Chapter 4: The Hidden Account
I read the message three times.
*Stop looking for the person who took the pouch. You have no idea what you're about to uncover.*
The words blurred as my eyes filled with tears.
I looked through the glass at Zoe.
She was asleep now, her chest rising and falling beneath the thin hospital blanket.
My husband was somewhere inside a locked room at home.
Vanessa had my daughter's medicine.
She had my access badge.
And now someone was warning me to stop asking questions.
I stepped into the hallway and called Marcus again.
Straight to voicemail.
“Come on,” I whispered.
I called the house.
No answer.
Security.
No answer.
I tried Marcus again.
Voicemail.
Then my phone buzzed.
A new message.
This one was from the same unknown number.
*Check the company account.*
I stared at it.
“What company account?””
Another message appeared.
*Not Marcus's. Yours.*
I felt the cold return to my hands.
My salary account.
The account I had never thought of as connected to any of this.
I sat down in the hallway and opened my banking app.
At first, everything looked normal.
Rent.
Utilities.
Groceries.
A payment for Zoe's school.
Then I noticed something.
A transfer from three weeks earlier.
$4,800.
I didn't recognize it.
I opened the transaction.
The recipient was listed as *Morrow Consulting LLC*.
I frowned.
I'd never heard of Morrow Consulting.
I scrolled further.
There were two more transfers.
$6,200.
Then $3,900.
All sent from my account.
All to the same company.
My stomach tightened.
I hadn't authorized any of them.
I called the bank.
After several security questions, the representative placed me on hold.
I waited.
When she returned, her tone had changed.
“Ms. Miller, these transfers were made through a verified device.””
“What device?””
“An Apple computer.””
“I don't own an Apple computer.””
There was a pause.
“Are you sure?””
“Yes.””
“Then you need to report this immediately.””
“I am.””
“Were you recently added as an authorized user to any business account?””
“No.””
Another pause.
“Because the recipient is registered as a business vendor connected to Ellison Holdings.””
I stopped breathing.
“Ellison Holdings?””
“Yes.””
“That’s my husband’s company.””
“I understand.””
“Can you tell me who created the vendor?””
“I can't disclose that over the phone.””
“Please.””
“I can tell you the vendor was created from an administrator account.””
“Whose?””
She hesitated.
Then said, “Your name is attached to the authorization.””
My mouth went dry.
“My name?””
“Yes.””
The call ended a few minutes later, but I remained frozen on the bench.
Someone had created a company.
Someone had sent thousands of dollars from my account.
And someone had done it using my identity.
My phone buzzed again.
This time, it wasn't a text.
It was an email.
The subject line read:
*URGENT: ACCESS REVIEW — GRACE MILLER*
I opened it.
There was an attached PDF.
My hands shook as I opened the file.
It was a formal internal complaint.
Against me.
Three pages.
The document accused me of negligence, unauthorized access, misuse of company property, and financial misconduct.
The date was two months earlier.
The allegations described events that had never happened.
But the final page was worse.
At the bottom was my electronic signature.
My name.
My employee identification number.
And a timestamp.
I stared at the signature.
“I didn't sign this.””
A voice spoke behind me.
“Yes, you did.””
I jumped.
Vanessa stood at the end of the corridor.
For a second, I couldn't move.
“How did you get here?””
She smiled.
“I came to check on Zoe.””
“You followed Marcus.””
“I was worried.””
“You shouldn't be here.””
She walked closer.
“You seem upset.””
“Where is my husband?””
“I don't know.””
“You were with him.””
“No, I wasn't.””
“You followed him to the house.””
Her smile disappeared.
“You're making accusations again.””
“I saw the message.””
“What message?””
“The one warning me to stop.””
Her face didn't move.
But her eyes did.
A tiny flick toward my phone.
“Someone sent you a message?””
“Yes.””
“That's unfortunate.””
“What did you do with Marcus?””
“I told you, I don't know where he is.””
“Then why did you come here?””
She looked through the glass at Zoe.
“Because she is my family.””
“No.””
Vanessa turned toward me.
“What?””
“She isn't your family.””
Something hard entered her expression.
“You've always been very possessive.””
I stepped closer.
“Stay away from my daughter.””
Vanessa laughed quietly.
“You don't understand what's happening.””
“Then explain it.””
“I don't have to.””
“You stole her medicine.””
“I did not.””
“You had my badge.””
“I don't know how it got in my bag.””
“You have access to my financial account.””
Her smile vanished.
“I don't know what you're talking about.””
“I saw the transfers.””
For the first time, she looked genuinely surprised.
“What transfers?””
“Morrow Consulting.””
She went completely still.
I watched her carefully.
“You know the name.””
“No.””
“You reacted.””
“I reacted because you're making no sense.””
“Who is Morrow Consulting?””
She stared at me.
Then she said, “Ask your husband.””
My heart sank.
“Why?””
“Because maybe he has been lying to you too.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“You think Marcus is the victim here?””
“I know him.””
Vanessa leaned closer.
“Do you?””
I didn't answer.
She glanced toward Zoe's room.
“You've worked for this family for four years, Grace. Don't you ever wonder why Marcus trusts you so much?””
“What are you talking about?””
“Your contract.””
“My contract?””
“Did you ever read the entire thing?””
“Yes.””
“Every page?””
“Yes.””
“Then why is there a clause requiring you to report directly to someone who isn't Marcus?””
I stared at her.
“I report to Marcus.””
“No.””
“Yes.””
Vanessa smiled without warmth.
“That's what you were told.””
She turned to leave.
I grabbed her arm.
“Where is Marcus?””
She looked down at my hand.
“Let go.””
“Tell me.””
“You'll find out.””
“Vanessa.””
She pulled away.
Then she whispered something that made my blood turn cold.
“Check the name on the original contract.””
She walked away.
I watched her disappear around the corner.
Then I rushed back to Zoe's room.
The nurse was adjusting the monitor.
“Can I help you?”” she asked.
“Can you stay with my daughter for five minutes?””
“Of course.””
I pulled out my phone and opened the folder where I kept my employment documents.
My original contract was a scanned copy.
I had signed it four years ago.
I opened the first page.
Everything looked familiar.
Salary.
Benefits.
Duties.
Termination provisions.
I scrolled.
Then I reached page seventeen.
A section I hadn't thought about in years.
*Supervising Authority.*
I read the name.
My breath caught.
It wasn't Marcus.
It wasn't Vanessa.
It was another name.
*Nathan Cole.*
I had never heard of him.
My phone vibrated.
An incoming call.
The number wasn't saved.
I answered.
“Hello?””
A man's voice came through.
“Grace Miller?””
“Yes.””
“I'm Nathan Cole.””
I couldn't speak.
“I've been trying to reach you.””
“Who are you?””
“I need you to listen carefully.””
“Where is my husband?””
“I don't know.””
“Then why are you calling me?””
“Because your name has been used to authorize something that could destroy both you and Marcus.””
My hand tightened around the phone.
“What?””
“The money transfers.””
“How do you know?””
“Because I'm the person who discovered them.””
I looked toward Zoe.
“Who is Morrow Consulting?””
Nathan was silent for a moment.
Then he said, “It's not a real consulting company.””
My heart slammed against my ribs.
“What?””
“It's a shell.””
“For what?””
“Payments.””
“To whom?””
“I don't know yet.””
“You're lying.””
“I'm not.””
“Then tell me why my name is on the documents.””
“That is exactly what I'm trying to figure out.””
I lowered my voice.
“Vanessa knows.””
Another pause.
“What makes you say that?””
“She had my badge.””
Nathan inhaled sharply.
“Listen to me, Grace.””
“I'm listening.””
“Do not confront her.””
“She just left this hospital.””
“Then don't follow her.””
“Why?””
“Because she isn't the person you should be worried about.””
The corridor suddenly felt colder.
“What does that mean?””
Nathan hesitated.
Then he said, “I found a second account.””
“What second account?””
“One connected to your identity.””
My stomach dropped.
“Where?””
“At the west office.””
I closed my eyes.
“Marcus is there.””
“I know.””
“How do you know?””
“Because he called me ten minutes ago.””
I opened my eyes.
“Is he okay?””
Nathan was silent.
“Nathan?””
“He discovered the same account I did.””
“What happened?””
“I lost contact with him.””
“When?””
“About five minutes ago.””
I gripped the phone.
“Why?””
“Because someone entered the office.””
“Who?””
“I don't know.””
“Was it Vanessa?””
“I couldn't see.””
“You must know something.””
“I know this.””
His voice lowered.
“The account was created six years ago.””
“What does that mean?””
“It means it existed before you ever worked for Marcus.””
I frowned.
“Then why is my name attached to it?””
“That is the question.””
A sound came from outside the hospital room.
A slow set of footsteps.
I looked into the hallway.
No one.
“Nathan?””
“Yes?””
“I think someone is here.””
“Go back into Zoe's room.””
“I am.””
“Lock the door.””
I locked it.
The footsteps stopped.
I stared through the narrow window.
Nothing.
Then my phone buzzed.
A photograph had arrived from the unknown number.
I opened it.
It showed the west office.
Marcus was standing beside the desk.
His back was turned.
Behind him was a woman.
Vanessa.
But that wasn't what made my blood run cold.
On the desk between them was a file.
Across the cover, in bold black letters, was my full name.
Underneath it was a date.
Six years before I ever met Marcus.
May you like
And beneath that—
*PROJECT ZOE.*
