Chapter 2 - THE BABY IS SAFE
The emergency department kept Audrey for observation.
The bleeding remained slight.
The baby’s heartbeat was reassuring.
No major trauma was identified.
Before they left, Preston asked the doctor whether the kick had caused the spotting.
The doctor answered carefully.
“It may have contributed, but we cannot assign every symptom to one moment with certainty.”
Preston nodded.
At home, Audrey finally opened Mason’s message.
I TOLD THEM YOU NEVER APPROVED THE TRANSFER.
She replied:
WHAT TRANSFER?
No answer.
Preston watched.
“What company issue is he talking about?”
Audrey looked tired.
“Probably Cole Bennett Events.”
Preston asked:
“What transfer?”
“I don’t know.”
Then Audrey checked her email.
One unread message from a law firm.
Subject:
NOTICE OF MEMBER INTEREST REASSIGNMENT.
Her stomach tightened.
She opened the attached PDF.
It stated that Audrey Bennett had agreed to transfer twelve percent of her membership interest in Cole Bennett Events into an employee incentive pool.
Signature:
AUDREY BENNETT.
Date:
six weeks earlier.
Audrey stared.
“I never signed this.”
Preston leaned closer.
The signature was electronic.
Her name.
Her email.
Her account.
Then her phone rang.
Mason.
Audrey answered.
“Mason, what is this?”
His voice was low.
“You finally saw it.”
“I didn’t sign it.”
“I know.”
“How do you know?”
Silence.
Then he said:
“Because Brenda asked me to process it, and I refused.”
Audrey froze.
“Brenda?”
“Yes.”
Preston heard the name.
His expression hardened.
Then Mason added:
“But she wasn’t the one who created the document.”
“Who was?”
Mason exhaled.
“That’s why you need to come to the office tomorrow.”
“Tell me now.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Because whoever created it also had access to your maternity leave file.”
Audrey sat up.
“What does that have to do with anything?”
May you like
Mason answered:
“Your leave dates were changed two months before you ever announced them.”
