Chapter 3 - The Accountant’s Final Ledger
The mention of the accountant sent a visible tremor through Julian’s frame. Marcus Vance, his cousin and chief financial officer, had been missing since noon. Julian had assumed Marcus was simply finalizing the catering accounts, but the reality was far more lethal. Marcus had cracked under the pressure of federal audits looming on the horizon, choosing to throw Julian under the bus to save his own skin. Caroline’s revelation hung in the air like smoke from a dying fire, poisoning every remaining vestige of Julian’s credibility.
"Marcus is an unstable liar," Julian spat out, though the conviction in his voice was entirely gone. He stood up slowly, towering over the table, attempting to regain physical dominance through sheer height. "He embezzled the funds himself and tried to frame me to protect his own offshore accounts."
"Really?" Caroline raised an eyebrow, unfazed by his intimidation tactic. She pulled a folded legal affidavit from the pocket of her dark red dress and tossed it onto the table. "This is a sworn confession, signed, notarized, and filed with the federal prosecutor's office three hours ago. It details every single wire transfer used to buy the house in Greenwich, Connecticut, where your mistress and your son currently reside."
Arthur Sterling stood up slowly from his seat at the head of the table, his face dark with fury. As the founder and majority shareholder of Sterling Global, Arthur had zero tolerance for personal scandals that threatened stock values. He stared at Julian with absolute disgust.
"The board will convene an emergency session in twenty minutes, Julian," Arthur said coldly. "Consider yourself suspended from all executive duties effective immediately. Hand over your corporate keys and your security badge right now."
Julian’s heart hammered against his ribs like a trapped bird. The realization that his entire livelihood, his social standing, and his freedom were evaporating in front of his closest associates paralyzed him. He reached into his tuxedo jacket slowly, his fingers brushing against the cold metal of his gold-plated security token.
"Arthur, let me explain," Julian pleaded, his voice cracking slightly. "There's context you don't understand. The mother of that child—she's not who you think she is."
Caroline let out a dry, humorless laugh. She picked up the photograph of the baby from the open folder, holding it up for the entire room to see.
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"Oh, we know exactly who she is, Julian," Caroline said smoothly. "And she is currently standing in the lobby downstairs, waiting to meet you."
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