Chapter 5 - The Final Audit
The boardroom on the 45th floor of the Calloway Tower was packed to capacity.
When Rachel and I walked through the double doors, the fierce whispering among the remaining senior partners stopped instantly. Every head turned in our direction. Faces that used to greet me with condescending smiles or patronizing nods now looked pale, terrified, and desperate.
At the head of the long glass table sat Richard Vance, the founding senior partner and Ethan’s primary mentor—a silver-haired, immaculate corporate titan who had spent his career defending white-collar criminals. Today, even his expensive Brioni suit couldn't hide the panic sweating through his collar.
"Kirsten..." Richard began, standing up hastily and offering a nervous, trembling smile. "We were just discussing the... unfortunate situation regarding Ethan. As a firm, we want to make it unequivocally clear that Ethan’s actions were entirely rogue. We had no knowledge of his financial improprieties or—"
"Save it, Richard," I cut him off, walking smoothly to the head of the table and pulling out the central leather chair—the one Ethan used to occupy. I sat down, resting my hands flat on the glass surface.
Kenneth Boyd stepped up beside me, opening a thick binder and distributing copies to every partner at the table.
"As primary trustee of the Calloway Estate and principal equity holder of the commercial real estate underwriting this entire building," I announced, my voice clear, commanding, and echoing off the glass walls, "I am exercising section 9 clause 4 of the corporate charter."
Richard’s face went slack. "Section 9 clause 4? Kirsten, you can't—that dissolves the partnership's primary operating license!"
"Not only can I dissolve the operating license," Kenneth chimed in smoothly, adjusting his glasses, "we’ve also audited the firm’s general ledger for the past four years. We found over four million dollars in untraced corporate subsidies funneled directly into offshore accounts controlled by Richard Vance and Ethan Fleming. The federal indictments for corporate racketeering are scheduled to be unsealed at noon."
Chaos erupted around the table. Partners began shouting over one another, accusing Richard of dragging them down, while others scrambled for their briefcases, realizing the ship was not just sinking—it was blowing up.
Richard slammed his hands down on the glass table. "You can't prove a damn thing! This is a hostile takeover! You're destroying everything we built!"
"We built," I repeated, standing up slowly and looking down at the man who had mentored the husband who tried to kill me. "Ethan was an employee. You were a thief with a law license. And I am the person who owns the foundation you built your entire career on."
May you like
I picked up my briefcase, gave Richard one last cold, dismissive look, and turned toward the door.
"Have your lawyers call Kenneth," I added over my shoulder. "Though I suggest you spend your time finding a good criminal defense attorney instead. You're going to need one."
