I stood beside my desk and stared at the screen.
My name was there.
Christopher Bennett.
The confidential files had been accessed through my computer.
I knew I hadn't opened them.
I knew I hadn't copied them.
And I knew I had no reason to steal anything from Halston Capital.
But none of that changed what the screen showed.
Eleanor's attorney, Daniel, asked everyone to remain calm.
Then he called the cybersecurity specialist who had been reviewing the acquisition records.
The specialist joined remotely.
He asked me to describe my computer.
I told him it was company equipment.
The IT department had administrator access.
Several employees could use it if necessary.
He asked whether I had left it unattended the previous evening.
I thought about it.
"Yes."
"How long?"
"Maybe five minutes."
"Where were you?"
"Getting coffee."
Gavin shifted beside the desk.
I noticed.
So did Daniel.
The specialist asked me to open the laptop.
I lifted the screen.
My usual desktop appeared.
Then I noticed a folder I had never seen before.
HALSTON_DUE_DILIGENCE_FINAL.
I stared at it.
"I didn't create that."
Daniel leaned closer.
"Don't open it."
I pulled my hands away.
The specialist began examining the activity logs.
A few minutes passed.
Then he spoke.
"The files were copied onto this machine yesterday at 11:42 p.m."
I frowned.
"I was here yesterday."
Gavin looked at me.
"You stayed late."
"Yes."
"What time did you leave?"
"Just before midnight."
He nodded.
The specialist continued.
"The transfer was initiated using Christopher Bennett's credentials."
I felt my stomach tighten.
Gavin crossed his arms.
"Well, there you have it."
I turned toward him.
"You think I did this?"
He shrugged.
"I don't know what to think."
I stared at him.
"You just told Eleanor I was a valuable employee."
"That has nothing to do with this."
"Then why are you acting like you already know I'm guilty?"
Gavin looked away.
Daniel raised his hand.
"Enough."
He asked the specialist whether the files had been copied to an external device.
The specialist confirmed that they had.
A flash drive.
Daniel asked whether the serial number could be identified.
The specialist said it could.
Gavin moved backward.
It was a small movement.
But I noticed it.
Daniel turned toward him.
"Mr. Mercer, do you own any external storage devices?"
Gavin frowned.
"Everyone in this building owns one."
"Of course."
Daniel looked toward the IT manager.
"Would you check his office?"
Gavin's voice rose.
"You cannot search my office."
Eleanor remained calm.
"Halston still has due-diligence rights under the agreement you signed."
Gavin looked at her.
Then he looked at me.
And I saw something in his face that made my skin crawl.
He wasn't angry.
He was afraid.
The IT manager returned a few minutes later.
He was carrying a small black flash drive.
Gavin stared at it.
"I've never seen that."
The IT manager looked uncomfortable.
"It was connected to your computer."
Gavin shook his head.
"That isn't mine."
Daniel took the drive.
The specialist checked the serial number.
Then he looked up.
"It matches."
Nobody spoke.
The device used to copy the confidential files onto my computer had been found connected to Gavin's machine.
Gavin began talking.
He blamed the IT department.
Then he blamed me.
Then he blamed the acquisition team.
His explanations became more desperate with every sentence.
Eleanor asked everyone to leave except Daniel, Gavin, and me.
When the door closed, she looked at Gavin.
"Why?"
He sank into a chair.
"I didn't steal anything."
Daniel placed the flash drive on the desk.
"Then explain this."
Gavin covered his face.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he whispered a name.
"Richard Field."
I frowned.
"Who?"
Gavin looked at me.
"My business partner."
The agency's name was Mercer & Field.
But I had never met anyone named Field.
I had heard rumors about a former partner who had retired years earlier.
Gavin explained that Richard still owned a portion of the company.
He had been unhappy with the proposed acquisition.
He believed Halston's valuation was too low.
Gavin said he had allowed Richard access to the confidential documents.
He claimed he had only wanted to protect the company.
Daniel's expression hardened.
"You gave him confidential acquisition materials without authorization."
Gavin looked away.
"I was trying to protect my business."
A voice came from the doorway.
"Our business."
Everyone turned.
A silver-haired man in a camel-colored coat stood there.
Gavin went pale.
"Richard."
Richard Field walked into the room.
He looked at Gavin with open disappointment.
Then he turned toward me.
"You must be Christopher."
I nodded.
"Yes."
He studied me for a moment.
Then he said, "I've heard a lot about you."
I tried to smile.
"Hopefully nothing terrible."
He gave a small laugh.
"Mostly clients telling me Gavin took credit for your work."
Gavin snapped at him.
"That's enough."
Richard ignored him.
He explained that he still owned forty-nine percent of Mercer & Field.
He had stepped away from daily operations years earlier because he disagreed with how Gavin treated employees.
But he had never surrendered his ownership.
And the shareholder agreement contained a misconduct clause.
Unauthorized disclosure of confidential information was a serious violation.
Richard placed a document on the desk.
Gavin read it.
Then he read it again.
His face drained of color.
Richard looked at him.
"You're suspended from all executive responsibilities, effective immediately."
Gavin shook his head.
"No."
Richard remained calm.
"Yes."
"This is my company."
Richard looked toward me.
Then back at Gavin.
"It stopped being your company when you decided the people building it were disposable."
Gavin turned toward me.
"Chris, tell him."
I almost laughed.
"Tell him what?"
"That I gave you opportunities."
"You fired me this morning."
"That was a mistake."
I shook my head.
"No."
Gavin stared at me.
I continued.
"It was a revelation."
Richard left the document on the desk.
Daniel began making arrangements for the investigation.
I stood beside my box.
My job was gone.
My boss was suspended.
And someone had used my name to steal confidential information.
I thought the worst of the day was finally over.
Then Daniel's phone rang.
He answered.
Listened.
And suddenly looked concerned.
Eleanor noticed.
"What happened?"
Daniel glanced toward me.
"The driver who called emergency services before Christopher arrived has been located."
I frowned.
"I was the one who called."
Daniel shook his head.
"Someone called ninety seconds before you."
I stared at him.
"That's impossible."
He looked at Eleanor.
"The caller reported Mrs. Halston's location before she collapsed."
The room became silent.
Eleanor's face changed.
"How could anyone know?"
Daniel answered carefully.
"That's what we're trying to find out."
Then he added something that made my blood run cold.
"We don't know whether her collapse was an accident."
Source: kaylestore.net
Click here to continue reading: PART 4: The Woman I Had Saved Was Suddenly at the Center of a Terrifying Investigation, and the People Closest to Her Had More to Hide Than I Ever Imagined
The Morning My Boss Decided a Stranger’s Life Was Worth Less Than a Business Deal, and I Finally Learned What My Loyalty Was Worth
Part 3 of 13
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