Chapter 12 - The Audit
Celia Monroe did not touch her wine. She sat rigidly in her chair, her expression completely unreadable. As Grant finished his grand speech about his unwavering integrity, Celia calmly unzipped her leather portfolio and withdrew a thick red folder, placing it dead center on the dining table.
"The audit is complete, Grant," Celia said, her voice sharp and clinical. "And it paints a very different picture of your division's success. The review attributes your alleged twenty percent profit margin directly to falsified vendor invoices."
The dining room went dead still. Grant’s wine glass stopped swirling. "I... I don't know what you're talking about," he stammered, the color beginning to drain from his face. "Those junior staff errors—"
"Were ordered by you," Celia interrupted, opening the folder. "We have recovered encrypted emails proving that you explicitly ordered three of your subordinates to alter invoice dates, inflate material costs, and destroy the original subcontractor contracts immediately after the quarterly review."
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Grant swallowed hard, looking at Julian for help. "Julian, sir, this is a misunderstanding. A witch hunt by bitter employees."
Julian leaned back in his chair, folding his hands. "Keep going, Celia."
