The security footage had been erased.
The access logs showed that the person who entered had used a senior executive security credential.
Richard's credential.
Eleanor confronted him that evening.
He was standing in the kitchen, pouring himself a glass of wine.
“Did you take the Northbridge files?” she asked.
Richard did not turn.
“What files?”
“The original payment records.”
He took a sip.
“You should be careful about making accusations.”
“Someone used your access credentials.”
“Then perhaps you should improve security.”
“Richard, forty million dollars has disappeared.”
“Forty million dollars has been invested.”
“Where?”
“In opportunities you don't understand.”
“Then explain them.”
He set the glass down.
“You don't trust me.”
“I trusted you enough to give you access to the company I built.”
“And I made it profitable.”
“You made it vulnerable.”
His expression changed.
“You have become impossible to live with.”
Eleanor stared at him.
“Is that what this is about? My questions?”
“This is about your inability to let anyone else lead.”
“I am not asking to lead everything. I am asking where the money went.”
Richard stepped closer.
“You have no idea what it takes to keep this company alive. You sit in your office and examine documents while I negotiate with governments, investors, and people who would destroy us if they sensed weakness.”
“Then why are you hiding payments?”
“Because some things cannot be explained to people who need every detail written down.”
Eleanor felt something inside her go cold.
“Did you forge my signature?”
For the first time, Richard's face revealed genuine anger.
“You should stop.”
“Did you?”
He leaned toward her.
“If you continue, you will destroy this family.”
Eleanor did not look away.
“No. Whoever did this has already put our family in danger.”
Richard left the kitchen.
He did not come back that night.
The following morning, Eleanor received a call from Martin.
He had found another account.
And this time, the money had not gone to Northbridge Advisory.
It had gone to an account connected to Richard's brother.
Martin's voice was strained.
“Eleanor, I think this is bigger than we thought.”
“How much?”
“Almost seventy million.”
She closed her eyes.
“Can you prove Richard authorized it?”
“I can prove someone used his office to arrange it. But there is a problem.”
“What problem?”
“The documents include a letter claiming you approved the transfers.”
Eleanor's stomach tightened.
“That is impossible.”
“I know.”
“Who signed it?”
Martin paused.
“Your signature.”
The room seemed to tilt.
Another forgery.
Another attempt to make her responsible.
And this time, someone had built a paper trail designed to implicate her.
Eleanor understood that she was no longer investigating a financial irregularity.
She was standing in the middle of a carefully constructed trap.
The trap closed faster than Eleanor expected.
Two days after Martin discovered the forged authorization, the board received an anonymous package containing copies of the transfers, a set of altered contracts, and a letter accusing Eleanor of diverting company funds for personal investments.
The letter was convincing.
It contained details that only a senior executive could have known. It referenced internal meetings, acquisition negotiations, and confidential discussions about a proposed aviation partnership in Europe. It even included a private email Eleanor had sent to Martin months earlier.
The board called an emergency meeting.
Eleanor attended with Martin and an independent attorney. Richard arrived fifteen minutes late, carrying no documents and wearing the expression of a man who had already decided how the meeting would end.
The chairman, Arthur Bell, opened the session.
“Eleanor, we have serious concerns about financial irregularities within the company.”
“I am aware of them,” she replied. “I have been investigating them.”
Richard folded his hands.
“Perhaps you should explain why the documents appear to show your authorization.”
“Because someone forged my signature.”
“That's a serious accusation.”
“It is a serious crime.”
Arthur glanced at the papers.
“Do you have proof?”
“Martin has the original records.”
Martin opened his briefcase.
But before he could remove the documents, the board's secretary interrupted.
“Mr. Hale, the committee has already received a report stating that you removed confidential financial records without authorization.”
Martin froze.
Eleanor turned toward him.
“What?”
Richard's expression remained composed.
“Martin, perhaps you should explain why you have been accessing accounts outside your legal authority.”
Martin looked at Richard.
“You know exactly why.”
“I know you have been interfering with financial operations.”
“Because someone has been stealing from this company.”