Chapter 7 - THE SECRET BEHIND MALLORY'S MEETINGS
Three days later, I received a call from our finance director.
Her name was Olivia Chen.
She had worked with us for four years.
She was careful.
Reliable.
And rarely called outside business hours.
“Katherine.”
“Olivia.”
“I need to show you something.”
My stomach tightened.
“What?”
“Mallory's expense reports.”
I closed my eyes.
“Of course.”
Olivia hesitated.
“There are several unusual charges.”
I sat down.
“Such as?”
“Hotels. Flights. Client entertainment.”
I frowned.
“That's normal for business development.”
“Yes.”
A pause.
“But some of the meetings don't appear to have happened.”
I went still.
“What?”
Olivia continued.
“Mallory submitted invoices for meetings in Marseille.”
My stomach tightened.
“Marseille?”
“Yes.”
I remembered Ryan's explanation.
Mallory had meetings in Marseille.
They wrapped early.
That was why she appeared at breakfast with a suitcase.
I closed my eyes.
“Olivia.”
“Yes?”
“Send me everything.”
Within an hour, the documents arrived.
I reviewed them carefully.
Then noticed something.
Mallory's supposed Marseille meetings were scheduled for the exact dates she spent with us in Provence.
The invoices listed consulting sessions with a French hospitality group.
But the company had no record of those meetings.
I called the French firm directly.
Their finance department confirmed that no such meetings had been arranged.
I sat back.
Mallory had not simply joined our honeymoon.
She had used company funds to help pay for the trip.
And Ryan had approved the expenses.
I stared at his electronic signature.
May you like
Then whispered:
“Oh, Ryan.”
