Chapter 3 - The Missing Millions
The first audit report arrived two weeks later.
Natalie met Emily in the café after closing. She placed a tablet on the counter and displayed a series of transactions.
Richard had moved company money through consulting firms registered to former employees. He had used corporate accounts to pay for private vacations, jewelry, gambling debts, and renovations to Victoria’s estate.
The largest theft involved the yacht division.
Six yachts had been transferred into shell companies for a fraction of their true value. Those companies were secretly controlled by Richard.
“He’s preparing to sell the vessels overseas,” Natalie explained. “Once that happens, recovering them will be difficult.”
Emily scrolled through the files.
“What about Victoria?”
“She approved several transfers.”
“Did she understand what she was signing?”
Natalie hesitated.
“She understood enough.”
Emily was disappointed but not surprised.
Victoria had grown up believing the Mercer fortune belonged to her. She often mocked employees, ignored budgets, and treated company properties as personal possessions. Richard had not corrupted her.
He had simply discovered how useful her entitlement could be.
Then Natalie opened another file.
“This is worse.”
Richard had created an account labeled Personal Bail. On paper, it was an emergency fund designed to protect employees arrested or detained while working in unstable foreign regions.
In reality, Richard had used it to pay personal legal settlements, silence former partners, and protect associates involved in financial crimes.
Emily’s grandfather had created that fund after an employee was wrongfully detained overseas. Richard had turned it into his private shield.
Emily closed the tablet.
“How much evidence do we need?”
“For a civil recovery order, we already have enough. For criminal charges, we need proof that Richard personally directed the transfers.”
“I’ll get it.”
Natalie looked concerned.
“You’re getting too close to them.”
“That’s the point.”
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Emily had spent years learning how wealthy people behaved around someone they considered powerless.
Richard and Victoria were about to teach her everything she needed to destroy them.
