Chapter 10 - Late Night Audits
The penthouse study was bathed in the soft, warm glow of desk lamps. It was 2:00 AM. Stacks of printed financial ledgers covered the massive oak table.
Elena rubbed her tired eyes, sipping from a mug of black coffee. She had spent the last three days pouring over routing numbers and offshore wire transfers alongside Julian. Despite her lack of a corporate background, Elena was sharp. Years of balancing a household budget on seventy dollars a week had given her a meticulous eye for missing pennies.
“Look at this,” Elena said, pointing her pen at a spreadsheet from 2016. “Every time the Sterling Foundation donated to the Caribbean Relief Fund, a subsidiary called 'Vanguard Holdings' charged a massive consulting fee.”
Julian leaned over her shoulder to look at the document. He was close enough that Elena could smell his cologne—a rich scent of cedar and bergamot. Her breath hitched slightly. The physical proximity to him was becoming increasingly distracting. He was fiercely protective, brilliantly sharp, and undeniably magnetic.
“Vanguard Holdings,” Julian muttered, his voice a low rumble near her ear. He typed the name into a secure encrypted terminal on his laptop. The screen flashed green. “It’s a shell company. Registered in the Caymans. The primary signatory is listed under a blind trust.”
“Can we trace the trust?” Elena asked, turning her head. She was inches from his face.
Julian’s dark eyes flicked from the screen to her lips, lingering for a fraction of a second before meeting her gaze. The air in the room suddenly felt very thick.
“I have a contact at the Swiss bank,” Julian said, his voice slightly hoarse. He cleared his throat and stepped back, creating a safe distance. “If he can confirm Victor is the beneficiary of the trust, we have him. It proves he siphoned the funds and framed David to cover his tracks.”
“And then what?” Elena asked softly. “We call the police?”
“We call the FBI,” Julian corrected, his jaw tightening. “Victor goes to federal prison for the rest of his life. And you and Maya will finally be free.”
Before Elena could respond, Julian’s encrypted cell phone vibrated on the desk. He picked it up, his expression darkening.
May you like
“It’s Marcus,” Julian said, answering the call. “What is it?”
As Julian listened, all the color drained from his face. “Lock down the building. Now.”
