Chapter 16 - The Audit of Blood

Arthur’s face turned gray as the screen filled with thousands of line-item transactions, wire transfers, and bank statements spanning a fifteen-year period.
"What is the meaning of this?" Arthur barked, slamming his hand on the table. "Turn that off immediately!"
"These are the forensic audit logs of Pendelton & Associates," I announced, my voice ringing through the room with unquestionable authority. "Prepared by my independent auditing team and verified by the Securities and Exchange Commission."
The screens displayed the true owner of Vance Holding LLC. It wasn't Daniel. It wasn't Natalie. The shell company had been created twelve years ago by a corporate holding firm registered in Delaware—wholly owned by Arthur Pendelton.
"For over a decade," I explained, turning to face the shocked board members, "Arthur has been systematically embezzling funds from the firm's legacy trust—the very trust my father created. When he realized I was beginning to audit the family accounts after my father's passing, he needed a scapegoat. He used my husband's vanity and Natalie Brooks's greed to frame Daniel for his own twelve-million-dollar theft."
The side doors of the boardroom swung open.
Two federal agents walked into the room, followed by Daniel, who was wearing a clean suit and holding a stack of sworn affidavits.
May you like
Arthur rose from his chair, his body trembling with rage. "This is a absurd farce! Daniel is a convicted thief! You can't trust a word he says!"
"They don't have to trust Daniel, Arthur," I said softly, stepping closer to him. "They have your voice on tape. And they have your signature on Natalie’s NDA."