Chapter 9 - Brenda’s Price
I could have fired Brenda that afternoon.
I didn't.
Not yet.
She had participated in deception.
Used company time to conduct an affair.
Copied confidential files.
But she had also become a potential whistleblower regarding unauthorized transactions performed with her credentials.
Lawyers needed facts separated from anger.
That irritated Mark more than revenge would have.
“You're protecting her?”
“No. I'm protecting the investigation.”
Brenda agreed to cooperate.
She surrendered every device.
Every message.
Every copied document.
Then asked for one thing.
“What?”
“Andrew.”
I frowned.
“He has something that belongs to me.”
Not Schedule C.
A notebook.
Brenda had kept handwritten records because she suspected Mark could access company devices.
Andrew took it after their argument.
Inside were dates of meetings with Victor Hale.
Transfer instructions.
And a strange recurring phrase:
M PROJECT.
What was M?
Mark?
Manuel?
Brenda claimed she never knew.
Then one entry:
M Project — Laura must not see original appraisal.
Appraisal of what?
The 114 acres Manuel placed into Blue Cedar.
Mark had always told me the land was developed gradually and largely sold.
False.
Thirty-two acres remained.
Location?
Near a planned semiconductor manufacturing corridor.
Current estimated value:
$46 million.
Mark and Victor knew before the public announcement because Crestview had been negotiating nearby infrastructure contracts.
Northline wanted Crestview partly to obtain that land cheaply.
There was the real jewel.
Then Cynthia found the original appraisal.
Dad had included a restriction:
The final 32 acres could not be sold without Laura’s personal written consent.
Not spousal consent.
Not proxy.
Mine.
Victor's deal could never close legally unless Mark obtained my signature.
So what had he planned?
Forgery?
Maybe.
Then Brenda showed us an email.
MARK TO VICTOR:
Laura will sign when the timing is right.
VICTOR:
And if she doesn't?
MARK:
She always signs what I put in front of her.
I stared at that sentence.
He wasn't planning elaborate fraud.
He planned coffee.
A stack of documents.
“Routine renewal.”
Twenty-eight years of trust weaponized into paperwork.
That hurt more than clever conspiracy.
Then Andrew requested to meet me.
Without Brenda.
His ankle was healing.
His marriage wasn't.
He placed her notebook on my desk.
“I'm filing for divorce.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No, you're not.”
He smiled.
“No. Neither am I.”
Fair.
Then:
“Brenda left something out.”
Of course she had.
Andrew discovered cash deposits totaling $420,000 into an account in Brenda’s maiden name.
Mark?
No.
Victor Hale.
Victor had been paying Brenda too.
Why?
When confronted, Brenda finally admitted it.
Victor approached her seven months earlier.
He knew she was sleeping with Mark.
He offered money for information about Crestview.
She accepted.
My husband's mistress had also been spying on him for the man trying to buy his company.
“How much did you give Victor?”
“Enough.”
“Enough for what?”
“To know about Blue Cedar.”
That meant Victor knew the land belonged to me.
Then why continue the acquisition?
Brenda whispered:
“Because he never expected Mark to get your signature.”
“What did he expect?”
“He expected you to stop the sale.”
I stared.
“Why?”
Brenda looked toward the door.
“Because Victor doesn't actually want Crestview.”
May you like
Then she told me what he wanted.
He wanted Mark ruined.
