Chapter 2 - THE MONEY MARK COULD NOT EXPLAIN
Mark’s entire body changed when the number appeared.
Fourteen million, six hundred thousand dollars.
Not a typo.
Not a projection.
Money.
Missing money.
He turned toward Sterling.
“That isn’t my department.”
“It moved through accounts authorized by your department,” Sterling replied.
Jessica stepped away from Mark by half a foot.
Small movement.
Important movement.
Mark noticed.
So did I.
The screen showed consulting payments made to three outside firms over eighteen months.
Horizon Strategy Group.
Red Arc Advisory.
Northwell Analytics.
Each had invoiced NovaStream for market intelligence.
Each had been approved by Mark.
The problem was simple.
None of them had real employees.
Sterling continued.
“All three entities ultimately route to the same beneficial owner.”
Mark swallowed.
“Who?”
I already knew.
That was why I had allowed the presentation to begin.
Sterling changed the slide.
JESSICA REED.
The room reacted instantly.
Jessica’s hand flew to the necklace.
“That’s false.”
I looked at her.
“Is it?”
“They’re investment vehicles.”
“Funded by NovaStream.”
“Mark approved legitimate consulting.”
Mark turned toward her.
“You told me those companies belonged to your brother.”
Jessica stared at him.
For the first time that night, they stopped looking like lovers.
They looked like co-defendants who had just learned their stories were different.
I walked toward the stage.
No one tried to stop me now.
Mark lowered his voice.
“Elena, whatever you think happened, we should talk privately.”
I almost smiled.
Private.
The place where men like Mark prefer consequences to happen.
“You made my value public,” I said. “We can make the truth public too.”
His eyes hardened.
“Don’t do this.”
“You already did.”
Sterling handed me the microphone.
I did not take it.
I did not need amplification.
“Mark, did you approve those payments?”
His jaw tightened.
“Yes, but—”
“Did you personally receive anything from Jessica’s companies?”
“No.”
Jessica looked at him.
That was interesting.
I noticed.
Mark did too.
He turned toward her.
“What?”
Jessica said nothing.
Sterling opened another file.
“Actually, Mr. Parker, we found six transfers into an account held by Parker Meridian LLC.”
Mark went pale.
I had never heard of Parker Meridian.
Neither, apparently, had he expected me to.
Sterling looked directly at me.
“The account was opened three years ago.”
Three years.
The same month Mark received the first promotion I had quietly helped him earn.
And the account had a second authorized signer.
May you like
Not Jessica.
My husband’s mother.
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