Chapter 5 - The Man Inside Daniel's CompanyDaniel Reed had built Reed Horizon Group from a regional construction business into one of the largest private real-estate companies in the state.
Noah had spent much of his childhood at headquarters.
His mother, Leah, had once worked there too.
She had handled community development projects before illness forced her to step away.
The company felt like family history.
Which meant Claire's mysterious caller felt like an invasion.
Two days after the pool incident, Noah persuaded Elena to drive him downtown.
“You're supposed to be home,” she said.
“I am home.”
“Noah.”
He looked at the glass tower ahead.
“This place belongs to my family too.”
Elena didn't argue.
Inside, Noah knew enough employees to pass through reception without trouble.
He took the elevator to the executive floor.
The chime sounded.
Exactly the same.
He walked slowly.
Daniel's office occupied the far end.
Nearby were offices belonging to the CFO, general counsel and strategy team.
Noah recognized several names.
Then one door opened.
Mark Ellison stepped out.
Daniel's chief financial officer.
Forty-eight.
Always perfectly dressed.
Always friendly to Noah.
“Noah?”
Noah forced a smile.
“Hey, Mark.”
Mark glanced around.
“Your dad isn't here.”
“I know.”
“What are you doing?”
“Looking for him.”
“You just said you knew he wasn't here.”
Noah realized his mistake.
Mark smiled.
But his eyes didn't.
“You okay?”
“Fine.”
“I heard there was some trouble at home.”
Noah stared at him.
“Who told you?”
Mark's smile remained.
“Your father mentioned it.”
Noah looked past him into the office.
A phone sat on Mark's desk.
Claire's words replayed inside Noah's mind.
The documents need to be signed before his birthday.
Mark closed the office door behind him.
“You shouldn't be wandering around company offices alone.”
“I've been coming here since I was six.”
“You aren't six anymore.”
Noah smiled.
“Neither are you.”
Mark's expression cooled.
Then Daniel appeared from the conference room.
“Noah?”
He looked genuinely angry.
“What are you doing here?”
“Wanted to see you.”
“Why?”
Noah looked at Mark.
“Can we talk alone?”
Daniel's suspicion appeared immediately.
Mark stepped away.
“I'll give you two privacy.”
Inside Daniel's office, Noah played the pantry recording.
Daniel listened.
His face changed when Claire mentioned documents.
But instead of reacting to the content, he asked, “You recorded my wife?”
“She was talking about making you think I'm dangerous.”
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
“Noah…”
“You heard it.”
“I heard twenty seconds of an unknown conversation.”
“The other person is here.”
Daniel looked up.
“What?”
“I heard the elevator.”
Daniel stared at him.
“You think Claire is conspiring with one of my employees because you heard a chime?”
“It sounds exactly the same.”
“This has to stop.”
“Why won't you even check?”
“Because you're turning every coincidence into proof.”
Noah felt heat rise behind his eyes.
“She framed me.”
“You believe she framed you.”
“No. I watched her do it.”
Daniel's phone rang.
He checked the screen.
Mark.
Daniel answered.
“Yes?”
His expression changed.
“I'll be there.”
He hung up.
“There's a problem with one of our lenders.”
Noah stepped closer.
“Dad.”
“I need to work.”
“You always need to work when you don't want to deal with something.”
Daniel's face hardened.
“Go home.”
Noah left.
As he passed Mark's office, the door was open again.
Mark was gone.
But his computer monitor remained active.
A spreadsheet filled the screen.
Noah only saw it for a second.
One company name stood out.
CEDAR RIDGE CONSULTING LLC
He had seen that name somewhere.
Later, at home, he remembered.
A bank statement.
One of the papers Claire had photographed inside Daniel's office.
Noah searched the internet.
Cedar Ridge Consulting had almost no public presence.
A registered address.
A mailbox service.
No website.
No employees.
He searched the address.
Then his breath caught.
The registered agent was a law office.
The same law office that had handled Claire's divorce from her first husband seven years earlier.
Noah leaned back.
Claire and Daniel had been married for three years.
Mark had worked for Daniel for eleven.
Whatever this was, it had started before the pool.
Maybe before Claire married Daniel.
Noah opened the pantry recording again.
This time he listened past the elevator sound.
At the very end, before Claire disconnected, the male voice said two quiet words.
“Call me.”
Noah increased the volume.
May you like
He knew that voice.
Mark Ellison.
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