Confined Four Years

Exposure

~~~~~Marcus~~~~~

            Marcus did some research with an outside lawyer and private investigator and found all the evidence he needed to convict his parents, the Sinclair’s, and a few Directors on the Board of blackmail, theft, and tax evasion. Today, he sat in a meeting room with all those guilty, hoping to have them all confess right there. He would need to be careful so they did not close off conversation. Especially since everyone worked so hard to find the evidence. With Aiden and Zachariah both looking into the financials, several question marks came up with the directors currently present in the room. When Marcus dug deeper, he found a lot of money moving behind the scenes, between the directors and his parents and the Sinclair’s.

            A small murmur went up through the meeting room as he walked in, and Marcus nodded to the members and his parents before taking a seat at the head of the table. He expected them to be curious, though he felt sure quite a few of them did not know they were here for extorting money out of the company’s coffers. It took a while to find concrete evidence, but they left a paper trail of some kind behind. All the members in this room were guilty and clueless. Marcus specifically wanted to meet in this room because it was being watched by the Federal Government. Those gathered did not even know the company was under investigation.

            Marcus hoped doing things this way would clear his name from the list of those involved. He had to show the world just how low his parents fell, and doing so would free her from his side. He did not want to fail Julia when he did this, so he would have to proceed carefully. With silence engulfing the room, Marcus looked around at each person guilty of theft with cold eyes. The plan was to not let himself take the fall for his parents and their greed. With one last thought to Julia, the twins, Zachariah, and Sophia, Marcus solidified his decision to do this.

“Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to come here today.” Marcus said, looking around the table at each person. “Unfortunately, the news I have is not good news.”

“Oh? I thought the company was making a good profit and business was booming.” His father stated, narrowing his eyes. “Did something happen?”

            Marcus sighed a little, my eyes narrowing on my father. Both of them trained to be business managers, often working together in meetings like this, but who knew his father was not just blackmailing him. Everyone in this room had guilt from stealing money from the company, but they learned how because of his father. Why did he think it would be okay to steal money from the very company he helped to build with Marcus’s grandfather? That Julia’s parents helped create by the merger? There is no excuse for this. The four of them were all benefiting from his marriage to her thanks to the merger and the ability to convince these directors to steal for them.

“The company is profiting, but Zachariah, Aiden and I have found quite a few numbers that were mixed up that we cannot understand. That is why I called this meeting.” Marcus replied, watching as several of the directors shifted nervously. “Someone is stealing money from us, from our business, and I think I know who.”

            Now he had their full attention, and Marcus watched his mother swallow thickly, her unease clear all over her face. The company he has worked for the past four years to build has always seen a halt in progress because of the people sitting before me. Since his parents still hold a majority over the Directors, it made his job harder to branch this company off into something that would forever change the future of this business. Instead, they want to keep to the old policies so they can easily steal from their customers. That ends now. As the tense silence continued on for several moments, Marcus waited for his victim to c***k and start talking.

“It’s Mister Joseph! He’s the one stealing money from the company!” Marcus’s eyes narrowed as he turned to look at Jimmy as he spoke. “And Mister Matthews and Mister Dawn as well. All three of them are doing it!”

“Oh, really?” Marcus questioned, looking at all three of the mentioned men, who stood from their seats, faces pale. “So, you haven’t noticed, yet?”

“Huh?” his father looked around dumbly before realization struck him and he paled. “These are…”

“All the Board members that answer directly to you. Can you tell me why that is, Father?” I countered with a sharp glare. “What about you, Mother? Or, hey… Mister and Missus Sinclair?”

“I… we still hold the majority in this company!!! Even if we are stealing, don’t you know we can just cover it up and replace you? That’s what we did with your marriage!” Missus Sinclair broke first and he hid his grin. “You finally grew to love Julia, did you not? So, the blackmail ended up being worth it! Now, we just want a little extra money for what we did for this company!”

“Elizabeth!” Mister Sinclair started, but everyone froze when the door slammed open.

            Marcus’s could no longer suppress his grin, and he smiled as the police and the lawyer he worked with behind the scenes entered the room. The people that sat around this table would no longer control their lives. They would go to jail and he could finally free Julia of her responsibility to him, her siblings, and her parents. This is the correct thing to do to save her from this farce, he thought, watching blankly as the police placed my parents in handcuffs. The room seemed much brighter than before, as his own parents shot him a sharp glare. This is his justice, his life, and now it is back in his own hands as well. He could not be happier than he was now.

***

            The proof of the pudding is in the eating. At least, that is what the attorney told Marcus when he told him what happened a few weeks ago, including the fact that the twins and Zachariah were there. Marcus just sent a text to Julia informing her to turn on the news, that something good would happen if she did. He had a plan when he walked into work today and he just got them to talk about the blackmail in a room that was not completely sealed. Honestly, if they did this sooner, Julia could be free to love who she wants publicly. Marcus loved to see her smile, especially with all the rough things their families put them through. She had to bear with it the most, though.

“As you can all see, I have my parents and my wife’s parents, as well as a few of the Board of Directors working with them arrested. I am going to be pressing charges against them for theft, blackmail, and extortion.” Marcus spoke into the microphone clearly, but wanting to keep the details of the crime a secret for now. “My wife and I will be the ones to determine if further punishment beyond what is standard for New York is necessary. That is all the information we are releasing.”

“Mister Thomas, why is your wife involved?” One reporter shouted out. “Is she not a stay-at-home mom who only cares for your children? I thought this was in relation to your business.”

“No further questions.”

            The truth would be difficult to explain, but Marcus planned, from the beginning, to allow Julia the chance to tell him what she wants to do with their parents. They could take them before the Grand Jury, if that was something she wanted. He sighed before stepping down from the podium to watch as the police led away their parents. Marcus could feel the buzz of his cellphone in his pocket, but he ignored it in favor of relishing in the sensation of finally seeing those people taken away. Unfortunately, he did not expect the shout that came his way from another reporter next.

“Does this have something to do with the affair your wife is having with your youngest brother?” Instead of answering, Marcus simply turned to walk back into the building. “Our sources say that they’ve seen the two of them together, often with the twins and a small baby. Is that the baby they have together? Please give an answer!”

            This… did not bode well. If they are asking these kinds of questions here, then it is possible they are at the house pestering Julia, Zach, and the children. Thinking quickly, Marcus pulled out his cellphone and stepped into a private conference room to make his call. For now, he needed to send them to the only place the media does not know about. His vacation home in Hawaii, away from the media outlets and reporters that will surely become an issue. But… his mind thought back to the way she looked at Zach and his fist clenched. He has no right to say anything now. He could have changed the outcome if he wanted to, but her choice will be him.

~~~~~Julia~~~~~

            The sound of the water lapping at the shore, the salty scent of the ocean in her nose, and the happy squeal of the kids playing on the beach. It felt like a family vacation, but Julia’s mind wandered back to Marcus and the things he dealt with trying to get the five of them out of New York unnoticed. When the press started asking questions about her relationship with Zach, Marcus could not answer them because the case with their parents was under investigation. He did not want the five of them to be harassed by them, so he sent all five to his vacation home in Hawaii.

“Mommy! Look at that person!” Madison shouted, her fingers pointing at a surfer in the waves. “That looks like fun! Mommy, can we learn how to do that?”

“Maybe when you’re a little older. First, we’ll have to teach you how to swim.” Julia replied with a bright smile. “I know you have been trying to learn, though.”

“I hope we can soon!” Mason countered, holding up his little hand, a pink shell sitting in it. “I found a pretty shell for you, Mommy!”

            The emerald waves continued to push the surfer closer to the beach, and she watched as they moved their board to jump from the tip of the wave. This felt like a different world compared to the bustling city they left behind. Sandy beaches, beautiful water, bright sunshine, and happy giggles from children playing on the beach. The weather is perfect and the ocean surrounding them calm. But she could feel my mind wandering back to Marcus, who was cleaning up a mess left by not only their parents, but Zach and her as well. It felt unfair, but she knew this was his way of keeping them safe. Fortunately, she was familiar with this place.

            It just so happens to be the same location her materials for 'Close to Perfection Parenting' goes to when she needed to order something specific to test with the twins. While Julia waited for Zach, they played in the sand, the smell of sunscreen still lingering on her hands. Sophia laid sleeping in a portable bassinet next to her side, hidden in the shade of the umbrella they bought on the way here. As she watched over the three, she felt someone watching her and Julia turned to look only to find Zach staring at her, his chocolate-colored eyes locked on her body.