Chapter 6 - THE TRANSFER AT 10:42 P.M.
At exactly 10:42 p.m. the previous night, someone had initiated three wire transfers.
One point eight million dollars.
Two point one million.
Nine hundred thousand.
All routed toward holding companies registered outside New York.
The total was four point eight million dollars.
Charlotte stared at Marcus.
“Did they clear?”
“Two did.”
“The third triggered an automatic review.”
“Freeze everything.”
“We already started.”
“Get the banks on the phone.”
Marcus nodded.
Charlotte turned to Jonathan.
“Contact outside counsel.”
“Done.”
“Victor?”
“His phone is off.”
Ryan spoke from the other end of the table.
“You think Victor planned all of this?”
Charlotte looked at him.
“You knew he was involved.”
“I knew he approved certain contracts.”
“Certain fraudulent contracts?”
“I didn’t know they were fraudulent.”
Sabrina gave him a disgusted look.
“You signed invoices for events that never happened.”
Ryan turned.
“You told me services were provided.”
“You never asked.”
Charlotte watched them.
Two people who had built their relationship around lying were suddenly outraged that the other one had lied.
There was something almost poetic about it.
Ethan entered the boardroom.
“Madam Chair.”
“Yes?”
“Mr. Hale is downstairs.”
Charlotte straightened.
Ryan whispered.
“Victor came here?”
“He wants immediate access to the boardroom.”
Jonathan stood.
“Does he know we’re meeting?”
“He says he called the meeting.”
Charlotte’s eyes narrowed.
“Interesting.”
“What should I tell him?”
Charlotte looked at the clock.
7:42 a.m.
“Tell him he’s welcome.”
Ryan stared at her.
“Charlotte.”
She turned.
“What?”
“If Victor is involved…”
Ryan hesitated.
“He’s dangerous.”
Charlotte’s expression did not change.
“So is arrogance.”
The boardroom doors opened ten minutes later.
Victor Hale entered wearing a navy three-piece suit.
Sixty-one years old.
Silver hair.
Perfect posture.
The kind of man whose calm presence made people assume he controlled the room.
He smiled when he saw Charlotte.
“Good morning.”
“Victor.”
His eyes moved toward Ryan.
Then Sabrina.
His smile weakened.
“I see we have guests.”
Charlotte gestured toward the seat opposite her.
“Sit.”
Victor remained standing.
“I received concerning reports overnight.”
“So did I.”
“Then perhaps we should clear the room.”
“No.”
Victor’s face hardened slightly.
“Charlotte.”
“No.”
The executives remained silent.
Victor slowly sat.
Charlotte pushed the fraudulent authorization toward him.
“Recognize it?”
He barely glanced down.
“No.”
“The system says your credentials were used.”
“Then the system is wrong.”
Marcus spoke.
“The authentication included your physical security key.”
Victor looked at him.
“Keys can be copied.”
“Not easily.”
Victor smiled.
“Nothing is difficult when enough money is involved.”
Charlotte studied him.
That was a strange answer.
Then Sabrina placed her second phone on the table.
Victor saw it.
For the first time that morning, his expression cracked.
Charlotte noticed.
So did Jonathan.
Victor stood.
“This meeting is over.”
Charlotte smiled.
“No.”
Victor looked directly at her.
“You still don’t understand what you inherited from your father.”
Charlotte’s smile disappeared.
“What does that mean?”
May you like
Victor leaned forward.
“It means Bennett Global was never really yours.”
