Chapter 3 - The Woman Who Refused the Money
The next morning, Adrian tested Grace.
He approached her near the greenhouse.
“You know something.”
Grace looked at him.
“About what?”
“Whitmore House.”
She became cautious.
“Why?”
“You mentioned someone stealing.”
Grace glanced around.
“Keep your voice down.”
Adrian nodded.
She sighed.
“I shouldn't have said anything.”
“What did you see?”
“Money disappearing.”
“How much?”
“I don't know.”
“Thousands?”
She nodded.
“Maybe millions.”
Adrian's expression changed.
“From where?”
“Household accounts. Vendor payments. Maintenance contracts.”
“Are you sure?”
“I checked the invoices.”
“Why?”
“Because I clean the office.”
She lowered her voice.
“I found duplicate payments.”
Adrian listened.
Grace explained that several contractors were being paid twice.
Some companies didn't appear to exist.
Others were connected to a law firm representing Nathan.
Adrian's pulse quickened.
Someone was stealing from his company through the estate.
But why had Grace discovered it?
She answered that question herself.
“I was looking for proof because my younger sister needs surgery.”
Adrian frowned.
“What happened?”
“She has a heart condition.”
“How much does it cost?”
“Forty-two thousand dollars.”
Adrian understood.
“That explains why someone tried to bribe you.”
Grace nodded.
“I refused.”
“Why?”
“Because I knew the money wasn't theirs.”
Adrian stared at her.
“You could have taken it.”
“I could.”
“You need it.”
“I do.”
“Then why not?”
Grace looked directly at him.
“Because if I take stolen money to save my sister, I become part of the theft.”
Adrian didn't know how to respond.
He had spent his entire career believing morality was something people discussed after they became rich.
Grace had just taught him otherwise.
That afternoon, Adrian secretly instructed Malcolm to investigate the contractors.
By evening, the results were devastating.
Four shell companies.
Three offshore accounts.
Nearly $8 million missing.
And every payment had been authorized by Nathan's people.
Adrian wanted to confront Nathan immediately.
But Malcolm stopped him.
“Not yet.”
“Why?”
“We need the whole network.”
Adrian nodded.
Then he saw Grace leaving through the employee entrance.
She carried a small bag.
Adrian followed.
She walked to a bus stop.
She checked her phone.
No bus.
Rain began falling.
She stood beneath a broken shelter.
Adrian watched from across the street.
Then he saw a black sedan pull up.
Nathan's assistant stepped out.
Grace immediately stepped backward.
The man said something.
She shook her head.
He grabbed her arm.
Adrian crossed the street.
“Let her go.”
The man turned.
“Who are you?”
Adrian stepped between them.
“A hungry man who doesn't like bullies.”
The assistant laughed.
“You're making a mistake.”
Adrian didn't move.
The man released Grace.
“Stay out of this.”
He returned to the car.
Before leaving, he looked at Grace.
“You have until tomorrow.”
The sedan disappeared.
Grace stared at Adrian.
“You shouldn't have done that.”
“Why?”
“Now he'll know someone is helping me.”
Adrian looked at her.
“Who are you afraid of?”
She shook her head.
“Not me.”
“Your sister?”
Grace nodded.
“He knows where she lives.”
Adrian understood.
Someone was using Grace's sister as leverage.
That night, Adrian made a decision.
He would protect Grace.
Not because she had been kind to him.
Not because she had fed him.
But because she had done something he had forgotten how to do.
She had chosen what was right when doing the wrong thing would have been easier.
The next morning, Grace arrived at work.
She found an envelope on her locker.
Inside was a hospital payment receipt.
Every dollar of her sister's surgery had been paid.
No name.
No explanation.
Grace stared at the receipt.
Then she noticed something handwritten at the bottom.
“You shouldn't have to choose between honesty and family.”
Grace looked around.
Nobody was there.
But upstairs, behind a window, Adrian watched.
For the first time in his life, he had helped someone without expecting anything in return.
And strangely, it felt better than signing a billion-dollar deal.
Then his phone rang.
Malcolm's voice was urgent.
“Adrian, we've identified who has been stealing.”
“Who?”
May you like
Malcolm hesitated.
“Someone inside the family.”
