Chapter 2: The Price of Betrayal
Chapter 2: The Price of Betrayal
The chief legal officer stood.
"Mr. Hale, over the last six months you submitted eighty-three expense reports."
The screen behind him lit up.
Luxury restaurants.
Private jets.
Designer jewelry.
Spa retreats.
Every receipt carried the same authorization code.
Whitmore Holdings.
Dominic swallowed hard.
"They were client meetings."
Another screen appeared.
Security footage.
Dominic and Vanessa drinking champagne.
Shopping.
Vacationing.
Laughing beside hotel pools.
No clients.
Only deception.
Then came the hotel surveillance from the previous night.
Every second.
Vanessa throwing the five-dollar bill.
Dominic remaining silent.
The entire board watched without speaking.
One elderly director quietly removed his glasses.
"I've worked here thirty years."
"I've never witnessed such disgrace."
Vanessa suddenly stood.
"This has nothing to do with me!"
Evelyn finally looked at her.
"It has everything to do with you."
She slid a folder across the table.
"Those gifts you accepted..."
"...were purchased with corporate funds."
Vanessa's face turned white.
"You can explain the rest to federal investigators."
Two compliance officers stepped forward.
Vanessa's confidence disappeared instantly.
Then Evelyn slowly reached into her pocket.
She unfolded the same five-dollar bill.
Still perfectly crisp.
She placed it in front of Dominic.
"You told me to go home."
"You watched someone throw this at me."
"You said nothing."
Dominic could barely breathe.
"I was wrong."
"No."
Evelyn replied quietly.
"You were honest."
May you like
"You simply showed everyone who you truly were."
