Chapter 4 - Victoria Says The Charges Were Legitimate
Victoria demanded a private board meeting.
Henry refused to let the matter continue in the ballroom.
The fundraiser ended early.
Guests left.
Staff gave statements.
Emma changed out of her service dress and into a borrowed blazer.
That small change altered how people looked at her.
She hated that.
The same words suddenly sounded more important because she no longer
wore an apron.
In the conference room, Victoria defended the invoices.
She said Coastal Luxe often handled confidential donors who required
privacy.
Transportation routes could not always be itemized.
Security arrangements were deliberately vague.
Luxury events included contingency spending.
Some of that was true.
Emma knew enough not to mistake discretion for fraud.
Then Lena produced one invoice for $118,000.
Description:
LEGACY DONOR RETENTION.
Victoria said it covered private cultivation events.
No event dates were listed.
No guest records.
No catering.
No location.
The payment had gone to Shoreline Advisory.
Brandon said Shoreline subcontracted high-level relationship management.
Emma asked:
“To whom?”
Nobody answered.
Then Henry noticed something worse.
The invoice had been paid from a restricted fund.
Money donors had specifically designated for Caroline Hale Youth
Housing.
The foundation’s gala budget was unrestricted.
Restricted housing money should never have paid for donor entertainment.
Victoria’s confidence finally cracked.
“That has to be a coding mistake.”
Emma looked at Lena.
May you like
Lena shook her head.
“It happened twelve times.”
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