Chapter 8 - The Line Rachel Refused to Protect
Monica warned Rachel that a complete disclosure could cost Mercer Event Group its bank financing.
Rachel authorized it anyway.
The independent directors were informed about Diane’s original misuse of client deposits, the false vendor invoices, Derek’s later diversions, and the unauthorized use of Rachel’s approval token.
The company’s insurer was notified.
So was its lender.
Diane resigned temporarily as board chair.
Payroll still went out that Friday, but several major clients delayed future bookings until the review was complete.
Employees began calling Rachel.
Some were scared.
A banquet captain named Lisa asked if they should start looking for jobs.
Rachel could not promise otherwise.
“I’m sorry.”
Lisa sighed.
“My husband was laid off last year.”
Rachel sat in her kitchen after the call staring at nothing.
Doing the right thing did not keep innocent people from paying part of the price.
That afternoon, Vanessa appeared outside Rachel’s apartment with her attorney’s permission to request a conversation.
Rachel kept the chain on the door.
“You need to withdraw the fraud complaint,” Vanessa said.
“No.”
“Derek can repay it.”
“How much?”
Vanessa hesitated.
Rachel noticed.
“You don’t know.”
“I know enough.”
“How much did you think he took?”
Vanessa’s eyes shifted.
“One hundred eighty. Maybe two hundred.”
The forensic accountant’s preliminary estimate was already over $600,000.
Rachel said nothing.
Vanessa saw the answer on her face.
“He told me every extra dollar was replacing Mom’s mistake.”
“He lied.”
“No.”
“He used your login to create invoices.”
“I authorized some of them.”
“Some.”
Vanessa grabbed the edge of the door.
“If the company collapses, Mom loses everything.”
“There it is.”
“What?”
“The reason you loaded that cannon.”
Vanessa looked away.
“You were going to force an audit Monday.”
“So you tried to injure me?”
“We needed time.”
“We?”
Vanessa’s jaw tightened.
Rachel leaned closer to the narrow opening.
“Did Derek tell you hurting me would save Mom?”
Vanessa did not answer.
But when she left, she immediately called Derek.
The call lasted twenty-seven seconds.
Then Derek emptied Sloan Event Fabrication’s operating account.
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By evening, $310,000 was gone.
That was the first unmistakable sign that whatever Vanessa believed she had been protecting, Derek was protecting something else.
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