Chapter 4 - THE ASSISTANT WHO KEPT THE RECEIPTS
The woman waiting at the café was younger than Lucia expected.
Twenty-four.
Short brown hair.
Nervous eyes.
A canvas tote bag clutched against her chest.
“Mrs. Kellner?”
“Lucia is fine.”
“My name is Rachel Kim.”
Lucia recognized it immediately.
Rachel had been Dane's executive assistant before being abruptly dismissed six months earlier.
“I remember you.”
Rachel looked relieved.
“I wasn't sure you would.”
They sat near the window.
Rachel ordered tea but never touched it.
“I shouldn't have waited this long,” she said.
Lucia studied her.
“Tell me what happened.”
Rachel opened her bag.
Inside was a folder containing printed emails, expense reports, and calendar entries.
“I started noticing things last summer.”
“What things?”
“Payments to vendors that didn't seem to exist. Travel expenses that didn't match events. Consulting fees for people who weren't consultants.”
Lucia opened the first report.
A company named Northstar Creative Advisory had received $380,000 over nine months.
“Who owns Northstar?”
Rachel swallowed.
“Gianna's brother.”
Lucia looked up.
“Are you sure?”
“I checked the corporate registration.”
Rachel slid another document across the table.
Lucia read the name.
Marco Moretti.
She felt her stomach tighten.
Rachel continued.
“I told Dane the invoices needed supporting documentation.”
“What did he say?”
“He told me not to interfere with executive strategy.”
“And then?”
“Two weeks later, I was fired for poor performance.”
Lucia looked at her.
“Why are you coming forward now?”
Rachel's eyes filled.
“Because I saw Noah's speech.”
She wiped her cheek.
“My mother worked three jobs when I was little. I know what it's like when people pretend a woman's work doesn't count.”
Lucia said nothing.
Rachel continued.
“And because I signed off on some of those payments. I didn't know they were improper at the time, but I'm afraid Dane will blame me.”
Lucia nodded.
“You should have your own lawyer.”
Rachel looked surprised.
“Your lawyer said the same thing.”
Lucia blinked.
“You've spoken to Evelyn?”
“I contacted her office first. She told me not to give you original documents or discuss privileged matters. These are copies I lawfully retained, and she's arranging an appropriate way to review them.”
Lucia felt a small surge of gratitude.
At least someone was proceeding carefully.
***
The documents revealed an elaborate pattern.
Northstar Creative Advisory billed for “brand transformation.”
Moretti Hospitality Services charged for event logistics that never occurred.
A third company, Harborlight Ventures, received large transfers labeled strategic acquisition costs.
Several payments had been approved using Lucia's electronic credentials.
Credentials she had not used in months.
Evelyn immediately advised preserving account access records and seeking independent forensic review.
Lucia listened in stunned silence.
Then asked, “How much?”
Evelyn looked at the preliminary totals.
“Potentially several million dollars.”
Lucia stared.
“From our company?”
“Possibly. We need to distinguish legitimate payments from improper ones.”
“And Dane?”
“We'll follow the records.”
***
That evening, Dane arrived home carrying flowers.
White ranunculus.
Lucia's favorite.
He placed them on the kitchen counter.
“I thought we could start over.”
Lucia stared at the bouquet.
Once, those flowers would have softened her.
Now they looked like a prop.
“Start over?”
He smiled.
“Put the gala behind us.”
“What about Gianna?”
His smile faded.
“Lucia.”
“Are you having an affair with her?”
He sighed.
“It's complicated.”
“No. It's a yes-or-no question.”
Dane looked away.
Then said, “Yes.”
The admission landed quietly.
Lucia had expected rage.
Instead, she felt an exhausted clarity.
“How long?”
“Almost a year.”
She nodded.
“And the brooch?”
He rubbed his forehead.
“She admired it.”
“So you gave it to her.”
“I was going to replace it.”
Lucia stared.
“You can't replace something my grandmother wore for forty years.”
Dane looked irritated.
“It's a piece of jewelry.”
“No. It was a piece of my family.”
He stepped closer.
“I made a mistake.”
“You made hundreds of choices.”
His jaw tightened.
“Are we really going to throw away twelve years over this?”
Lucia looked at him.
“You already did.”
***
Dane's expression changed.
He put the flowers down.
“Then let's discuss the business.”
Lucia remained silent.
“You'll receive a settlement. But you need to stop contacting employees.”
“I haven't been soliciting employees.”
“Rachel Kim called you.”
Lucia's pulse jumped.
How did he know?
Dane smiled.
“People talk.”
He moved closer.
“I know you're upset. But you're not equipped to fight me.”
Lucia looked directly at him.
“Then why are you so worried?”
For a moment, his expression became unfamiliar.
Cold.
Calculating.
Then he walked toward the door.
“Talk to your lawyer.”
“I already have.”
He stopped.
Lucia continued.
“And Dane?”
He turned.
“Don't bring flowers to apologize for stealing my grandmother's jewelry.”
His face reddened.
He left without answering.
***
Ten minutes later, Lucia received a call from Rachel.
Her voice was shaking.
“Lucia, someone was outside my apartment.”
“What?”
“A man took photographs of my car.”
“Did you call the police?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Rachel began crying.
“I think Dane knows.”
Lucia looked toward the flowers on the counter.
The affair had destroyed her marriage.
But the missing money had made the situation dangerous.
And Dane Kellner was no longer merely trying to humiliate his wife.
May you like
He was trying to protect a secret worth millions.
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