Chapter 8 - THE NIGHT EMILY WAS ACCUSED
The flash drive contained current transactions.
Recent transfers.
Names.
Dates.
Payments to companies linked to Victor Bellini.
It also contained a video.
Nora Whitfield sat inside the hidden thirteenth-floor office.
Her face was pale.
“If you're watching this, I may not be able to explain what I found.”
Emily leaned toward the screen.
Nora continued.
“The employee benefits reserve is being used to move money from illegal operations through legitimate payroll accounts. Workers are being charged for benefits they never receive.”
She swallowed.
“Victor Bellini controls the accounts. Thomas Keller handles the records.”
Then Nora looked toward the door.
Someone knocked.
The video ended.
Emily felt sick.
Nora had died the following evening.
***
The next morning, hotel security detained Emily at the employee entrance.
A supervisor approached.
“Miss Hayes, we need you to come with us.”
“Why?”
“There's been a theft.”
Emily stared.
“What theft?”
“Confidential financial documents.”
Her stomach dropped.
Roman was away meeting investigators.
Gabriel was off-site.
And the supervisor standing before her was one of Victor's longtime associates.
Emily stepped backward.
“I want my attorney.”
The man smiled.
“This is an internal matter.”
“Then it can wait.”
He reached for her arm.
Emily pulled away.
“Don't touch me.”
Employees began watching.
The supervisor raised his voice.
“Emily Hayes has been caught stealing company property.”
A murmur moved through the lobby.
Emily felt heat rise into her face.
For eighteen months, she had worked quietly.
Helped people.
Covered shifts.
Never asked for recognition.
Now someone was trying to turn her into a criminal in front of the people she loved.
The supervisor held up a folder.
“Documents were found in your locker.”
Emily stared.
“I didn't put them there.”
“Of course you didn't.”
Then Samuel Price stepped forward.
“Leave her alone.”
The supervisor turned.
“Go back to your post.”
Samuel didn't move.
Walter Green appeared beside him.
Then Luis Ortega.
Henry Coleman.
One by one, employees gathered.
Not shouting.
Not threatening.
Simply refusing to leave Emily alone.
The supervisor looked around.
“This is insubordination.”
Samuel lifted his chin.
“Then write us all up.”
***
Roman arrived twelve minutes later.
He entered the lobby with Gabriel and two attorneys.
The supervisor went pale.
“Mr. Bellini—”
Roman looked at Emily.
“Are you all right?”
She nodded.
Then shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Roman turned toward the supervisor.
“Why was she detained?”
“Confidential records were found in her locker.”
“Who searched it?”
“I did.”
“Under whose authority?”
The man hesitated.
Roman's voice became quiet.
“Answer.”
“Victor Bellini.”
Roman looked at Gabriel.
“Preserve the security footage. Notify the investigators.”
Then he turned to Emily.
“You can leave with your attorney if you want. You don't have to answer questions here.”
Emily stared at him.
The man everyone feared was giving her a choice.
She looked at the employees gathered around her.
Samuel.
Walter.
Luis.
Henry.
Dozens more.
Her throat tightened.
“I want to stay.”
Roman nodded.
“Then stay.”
She lifted her chin.
“And I want everyone to know I didn't steal anything.”
Roman looked at the crowd.
“The allegations against Emily Hayes are unverified. Nobody is to treat her as guilty.”
The supervisor tried to speak.
Roman turned.
“You're suspended pending investigation.”
The man fell silent.
Emily looked at Roman.
For the first time, she saw something beyond his power.
She saw a man willing to use it differently.
May you like
And that frightened her heart more than his reputation ever had.
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