Chapter 6 - THE PERSON INSIDE CLAIRE'S OFFICE
Only six people had access to Bennett Harbor’s executive office after hours.
Claire.
Her chief of staff, Emma Lewis.
Finance chief Daniel Price.
General counsel Peter Ward.
IT director Michael Ross.
And Claire’s uncle, board chairman Robert Bennett.
The 4:11 a.m. login used Claire’s office tablet.
No camera footage remained.
Retention period expired.
Could have been anyone with the passcode.
Then Ethan seized the discovery.
His lawyers argued the deletion proved Bennett Harbor insiders knew about the affair and considered it irrelevant to the acquisition.
“If Claire’s own executives believed this was personal, it cannot now be transformed into a corporate breach.”
Smart.
Claire hated it.
Then Peter Ward admitted something.
He had known Vanessa and Ethan were still emotionally involved.
“Did you know they were sleeping together?”
“No.”
“Did you know she owned Reed Strategies?”
“Yes.”
Claire stared.
“Why didn’t you flag it?”
“Because procurement reviewed the vendor.”
“That is not the question.”
Peter looked uncomfortable.
He believed Vanessa’s prior relationship with Ethan had ended.
He did not know it had resumed.
Then Robert Bennett, Claire’s uncle, made things worse.
He said:
“Claire, I knew Ethan had a history with her. So did you.”
“History is not a current undisclosed relationship.”
Robert sighed.
“You are making this deal personal.”
The phrase echoed Ethan.
Claire looked at him.
“Did you delete the message?”
“No.”
He sounded offended.
Maybe genuine.
Then the independent forensic team traced the 4:11 login to a VPN session authenticated by Daniel Price, Bennett Harbor’s finance chief.
Daniel denied using the tablet.
His credentials had been shared during a system migration.
Possible.
Then another audit result arrived.
Daniel had been the strongest internal supporter of buying Cole Hospitality.
Why?
Cole’s acquisition would trigger a performance bonus for him too.
$850,000.
Not hidden.
Disclosed.
Still motive.
Claire ordered Daniel removed from the forensic review.
Then she did something harder.
She removed herself from pricing negotiations.
Independent committee only.
Ethan had accused her of revenge.
Fine.
She would give up power again.
Then Rachel brought in Cole’s updated accounting.
The expense reclassification through Reed Strategies was not $1.9 million.
It was closer to $5.8 million over eighteen months.
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Cole Hospitality’s earnings had been materially overstated.
The affair had finally led them to something bigger than the wedding.
