Chapter 5 - THE PRICE OF LOYALTY
Dante arrived that evening.
He looked furious.
“Sal's disappeared.”
Dominic turned.
“When?”
“Two hours ago.”
I stood near the window, holding a cup of tea I hadn't touched.
Dante glanced at me.
Then looked at Dominic.
“Why is she still here?”
Dominic's expression hardened.
“Because she found the discrepancy.”
Dante frowned.
“She's a secretary.”
I felt the familiar sting.
Dominic didn't raise his voice.
“She identified four hundred and eighty thousand dollars in fraudulent payments that your entire accounting team missed.”
Dante looked at me again.
This time, differently.
I set down the tea.
“Actually, it's more.”
Both men turned.
I opened my notebook.
“The four hundred and eighty thousand was only the last three weeks.”
Dominic stepped closer.
“How much?”
I swallowed.
“Eleven point six million dollars over five years.”
Dante swore.
Dominic went silent.
I continued.
“The payments were disguised as insurance premiums, storage adjustments, and equipment leases.”
“Who signed them?” Dante demanded.
I looked at him.
“That's the problem.”
He frowned.
“What problem?”
“The authorizations were issued under Dominic's digital credentials.”
The silence was immediate.
Dominic stared at me.
“Mine?”
I nodded.
“But the login records show the approvals were made while you were overseas.”
Dante looked furious.
“Someone cloned his access.”
“Possibly.”
Dominic studied the documents.
Then looked at Dante.
“Who manages my credentials?”
Dante hesitated.
“Sal's finance team.”
I shook my head.
“Not exclusively.”
Both men looked at me.
I swallowed.
“There's another administrator.”
“Who?” Dominic asked.
I looked down.
May you like
Then whispered:
“Someone inside this office.”
