Chapter 7 – The First Betrayal
The conference room remained frozen as the two financial crime agents stepped inside.
Every director instinctively leaned back, putting distance between themselves and Andrew.
The lead investigator, Special Agent Michael Harris, placed a slim folder on the table.
"Mr. Whitmore, this is not an arrest."
Andrew exhaled in relief.
"But it is an official investigation."
The relief vanished just as quickly.
"We have evidence suggesting that corporate funds were diverted for personal use over the past eighteen months."
Andrew straightened.
"I've never stolen from my company."
Agent Harris met his gaze.
"That's what we're here to determine."
He opened the folder.
Inside were invoices, wire transfers, and expense reports.
The first photograph showed Brenda wearing a diamond necklace worth nearly three million dollars.
Andrew frowned.
"What does that have to do with anything?"
The agent slid over the purchase order.
Paid by Whitmore Industries Executive Development Account.
Andrew blinked.
"That... that can't be right."
"There are thirty-seven similar transactions."
Luxury vacations.
Designer handbags.
Private jets.
Spa retreats.
Jewelry.
Every expense had been disguised as business development or executive client relations.
Andrew turned sharply toward Daniel.
"I never approved these."
Daniel's expression was grim.
"No."
"You delegated executive spending authority last year."
Andrew's stomach tightened.
To Brenda.
He remembered signing the paperwork without reading it.
She had smiled, kissed him on the cheek, and promised she would "help lighten his workload."
Instead...
She had been writing checks.
Agent Harris closed the folder.
"We'll need your full cooperation."
Andrew nodded mechanically.
"I'll cooperate."
The investigators left as quietly as they had arrived.
No one spoke until the doors closed.
Then Andrew grabbed his phone and called Brenda.
Straight to voicemail.
He called again.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
His heartbeat accelerated.
He left the building and drove directly to the luxury penthouse where Brenda had been staying.
The concierge intercepted him before he reached the elevator.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Whitmore."
"I'm here to see Brenda."
The concierge hesitated.
"Ms. Collins checked out two hours ago."
Andrew frowned.
"What?"
"She requested that all forwarding information remain confidential."
His pulse quickened.
"Where did she go?"
"I'm not authorized to say."
Andrew rushed back outside.
He dialed her again.
Voicemail.
Then another notification appeared.
Transaction Alert
One of his remaining personal accounts had been emptied.
Nearly eight hundred thousand dollars.
Transferred overseas.
His hands began to shake.
"No..."
He opened the banking details.
The destination account holder made his blood run cold.
B. Collins Holdings Ltd.
Brenda.
She hadn't just left.
She had robbed him.
Across the city, Jonathan entered Mariana's office carrying a tablet.
"We've located Brenda."
Mariana looked up from the documents she was reviewing.
"Where?"
"Private airport."
"She booked a charter flight to the Cayman Islands."
Jonathan paused before adding,
"She left Andrew this morning."
Mariana closed the file in front of her.
For a long moment, she said nothing.
Finally, she spoke.
"She isn't running because she's afraid."
Jonathan nodded.
"She's running because she knows what's coming."
Mariana stood and walked toward the window overlooking the city skyline.
"Then don't stop her."
Jonathan looked surprised.
Mariana's voice remained calm.
"Sometimes the fastest way to expose every lie..."
"...is to let the liars believe they've escaped."
Behind her, Jonathan's phone buzzed with an incoming message from the investigative team.
He read it once.
Then looked up.
"Ms. Escalante..."
"The investigators just uncovered something much bigger than financial fraud."
"What is it?"
Jonathan's expression darkened.
May you like
"They found evidence that the emerald necklace..."
"...was never missing at all."
