Chapter 4 - The Person Upstairs.
Sophie took the stairs two at a time despite the narrow heels beneath her navy dress.
Meline followed, gathering her wedding train in both hands.
Diane came last, calling after them in a voice that sounded more irritated than confused.
“There is no reason to make another scene.”
Sophie reached the second-floor landing and entered the private office corridor.
Only three rooms had access to the restricted network.
Her office was at the end.
The door stood slightly open.
Sophie slowed.
Through the gap, she heard a drawer slide shut.
She pushed the door wider.
Ethan Cole, Meline's new husband, stood behind Sophie's desk holding a slim black folder.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Ethan still wore his tuxedo jacket, but his tie was loose and his face had lost the easy confidence he had carried all afternoon.
Meline stopped behind Sophie.
“Ethan?”
He looked at Diane first.
That single glance told Sophie more than any explanation could have.
Diane entered the room and immediately recovered her composure.
“I asked him to get something for me.”
Sophie held out her hand.
“Put the folder down.”
Ethan did not move.
“It is just vendor paperwork.”
“Then you will have no problem putting it down.”
Meline stared at her husband.
“Why are you in Sophie's office?”
Ethan swallowed.
“Your mom said there was a document here that could clear everything up.”
Diane spoke over him.
“Because there is.”
Sophie stepped around the desk and saw the drawer that had been opened.
It contained printed copies of the audit records, Diane's original contract, and several email summaries Grace had asked Sophie to preserve.
The black folder in Ethan's hand came from that drawer.
Sophie looked at Diane.
“You sent him to take audit material.”
“To retrieve documents about me.”
“From my locked office.”
Diane's jaw tightened.
“You are treating me like a stranger.”
“No.”
Sophie kept her voice calm.
“I am treating you like a contractor whose access is ending.”
Meline moved closer to Ethan.
“Did Mom give you her badge?”
Ethan hesitated.
Diane answered for him.
“I did.”
Meline stared at her mother.
“Why?”
“Because Sophie was turning a misunderstanding into a corporate investigation.”
Sophie took the folder from Ethan without resistance.
Inside were copies of vendor invoices, but one page was missing.
She checked again.
The document Grace had called the most important piece of evidence was gone.
It was a signed request instructing the accounting team to move wedding costs into a false marketing project code.
Sophie looked at Ethan.
“Where is the authorization page?”
“I don't know what you mean.”
Meline's eyes filled with disbelief.
Sophie turned to Diane.
Diane's expression did not change.
Then Sophie's phone rang.
It was Grace.
Sophie answered on speaker.
“I need you away from Diane for a moment,” Grace said.
Sophie watched her mother's face.
“Why?”
“Because someone sent the board a copy of a five-year consulting renewal ten minutes ago.”
Grace paused.
“And it contains your signature.”
Sophie felt the room go still.
“I never signed a renewal.”
“I know.”
Diane finally looked frightened.
Grace continued.
“But the copy the board received says you signed it yesterday.”
Ethan loosened his grip on the folder and seemed to realize that helping Diane had placed him inside a conflict he did not understand.
Meline watched him closely.
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Her wedding ring was barely a few hours old, yet the first serious question of her marriage had already arrived.
Sophie saw that realization settle over her sister and hated Diane for making this night the place where it had to happen.
