Chapter 2 - The Boardroom Audit
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At precisely 8:57 the next morning, Evan walked into the headquarters of Whitmore Freight wearing the navy suit reserved exclusively for his victories.
He strutted into the top-floor boardroom with his chin high, expecting to find an empty room or perhaps a few terrified department heads. Instead, he found me sitting at the head of the dark mahogany table.
"You're not authorized to be here anymore, Clara," Evan sneered, pulling out a chair. "The divorce is finalized. You're yesterday's news."
Naomi stepped forward and quietly closed the heavy double doors behind him, locking the brass handle with a sharp click.
"I am authorized," I said, setting my father's leather notebook on the table.
Evan’s smile faltered. Behind him, Barbara hurried into the room, her face covered in heavy foundation to hide the red handprints from yesterday. She glared at me with pure venom.
Naomi began passing out thick white packets to the six board members seated around the room.
Evan flipped through the first page and let out a forced, condescending laugh. "Expense irregularities? Is this your pathetic attempt at revenge, Clara? You're suing me over travel receipts?"
"No," I replied, leaning back in my chair. "This isn't revenge. This is an official audit."
Naomi tapped a remote, illuminating the massive wall monitor with financial flowcharts.
"Over the past eight months," Naomi announced, "we traced $2.8 million in unauthorized corporate transfers to a company named Apex Events. Apex Events is registered under the sole ownership of Barbara Whitmore."
The boardroom broke into instant, low hushed whispers.
Evan slammed his palm onto the mahogany table. "I’m the CEO! I approved those operational expenses!"
"And I control seventy-two percent of the company's voting shares," I said smoothly.
Silence descended upon the room like a physical weight.
Barbara stared at me, her mouth hanging open. "You don't control anything. My son runs this company!"
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I opened the red folder resting in front of me and slid my father's original trust documents across the glass surface.
"My father placed his controlling stake into a private trust controlled exclusively by his biological heir," I said. "I allowed Evan to manage daily operations because I was his wife. I am no longer his wife."
