Chapter 4 - The Decision That Put the Company at Risk
Rachel’s attorney, Monica Reed, explained that Diane could suspend Rachel’s operational access temporarily, but she could not erase Rachel’s shareholder inspection rights.
Monica sent a formal demand.
The move immediately became family warfare.
Diane called.
“You brought lawyers into your father’s company?”
“Vanessa brought metal fragments into a cannon.”
“Stop saying it like that.”
“How would you like me to say it?”
Diane lowered her voice.
“There are sixty-three employees whose jobs depend on this business.”
Rachel knew every one of them.
She approved payroll.
She had attended their weddings, baby showers, and retirement dinners.
That was why the threat worked.
“If you launch a fraud investigation during peak wedding season, clients will run,” Diane said.
“Then give me the invoices.”
“Wait until Wednesday.”
Rachel did not wait.
She notified the company’s outside accountant that vendor payments to Derek’s firm were disputed. She also asked the bank to preserve transaction records connected to Sloan Event Fabrication.
The bank did not freeze Mercer Event Group’s accounts, but it placed several large pending transfers under review.
Derek called her directly despite Monica telling everyone to communicate through counsel.
“You’re trying to bankrupt me.”
“You billed us twice for the same lighting package.”
“It was revised inventory.”
“Then explain it.”
“You’ve always wanted Vanessa to marry somebody you could look down on.”
Rachel almost answered emotionally.
Then she remembered Aaron’s camera.
“Why did you want people filming me after the blast?”
The line went quiet.
“You were making a scene.”
“You blocked the exit.”
“You were drunk.”
“I hadn’t finished one glass of champagne.”
“You can tell yourself whatever you need.”
He disconnected.
Three hours later, Aaron called.
“I found something else.”
He had been reviewing the full continuous wedding footage rather than only the service-door clip.
Forty minutes before the ceremony, Derek entered Rachel’s bridal-suite changing area while nobody else was there.
He stayed less than a minute.
When he left, he was carrying something small and rectangular.
Rachel checked her hospital belongings.
Her wallet was there.
Her phone was there.
May you like
Then she remembered the black hardware token she carried on her key ring for high-value company payment approvals.
It was missing.
