He stood up and collected his briefcase.
Before leaving, he turned toward his grandfather.
Marcus: "I hope you are happy."
Arthur looked at him.
Arthur: "I am not happy, Marcus. Nothing about this situation makes me happy."
Marcus: "You have everything. You have the company, the money, the house, and everyone's respect. What more do you want?"
Arthur's expression became firm.
Arthur: "I wanted you to become a man who understood that none of those things mattered without integrity."
Marcus looked away.
Arthur: "I wanted you to understand that being respected is more important than being powerful."
Marcus walked toward the door.
Arthur spoke once more.
Arthur: "And Marcus?"
He stopped.
Arthur: "You still have an opportunity to tell the truth. Do not waste it."
Marcus left without responding.
The following days were difficult for everyone involved.
The financial review expanded beyond the original transactions.
Helen requested additional records from the accounting department and contacted the external companies connected to the disputed arrangements.
Richard coordinated with the company's legal advisers to ensure that the investigation followed the appropriate procedures.
Arthur instructed Daniel to maintain normal business operations wherever possible.
He did not want innocent employees to suffer because of a dispute involving senior members of the family.
However, the most important development came three days later.
Helen received a response from one of the external companies.
It included a collection of emails, payment instructions, and supporting documents.
Several messages had been exchanged between Marcus and Victor before the first disputed payment was made.
Helen examined them carefully.
One email was particularly important.
In it, Marcus had written that the final approval from Arthur was only a formality and that the money could be released immediately.
Another message suggested that Victor should proceed with the arrangement before the family completed its internal review.
Helen forwarded the documents to Richard.
Richard immediately contacted Arthur.
Richard: "I think you should review these emails."
Arthur: "What have you found?"
Richard: "They appear to contradict some of Marcus's explanations."
Arthur read the documents.
His expression became increasingly serious.
The messages suggested that Marcus had understood the authorization was incomplete when he instructed the other party to proceed.
Arthur placed the papers on his desk.
Arthur: "Have we confirmed that these messages are authentic?"
Richard: "Helen is checking the original electronic records and correspondence history."
Arthur: "Good. I want the verification completed before we draw conclusions."
Richard nodded.
But there was another detail that concerned Arthur.
One of the emails referred to a payment that had not appeared in the initial financial summary.
It was described as a consulting fee.
The amount was substantial.
Arthur looked at the document again.
Arthur: "Who received this payment?"
Richard: "We are still tracing the final recipient."
Arthur: "Then find out."
Richard left the office.
Arthur remained seated, thinking about his grandson.
He remembered Marcus as a little boy who used to sit beside him in the garden and ask how wealthy people became successful.
Arthur had explained that money was only one part of success.
He had told him that the most important thing was to become someone others could trust.
Marcus had listened with wide eyes.
Now Arthur wondered which part of those lessons had been forgotten.
Meanwhile, Marcus was becoming increasingly isolated.
Several business associates had stopped responding to his messages.
Victor had become distant.
Even some relatives who had previously supported him were reluctant to get involved.
He felt that the entire family had turned against him.
But the most difficult part was that nobody was openly attacking him.
They were simply waiting for the investigation to establish the truth.
Marcus found that silence unbearable.
He eventually decided to visit Victor in person.
They arranged to meet at a private restaurant away from the city center.
Victor arrived shortly after Marcus.
He looked uncomfortable.
Marcus: "We need to talk."
Victor: "I agree."
Marcus: "You have been avoiding my calls."
Victor: "Because this situation is becoming serious."
Marcus: "You were perfectly happy when you thought the investment was going to happen."
Victor: "That is not fair."
Marcus: "I introduced you to the family. I made the arrangements. I trusted you."
Victor leaned forward.
Victor: "You told me the authorization was complete."
Marcus: "I told you the family supported the project."
Victor: "You said your grandfather had approved it."
Marcus did not answer.
Victor: "Do you understand the difference?"
Marcus looked away.
Victor continued.
Victor: "I have my own business to protect. I cannot pretend that documents exist when they do not."
Marcus: "You benefited from the arrangement."
Victor: "Then show me the final agreement."
Marcus became frustrated.
Marcus: "You know how these things work. Sometimes decisions are made before every document is completed."
Victor: "Not when millions of dollars are involved."
Marcus stared at him.
Victor lowered his voice.
Victor: "There is something you need to know. My company has already received an inquiry from the Bennett family's legal representatives."
Marcus felt his stomach tighten.
Marcus: "What did you tell them?"
Victor: "I provided the correspondence they requested."
Marcus: "You gave them our messages?"