Chapter 4: The Investigation Deepens
The news of the scandal spread through the Vance Conglomerate like wildfire. By the time Vanessa was escorted off the airport property in the back of a black SUV, the firm’s legal team had already frozen every account connected to her name. David and Sarah retreated to their private penthouse in the city, but the luxury did little to hide the gravity of what had been discovered.
"She’s been hiding the paper trail for months, David," Sarah said, sitting in the study with a stack of forensic reports. "She wasn't just acting on her own. She was working with our competitors in the Asian markets. She’s been leaking proprietary data to drive down our stock price before a merger."
David watched his wife, a sense of awe washing over him. Sarah had spent the last two months working with their internal auditors, tracing the digital footprints that Vanessa thought were invisible. She had acted as an undercover asset, gathering evidence while being bullied in the office, all to protect the family empire.
"She’s an amateur, but she’s dangerous," David replied, pacing the room. "She didn't do this alone. She had help from someone inside the board."
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"I found the link," Sarah added, sliding a document across the table. "It’s Marcus, the CFO. They were splitting the funds. If we confront him now, he’ll destroy the evidence. We need to be surgical."
David looked at the document, his jaw tightening. This was the ultimate betrayal. He had trusted his inner circle with everything, and he was being stabbed in the back by the very people who stood on the stage with him every quarter.
