CHAPTER 1 — THE DIRECTOR WHO TRIED TO RUN
CHAPTER 1 — THE DIRECTOR WHO TRIED TO RUN
The director had almost reached the ballroom doors.
"Stop him."
Phoebe didn't raise her voice.
She didn't have to.
Two security officers from Sterling Holdings stepped directly into the man's path before he could touch the handle.
The ballroom grew unnaturally quiet.
Everyone watched.
The director slowly turned around.
Sweat rolled down his temple.
"I... I think there's been a misunderstanding."
Phoebe smiled.
"No."
She walked toward the board table in measured steps, every heel clicking against the marble like a countdown.
"The misunderstanding ended the moment I walked into this room."
Spencer finally found his voice.
"Phoebe..."
His words cracked.
"You... you never told me."
She looked at him for barely a second.
"You never asked."
His mistress, Vanessa, wrapped both hands around Spencer's arm.
"This has to be fake."
She laughed nervously.
"She's lying."
One board member quietly slid a thick leather folder across the table.
"Our legal department verified Ms. Sterling's identity one hour ago."
Silence.
Vanessa's smile disappeared.
Spencer felt his stomach twist.
Everything suddenly made sense.
The old apartment.
The cheap clothes.
The ancient navy dress.
The woman who never asked him for expensive gifts.
She hadn't been poor.
She had simply never cared.
His legs felt weak.
Phoebe turned toward the trembling director.
"Mr. Collins."
He swallowed.
"Three weeks ago..."
She opened another folder.
"...you authorized a $280 million investment."
He nodded slowly.
"Yes..."
"You claimed I personally approved it."
"Correct."
Phoebe placed one document onto the table.
"My signature?"
Collins forced a smile.
"Yes."
She placed another document beside it.
"My real signature."
Then another.
"And the forensic handwriting analysis."
Every face around the table changed.
Someone whispered,
"Oh my God..."
The signatures weren't even close.
Collins staggered backward.
"This... this is impossible."
Phoebe's eyes became ice.
"No."
"It's fraud."
Before anyone spoke again...
The ballroom doors burst open.
Three federal financial investigators walked inside.
One of them held up a warrant.
"We're looking for everyone involved in the forged investment authorization."
Every executive stopped breathing.
Then the lead investigator looked directly at Spencer.
May you like
"And we need to ask your CEO a few questions."
Cliffhanger...
