Chapter 15 - TWELVE YEARS OF THEFT
The flash drive contained accounting records dating back more than a decade.
Fake renovation contracts.
Inflated construction invoices.
Ghost consultants.
Property-management fees routed through shell companies.
Victor Hale had not invented corruption because Charlotte became Chairwoman.
He had simply become more aggressive.
Estimated losses reached forty-three million dollars.
Charlotte stared at the total.
Her father had been alive during the earliest transactions.
“Did Dad know?”
Jonathan answered carefully.
“I don’t think so.”
“Don’t protect me.”
“I’m not.”
He opened an old audit report.
“Your father questioned unusual expenses shortly before his heart attack.”
Charlotte read his handwritten notation.
REVIEW V.H. CONTRACTS.
V.H.
Victor Hale.
Her father had suspected him.
But he died before completing the investigation.
Charlotte felt grief return with unexpected force.
For years, Victor had spoken about Elias Bennett as if they had been brothers.
He had stood beside the family at the funeral.
He had helped carry the coffin.
All while stealing from the company Elias built.
Ryan sat across the room.
For once, he said nothing.
Charlotte finally looked at him.
“How much did you take?”
He swallowed.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“I didn’t steal forty-three million dollars.”
“I didn’t ask that.”
Ryan lowered his eyes.
“About one hundred eighty thousand.”
Jonathan stopped writing.
Ryan continued.
“Trips.”
“Meals.”
“Gifts.”
“Some transfers.”
Charlotte waited.
Ryan’s voice cracked.
“I told myself it was compensation.”
“For what?”
“I thought I was underpaid.”
“You made four hundred thousand dollars a year.”
“I know.”
“Did you know Sabrina’s company was fraudulent?”
“Not initially.”
“When did you know?”
Ryan stared at his hands.
“Six months ago.”
Charlotte felt the final fragment of her marriage collapse.
“You knew.”
“Yes.”
“And continued.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Ryan’s eyes filled with tears.
“Because I wanted the life Sabrina showed me.”
Charlotte nodded slowly.
Luxury hotels.
Private jets.
Champagne.
Designer suits.
A world Ryan had believed Charlotte could never give him.
The absurdity almost hurt.
“You destroyed your marriage trying to enter a world your wife already owned.”
Ryan covered his face.
Charlotte felt no triumph.
Only exhaustion.
He lowered his hands.
“I’ll cooperate.”
“With investigators?”
“With everyone.”
“Why?”
“Because Victor will blame me.”
Charlotte gave a bitter smile.
“There you are.”
Ryan looked ashamed.
“I know.”
He took a breath.
“There’s one more thing.”
Charlotte waited.
“Victor didn’t leave New York.”
“How do you know?”
“He contacted me.”
“When?”
“An hour ago.”
Everyone turned.
Ryan placed his phone on the table.
One message appeared.
COME ALONE.
May you like
BRING CHARLOTTE’S TRUST FILE.
OR SHE LOSES MORE THAN HOTELS.
