CHAPTER 23
Mrs. Swiss stared at the file the company's Private Investigator just tendered to her in utter shock. If she was reading this right, something was wrong. The numbers didn't add up. She had suspected something wasn't right for a while now and had an external auditor look into the company's financial record.
He confirmed her suspicion. A huge amount of money was being moved from the law firm every month. But to where? The paper trail was cold. Everything was done in a clean and untraceable cut. Whoever was moving the money was smart in not using the bank. That could easily be tracked. The money was being moved the old way, in cool, minty cash. It was impressive! What was more shocking, being the fact that this had been happening for close to five years and no one had suspected a thing? In the books, the account was balanced, but in the actual bank details, it didn't tally.
"Are you sure of this?" She asked the young man again, who stood a few feet away from her. He was dressed in all black and a bullet vest on his chest. Though he looked mean and intimidating, his stance right now looked sober. He, like Mrs. Swiss and every other management member, were as guilty as anything for failing not to notice this.
Standing straighter he confirmed. "Yes, ma'am."
"Then till we have someone and the evidence is solid, this stays between us." She warned him, "Not even Adriana must be told. Clear?"
"Absolutely."
"You may leave." She dismissed him. The young man left her office, leaving her to ponder about her situation. She adjusted her crested top and removed her suit, feeling a bit too clothed. Who could be doing this? Her husband had always believed the answers lies in following the money trail. She was going to trust him with this and follow the money. But how does one follow the money being moved without any valid trial? She wasn't sure this was what he meant when he said to follow the money trail. But it had to be.
Picking up her phone, she stood up to pair at the mapped wallpaper of her office, a view of the suburb of Miami. She traced a line up the map as she dialed a number she hadn't called in a while. It was safer now to call.
The calls were no longer being monitored. The company's team had done a thorough swipe of the whole place some years back. Robert had been right about that. The moment he was out of the picture, the threats, the phone tap, everything stopped. But to be safe, she had asked the team to swipe the place again. "I think we have a big problem, husband." She said,
"You said when the money trail begins, I'll know it's time. Well, I believe it's begun a while back."
Audrey sat down in dismay when she discovered she had made a terrible mistake. The meeting she had called her boss for wasn't with an investor. It was Logan Thames who walked in and sat down in the reception. She eyed him warily and asked again if he was there ten 0'clock. When he confirmed it, she went into the room farther from him to call her boss.
Everyone read the gist on the internet, and though Evan hadn't said anything to her, as her PA, she knew Logan would be the last person her boss wanted to see. The man was caught pant down with her best friend. The lame trick he played on her now was an indication Evan didn't want to meet him. He was forcing this meeting. Have some shame! She eyed him as she tried severally to get her boss on the phone to cancel. But she must have been on air already. Her call wasn't being connected.
Angry, disorganised and fidgeting, she went back to her seat and began to type haphazardly. She was still in that confused state when Evangeline and Jason walked in. "It's getting better." Audrey muttered while ushering them in. Wordlessly, she called Logan Thames in and closed the door. The meeting should start as scheduled. She had tried to stop it, but it was no longer in her hands. Then she went to her seat to continue typing a query letter for herself. Damn Logan for cornering her this way.
Behind the closed door, Jason went to sit on the couch away from the meeting seats and centre table. But before he could sit, he turned when he heard, "Hey, honey." Just as Logan sighted him too.
Sighting her 10 o'clock, Evan also stood up, "You called for this meeting?" She asked angrily, "I had to rush my meal and almost skipped my bath for this? For fuck's sake, what is wrong with you?"
Logan didn't reply immediately. He was in a battle stare with Jason. When he called for this meeting, he didn't calculate Jason would turn up. This was a major setback. He had wanted alone time with his woman. Nothing would be said or done with the man looming over her. All he needed was a few minutes with Evan to make her remember what they shared, and he was going to propose again. This time, he was sure she would accept his proposal. Now, he had to cancel again. He glared at Jason, "Why are you tailing her everywhere? You're a bodyguard now."
Jason decided to sit this one out. He sat down, looking so pleased. He could sense his presence had disorganised whatever the other man had planned for Evangeline. "Can we begin the meeting?" He asked arrogantly. Logan menacingly took steps towards him. He was ready to punch the smug look out of his face. Then he probably realised Jason could ruin him with just a call and retreated. He instead turned his charm on Evangeline. "I needed just a few minutes. Can we go out somewhere?"
Too angry to even consider doing him any favour, Evan screamed, "Seriously? Leave."
"Another time then." He wasn't going to back down, not when Jason was here. He looked at the man with pure hatred.
Evangeline shook her head at the sore look Logan had for Jason. "Okay." She conceded, "Another time. Please leave, now." She said, knowing she had no intention of meeting him.
"Thank you." He said and walked out reluctantly.
"You need to tell me why he hates you so much. Something about you brings out his dark side." she said to Jason, who sat so confidently she knew underneath the cool façade was a steeled man who could make someone like Logan Thames, billionaire and LA's best bachelor out of his game.
"I will. Maybe later today. Do you have some other things to do before we leave?"
Evangeline looked around, "I'm not sure." Raising her voice a little louder, she called. "Audrey?"
Her PA walked almost immediately. She had a letter clutched in her hands which she extended to her boss. "I'm so sorry." She started to apologize.
Evan read out the title; "Query Letter? Who gave you a query Audrey? What's this?" She asked, confused.
"I didn't know it was Logan Thames who called for the meeting. He posed as the Mark Investors, and I know I should have verified. The instant I knew, I tried to call it off, but I couldn't get in touch with you."
"It's okay. I'm not blaming you for this. If anything, he's the one to pay. Discard the query."
"Thank you, Boss." Audrey sighed, relieved her boss was taking it cool. She mentally slapped herself for letting something like this happen. Every good PA knows to verify meetings before scheduling them. And her boss had flown miles here for this. "I'm so sorry, Boss." She pleaded again.
"It's okay." Tapping her head, she looked at Jason. "Why did I call you in again? Do I have any meetings again?"
The young woman shook her head vigorously. "No, ma'am."
Evan turned to Jason, "Then we're done here." She told him
"What do you say to give me a tour of LA? We can have lunch here, and I'll tell you why your boyfriend hates me so much and I, him."
"Ex-boyfriend. That sounds fine to me." She replied happily, already feeling hungry again.
