Chapter 4 - THE HOTEL RECEIPT
The audit began on Monday.
My team reviewed expense reports.
Corporate credit card statements.
Vendor invoices.
Travel authorizations.
And payment records.
By Wednesday, we found the first irregularity.
A luxury hotel suite in Manhattan.
September eighteenth.
Billed as a supplier negotiation expense.
Total cost: $8,740.
I stared at the invoice.
Then opened another file.
A private dining charge.
A jewelry purchase.
A limousine service.
All charged to a corporate account.
My assistant, Olivia, looked at me.
“That's personal spending.”
I nodded.
“Yes.”
She hesitated.
“Maren…”
I looked up.
She swallowed.
“I'm sorry.”
I smiled faintly.
“Don't be.”
She looked confused.
I continued.
“This isn't about my marriage anymore.”
I pointed at the screen.
“This is about whether investors were misled.”
Olivia nodded.
We continued.
By Friday, we found more.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars in questionable expenses.
Then millions.
Payments to consulting firms with no clear deliverables.
Inflated contractor invoices.
Transfers between related companies.
I leaned back.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Ethan's affair had exposed the first lie.
But the financial records suggested something much larger.
I called Warren.
“We need to meet.”
His voice tightened.
“What did you find?”
I looked at the spreadsheet.
May you like
Then answered.
“Your son isn't the only problem.”
