Chapter 14 - The Scapegoat’s AwakeningBy Thursday afternoon, Sabrina realized she had been thoroughly, systematically abandoned.
Desperate and furious, she took a cab directly to the lobby of Crestmont Global headquarters, hoping to catch Arthur Vance or plead her case to human resources, convinced that some mistake had been made.
She bypassed the security turnstiles by slipping in behind a group of visiting auditors, marching straight toward the elevators. But before she could reach the private car bank, two building security guards flanked her path.
“Excuse me, Ms. Cole?” a deep, professional voice called out.
Sabrina spun around, tossing her blonde hair over her shoulder with an air of practiced defiance. “I need to speak with executive management. There has been an administrative error with my apartment lease—"
“There is no error,” Marcus, the head of corporate security, interrupted flatly, holding out a sealed legal envelope. “You are formally served with a notice of subpoena to appear before the federal grand jury as a cooperating witness regarding corporate fund embezzlement.”
Sabrina’s face drained of color. “Embezzlement? I didn't steal anything! Ethan told me the housing allowance was part of my executive promotional package!”
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“Mr. Caldwell signed documents classifying your rent as operational consulting,” Marcus replied without a shred of emotion. “Since no consulting services were rendered, the internal audit classifies your tenancy as receiving stolen corporate property. Your cooperation with the DOJ is your only remaining option.”
Sabrina stared at the envelope in horror, the reality of her choices finally crashing down around her. There was no white knight coming to save her. There was only the cold, unyielding machinery of the law.
