I reached into my clutch and pulled out my smartphone. The screen illuminated my face. Gavin saw the clinical certainty in my eyes, and the first true wave of terror washed over his features.
“You thought you could use corporate funds to finance your affair,” I said, locking eyes with Veronica. “You thought you could funnel hundreds of thousands of dollars into a Delaware shell company to buy a luxury condo. But you forgot that a hidden burner phone is only secure if the person packing the suitcase doesn’t know how to crack a simple passcode.”
I tapped the screen.
The digital payload launched.
It started as a single sharp ping from a board member’s pocket. Then another chime. Within three seconds, the entire VIP circle erupted into a chaotic symphony of notification alerts. The executives pulled out their phones, opening the highly encrypted emails. Curiosity instantly morphed into absolute, unadulterated shock as they scrolled through the meticulous forensic accounting Harrison and I had compiled, proving their trusted SVP was systematically stealing their money.
The Chairman of the Board lowered his phone, his face a mask of volcanic fury. The execution was flawlessly executed.
Chapter 5: The Spoils of War
The Chief Executive Officer, Jonathan Pierce, stepped into the center of the circle, his voice carrying a terrifyingly quiet authority. “Veronica. Gavin. My private suite is down the hall. Move. Now.”
Panic-stricken, Veronica turned to her ultimate shield. “Harrison,” she demanded, her voice trembling. “We are leaving. Come with me right now.”
Harrison didn’t move an inch. With his free hand, he reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a thick manila envelope, tossing it so it landed with a heavy thud directly at her champagne-soaked shoes.
