Chapter 7 - The Midnight Audit
By 1:00 AM, the glitter of the Manhattan gala was a distant memory. Evelyn sat behind the colossal, mahogany executive desk on the 68th floor of the Blackstone Crest Tower. The city lights stretched out beneath her like a circuit board of glowing stars, entirely hers to command.
The heavy oak doors of the office opened quietly, and Arthur Pendelton stepped inside, carrying a thick leather-bound folio and a sleek tablet. He placed them neatly on the pristine desk before taking a seat without needing to be asked.
"The assets have been successfully secured," Arthur reported, his tone entirely professional. "The Greenwich estate is under complete lockdown by our security detail. All personal accounts belonging to Everett Vance have been frozen down to the last cent. His credit cards have all been flagged as fraudulent due to the emergency corporate severance, and his passport has been flagged for domestic travel restriction pending the corporate embezzlement audit."
Evelyn didn't look up from her tablet, where she was reviewing the live balance sheets of the holding company. "Embezzlement?"
"Ah," Arthur allowed himself a rare, razor-thin smile. "While reviewing the preliminary financial logs requested during your emergency directive, our forensics team uncovered several irregularities in Everett’s personal lifestyle expenditures over the past three years. Unauthorized shell company transfers, luxury yacht charters billed as 'client acquisition meetings,' and direct payouts to high-end boutiques—all funded through corporate subsidiaries."
Evelyn finally raised her eyes, a cold gleam in her gaze. "How much?"
"Roughly twelve point four million dollars," Arthur replied smoothly. "Technically, it constitutes corporate fraud punishable by up to fifteen years in federal prison."
Evelyn leaned back in her high-backed leather chair, her fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest. "Let him stew in his misery for forty-eight hours first. Let him experience what it feels like to sleep on a park bench or beg for a meal. Then, let the district attorney know that Blackstone Crest is prepared to cooperate fully with a criminal investigation."
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"Consider it done," Arthur nodded, standing up and buttoning his suit jacket. "Is there anything else for tonight, Madam Chairman?"
"Just one thing, Arthur," Evelyn said softly, staring out the massive floor-to-ceiling window at the empire she had quietly built from the shadows. "Make sure the press release goes out at 6:00 AM sharp. I want the world to know exactly who runs Blackstone Crest."
