Chapter 7 - THE AUDIT OF LIES
Donald Vance,
the forensic accountant,
cleared his throat,
drawing everyone's attention to the thick ledger in front of him.
"If I may,"
Donald said,
his voice dry and devoid of any human warmth.
"Mister Whitmore has been busy during these past nine months."
He turned a page,
pointing to a column of figures highlighted in bright yellow.
"We have identified twelve separate shell corporations registered in Delaware.
All of them were established using funds diverted from the Whitmore Group's primary accounts.
However,
the primary accounts of the Whitmore Group are entirely funded by the Evelyn Vance Trust."
Sienna looked at Grant,
her breathing becoming shallow and fast.
"Grant,
what are shell corporations?
You told me we were starting a new consulting firm."
"Be quiet,
Sienna,"
Grant snapped,
his voice sharp with panic.
It was the first time he had ever spoken to her like that,
and the shock on her face was immediate.
"Don't tell me to be quiet!"
she yelled,
her voice echoing through the open space.
"I am wearing her robe,
standing in her living room,
because you told me this was all ours!"
"It is ours,"
Grant lied,
though his voice lacked any strength.
"She is bluffing,
Sienna.
She cannot touch the company assets without a board vote."
Arthur Bell leaned forward,
resting his hands on the table.
"The board held an emergency meeting this afternoon at two o'clock,
Mister Whitmore.
As the majority shareholder,
representing the estate,
Evelyn has removed you from your position as Chief Executive Officer."
The words hung in the air,
heavy and final.
Grant stared at Arthur,
his mouth opening slightly but no sound coming out.
"You cannot do that,"
he finally managed to say.
"The bylaws require a fourteen-day notice."
"Not in the event of documented corporate embezzlement,"
Madeleine Cross replied,
May you like
sliding another document across the table.
"Which we filed with the district attorney's office at five o'clock today."
