Chapter 7 - The Federal Audit
The fallout was biblical.
By the next morning, the board of directors of Thorne Innovations—the board I now openly controlled—held an emergency vote. Julian was terminated as CEO with extreme prejudice. He wasn't even allowed back into the building to collect his things. Security boxed up his office and left it on the curb.
But losing the company was just the beginning.
Because I was a former forensic accountant, I didn't just hand the FBI a tip. I handed them a fully indexed, cross-referenced, and highlighted roadmap of Julian and Elena's entire embezzlement scheme.
Three days after the divorce was finalized, the FBI raided the penthouse.
Julian was dragged out in handcuffs on live television, wearing wrinkled sweatpants. The $300 million he had tried to offer me was seized as stolen corporate funds. His cars were impounded. His credit cards were canceled.
He tried to use his one phone call from the holding cell to call me. I let it go straight to voicemail.
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“Clara, they’re denying me bail. My lawyers quit because I can't pay their retainers. Please, I’m begging you, post my bail. I’ll do anything. I’m sorry.”
I deleted the message and went back to baking chocolate chip cookies with Leo.
