Chapter 4

Charles’ jaw slowly tightened. “Once tomorrow’s briefing is over, you won’t have a seat at the board table or a voice there ever again.”

I looked at him calmly. “Then you’d better make every word count tomorrow. Once the evidence comes out, you won’t be able to take any of it back.”

I left the Peay residence and went straight to Grant Corporation's headquarters.

In the conference room, the evidence I had just brought was spread out in front of Elizabeth. She flipped to the final page. “Did you come here because you want me to protect your inheritance rights?”

“The Peay family's inheritance is an issue between the Peay family and me.”

I pulled out the USB's preservation records and Peay Corporation’s investigation report, placing them side by side in front of her. “But the losses Grant Corporation suffered on this project are something we share.”

Elizabeth looked at me. “What do you need from Grant Corporation?”

“I need a complete copy made of the devices that have already been sealed. I also want the earliest system records, the ones no one has had a chance to alter.”

I circled the gaps in Peay Corporation’s report.

“I need to confirm three things—which USB drives were connected to the project computer that afternoon, which computer was used to access my account, and who altered the original records.”

Elizabeth picked up the phone and pressed the intercom. “Notify the investigation team and legal counsel. Launch a joint investigation immediately. Anything you find gets copied to Henry as well.”

The head of the investigation team arrived soon after and took the documents from her.

“What about the 20 million dollars?”

“Start with the signature and phone number used when the account was opened, then identify every device that has accessed the account since.”

I paused for a moment.

“The account was opened under the name I had before I was adopted. Pull the records documenting that name change as well, but don’t release anything publicly yet.”

Elizabeth looked up. “You suspect there's something wrong with your adoption records?”

“I can't be sure yet.”

That lead could be connected to the 20 million dollars, or it could simply be another piece of Charles’ setup to frame me.

Elizabeth slid another document across the table. It was a formal request from the Peay family to replace me as Elizabeth's marriage partner.

“The Peay family wants Charles to take your place. The Grants have rejected it. The Grants choose someone willing to take risks with us, not a title the Peay family can hand out whenever it suits them.

“The engagement will not change. Don’t sign anything accepting liability until the joint investigation is complete.”

With that, Elizabeth signed the investigation authorization.

“I’ll attend tomorrow as the project partner.”

I gathered the documents. “You don’t need to help me prove my innocence.”

“I know.” Elizabeth held my gaze. “I’m only making sure no one can throw you out of that room before the evidence comes to light.”

By the time I left Grant Corporation, night had fallen.

A notification appeared on my phone: [The first batch of unaltered original records has been extracted.]

I opened the file. The bid was first copied at 4:12 pm. Charles handed me the USB drive later, at 4:31 pm. It was 19 minutes apart, which meant the bid had already been copied before that USB drive ever appeared.

I kept reading.

The USB drive connected to the project computer at 4:12 pm was not the one that was later sealed.

Every USB drive had a unique device ID, like a person’s national ID number. The two IDs in the records were completely different.

I stared at the screen, then slowly closed my laptop. They would publicly declare me responsible and have everyone sign the confirmation document tomorrow. That document would become evidence they could never deny.

…

At 9:00 am the next day, Peay Corporation’s largest conference hall was packed. Directors, senior executives, investor representatives, and members of the press were all in attendance.

Grant Corporation’s seats were empty.

Dad explained that Elizabeth had something urgent come up and might not be able to attend.