Chapter 6 - The First Crack
At 8:05 a.m., Ethan arrived at his office.
He expected employees to greet him.
They did not.
His assistant stood near the reception desk.
"Mr. Carter."
"What?"
"Mr. Bell wants you upstairs."
"Now?"
"Immediately."
Ethan entered the elevator.
His reflection stared back at him.
Perfect suit.
Perfect tie.
Perfect image.
But his hands were shaking.
The executive floor was silent.
When he entered the conference room, six people were already seated.
His managing partner looked at him.
"Close the door."
Ethan did.
His partner pushed a folder across the table.
"You recognize this?"
Ethan opened it.
A transaction.
Three years old.
His transaction.
He felt cold.
"This was approved."
"By whom?"
"My team."
"That isn't what I asked."
Ethan looked up.
His partner's face was expressionless.
"Who approved it?"
Ethan swallowed.
"I don't remember."
"That's unfortunate."
A second folder appeared.
Then a third.
"Because someone remembers."
Ethan stared at the documents.
"What does Brooks Holdings have to do with this?"
Nobody answered.
His partner leaned forward.
"That's what we're trying to determine."
Ethan suddenly understood.
Daniel had not attacked him.
He had not called the press.
He had not threatened him publicly.
May you like
He had simply opened a door.
And behind that door were things Ethan had spent years assuming nobody would ever examine.
