Chapter 15 - RACHEL’S NAME
Rachel grabbed the notebook.
“I’ve never seen this before.”
Karen stared at her.
“I know.”
“Then why is my name here?”
Karen looked at me.
“Because Diane was building a backup story.”
My skin went cold.
“What story?”
“If anyone discovered the missing money, she planned to blame Rachel.”
Rachel laughed in disbelief.
“How?”
Karen pointed toward the ledger.
“Your accounting firm consulted for Halston three years ago.”
Rachel nodded slowly.
“For one month.”
“Diane kept your credentials active.”
Rachel’s expression changed.
“No.”
“She had transactions routed through accounts connected to projects you reviewed.”
Rachel stood.
“You used my login?”
Karen nodded.
“I did.”
I stepped toward her.
“You framed my sister.”
Karen whispered, “I followed instructions.”
I slammed my palm against the table.
“That excuse is getting old.”
Michael caught my eye.
He didn’t defend Karen.
He didn’t ask me to calm down.
He simply let me be angry.
That was new.
Rachel turned pages.
“If Diane was preparing to blame me, why didn’t she?”
“Because Frank died.”
Karen explained that after his death, the audit disappeared.
The urgency vanished.
Diane became chairwoman.
Nobody questioned her.
Until Michael discovered a transfer six weeks ago.
I looked at him.
“That’s what started Thursdays?”
He nodded.
“I saw a payment authorization using Dad’s name.”
He looked ashamed.
“I thought it was a software error.”
“So you called Rachel.”
“Yes.”
Rachel continued.
“Then I saw my own old credentials.”
Michael added, “That’s when we knew someone had manipulated the system.”
I crossed my arms.
“And still nobody told me.”
Rachel looked down.
“I was scared you’d think I was involved.”
That stopped me.
My sister had been framed.
My husband had discovered a hidden son.
Both had panicked.
Both had chosen secrecy.
And secrecy had nearly destroyed all of us before Diane even had to lift another finger.
Karen suddenly said, “Diane has an emergency board meeting tomorrow morning.”
Michael frowned.
“For what?”
“To remove you as CEO.”
He stared at her.
“She can’t.”
“With the old trust structure, she controls enough votes.”
Rachel lifted Frank’s sealed amendment.
“Not if this is recognized.”
Karen shook her head.
“You don’t understand.”
“What?”
“Diane knows Thomas gave you the original.”
Michael’s jaw tightened.
“How?”
Karen looked toward the door.
“Because I told her.”
Before anyone could respond, Karen added, “And she said if she loses the company tomorrow, she’ll make sure Michael loses his family first.”
I felt a chill.
“What does that mean?”
May you like
Karen whispered, “She has something prepared for Claire.”
*
