.
“I made mistakes. I know that. But you can't throw away our marriage over this.””
Thomas looked at the ring.
“You didn't make one mistake. You made decisions. Repeatedly. You took money meant for children, manipulated employees, and attacked a mother holding her baby.””
Victoria covered her face.
Richard turned toward Martin.
“Prepare the incident report. I want the security footage preserved for the police. And notify the foundation board that Victoria Hayes is no longer authorized to represent the organization pending investigation.””
Martin nodded.
Daniel remained behind the counter, pale and silent.
Richard looked at him.
“Your employment status will be reviewed separately. You will cooperate fully with the investigation.””
Daniel nodded.
“Yes, sir.””
Richard then looked toward Rosa.
“Rosa, please come here.””
The housekeeper approached.
“Yes, Mr. Carter?””
“You did the right thing by speaking up.””
She lowered her eyes.
“I only told the truth.””
“And that's exactly what I needed.””
Richard instructed Martin to document her statement and make sure she faced no retaliation.
Then he turned toward the elevators.
He wanted to see Emily.
He wanted to tell his daughter that the woman who had slapped her had been exposed.
But before he could move, his phone rang again.
Michael.
Richard answered immediately.
“What?””
His brother's voice sounded strained.
“Richard, listen to me. Victoria doesn't know the whole story.””
Richard stared at the lobby monitor.
“What story?””
Michael lowered his voice.
“The money wasn't transferred just to cover Victoria's debts.””
Richard's stomach tightened.
“Then where did it go?””
Michael hesitated.
Then he said:
“Margaret left another account. A private account. And the person listed as its beneficiary isn't Emily.””
Richard went completely still.
“Who is it?””
Michael's answer made him grip the phone so tightly his knuckles turned white.
“Victoria Hayes.””
Richard looked across the lobby.
Victoria was already staring at him.
She had heard enough to know something had changed.
And for the first time, she wasn't crying.
She was watching him carefully.
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Because the secret behind Margaret's account was bigger than the stolen scholarship money.
And Richard was about to discover why his late wife had trusted Victoria with something she had never told her own family.
