Chapter 5 - SABRINA’S OFFER
Ryan turned toward Sabrina.
“What are you doing?”
“Saving myself.”
His face hardened.
“Sabrina.”
She ignored him.
Charlotte gestured toward the empty chair.
“Sit.”
Sabrina sat.
Her confidence from the lobby had disappeared.
“I want an attorney present.”
Jonathan nodded.
“You’re free to leave.”
“But if you choose to speak, understand that this meeting is being documented.”
Sabrina looked at Charlotte.
“I know.”
Ryan leaned toward her.
“Do not say another word.”
Charlotte noticed Sabrina’s expression.
Fear.
Not of Charlotte.
Of someone else.
Charlotte asked quietly.
“Who started it?”
Sabrina looked at Ryan.
Then toward the closed boardroom doors.
“Victor Hale.”
Several executives exchanged glances.
Victor Hale was Vice Chairman of Bennett Global.
He had worked beside Charlotte’s father for eighteen years.
After Elias Bennett died, Victor had publicly supported Charlotte’s appointment.
He called her every birthday.
Sent flowers every Christmas.
He had attended her wedding.
Charlotte stared at Sabrina.
“Be careful.”
“I am.”
Sabrina opened her handbag.
She removed a second phone.
“The consulting contracts were Victor’s idea.”
Ryan slammed one hand against the table.
“She’s lying.”
Sabrina laughed bitterly.
“Now I’m lying?”
“You spent the money.”
“So did you.”
Ryan fell silent.
Charlotte looked between them.
“You both knew.”
Sabrina swallowed.
“I knew some invoices were inflated.”
“How inflated?”
“I don’t know.”
“You received the money.”
“Monroe Strategic received it.”
“You own Monroe Strategic.”
Sabrina’s lips tightened.
“Yes.”
Charlotte felt something cold settle over the room.
“Why?”
“Victor said Bennett Global had too many layers of approval.”
“He said certain money needed to move without attracting attention.”
“And you agreed?”
“I thought…”
Charlotte interrupted.
“Choose your next words carefully.”
Sabrina lowered her eyes.
“I thought I could make enough money to leave when things became dangerous.”
Ryan stared at her as if seeing her for the first time.
“You were planning to leave me?”
Sabrina turned toward him.
“This is not about our relationship.”
Ryan actually laughed.
Charlotte almost pitied him.
Almost.
Sabrina unlocked the phone.
“There are messages.”
“Between you and Victor?”
“Yes.”
“Ryan?”
Her silence answered.
Charlotte looked at Marcus.
“Copy everything.”
Sabrina held the phone tighter.
“I want protection.”
Jonathan spoke.
“We cannot promise criminal immunity.”
“I know.”
“Then what do you want?”
Sabrina looked at Charlotte.
“Money.”
Charlotte stared at her.
Even now.
After everything.
Sabrina still thought every problem had a price.
“How much?”
“Two million.”
Ryan swore.
Charlotte did not react.
Sabrina continued.
“For the phone.”
“For messages.”
“For account information.”
“For everything.”
Charlotte slowly reached into her pocket.
She removed the folded ten-dollar bill.
She placed it on the table between them.
Sabrina’s eyes dropped to it.
Charlotte smiled faintly.
“That is the only money you will ever receive from me personally.”
Then Marcus’s laptop chimed.
He looked at the screen.
His expression changed.
“Charlotte.”
“What?”
“We found Victor’s authorization credentials.”
Charlotte’s stomach tightened.
“Where?”
Marcus looked up.
“They were used last night.”
“When?”
“While everyone was watching you in the lobby.”
Charlotte glanced toward Sabrina.
May you like
Someone had known Charlotte was distracted.
And while Ryan was humiliating her downstairs, millions were moving upstairs.
