"It's a private corporate security and forensic audit firm in Boston," Mateo explained, reaching into his pocket and pulling out his phone to pull up a encrypted document. "I wired that fifty thousand dollars as a retainer to secure a court-admissible audit of David's offshore accounts. I couldn't tell you, Dad... because I knew you would never believe that your own brother was stealing from you without cold, hard proof."
Chapter 4: Reckoning
Elena slowly stepped forward, taking Mateo’s phone and scrolling through the encrypted emails and official retainer agreements signed by the lead investigator at Aegis.
"It's... it's real," Elena whispered, looking up at her father, her voice trembling. "The retainer was logged yesterday. They've already uncovered three phantom vendor accounts managed by Uncle David."
Victor stood frozen in the middle of the warm living room. The anger that had fueled his confrontation vanished, replaced by a deep, crushing sorrow. He looked at Mateo—not with suspicion, but with the painful realization of how heavy a burden his son had been carrying alone.
"Mateo..." Victor said softly, stepping forward and placing both hands on his son's shoulders. "Why didn't you come to me the moment you found out?"
"Because you love him, Dad," Mateo said quietly, looking down at the carpet. "You always trusted family above everything. I was terrified that if I brought you rumors without proof, you would think I was just trying to push David out to take his seat."
Victor pulled his son into a firm, tight embrace. Mateo let out a long shuddering breath, resting his head against his father's shoulder.
"You should have trusted me, son," Victor whispered. "A good father knows his children. I was wrong to doubt you."
Elena walked over, setting the paper down, and placed her hand on Mateo’s arm. "I'm sorry, Mateo. I saw the numbers and I snapped."
"It's okay," Mateo said, offering a weak smile as he pulled back from his father. "Now we just have to figure out what we're going to do about Uncle David."
Victor turned toward the window, looking out into the dark night, his eyes hardening once more into the unbreakable steel that had built the family empire.
"Tomorrow morning at eight," Victor said, his tone icy and resolute, "we call a full board meeting. And David is going to learn what happens when you turn against the family."