Chapter 3 - The Audit
"Three years," Miranda choked out, the reality crashing down on her. "You have been scrubbing my floors for three years. Why?!"
"Because three years ago, my grandfather noticed a massive discrepancy in the quarterly payments of Sterling Real Estate," I explained, taking a slow step toward her. The crowd parted entirely, leaving Miranda isolated in the center of her own ballroom. "Your late husband took out a four-hundred-million-dollar loan from our firm to keep this empire afloat. But after he died, the money started vanishing."
Miranda’s breath hitched. Her eyes darted wildly around the room, searching for an ally, but her wealthy friends were suddenly staring at the floor or whispering behind their hands.
"You told the board you were restructuring," I continued, my tone completely merciless. "But my grandfather didn't believe you. He needed someone on the inside. Someone completely invisible, whom you would ignore, overlook, and speak freely in front of."
I smiled, tilting my head.
"And you were right, Miranda. People like me—the ones who clean your bathrooms and serve your wine—we are completely invisible to you. Which is exactly why I was able to spend the last thirty-six months photographing every hidden ledger in your home office, copying your offshore routing numbers, and documenting the millions of dollars you illegally embezzled from your own company to fund your luxury lifestyle."
"You... you have no proof!" Miranda shrieked, the sophisticated billionaire facade shattering into pieces.
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"She has all of it, Mom," Julian interrupted, his voice heavy with resignation and shame. He pulled a thick, black leather folder from beneath his arm. "I saw the files this morning. You didn't just steal from Cross Vanguard. You stole from my inheritance. You stole from the employees' pension fund to pay for this mansion."
Julian turned to me. "I signed the proxy transfer an hour ago, Valerie. It's done."
