Chapter 3 - The Old Accounts
Antoine grabbed the phone from Charlotte.
"What old accounts?"
Bernard went silent.
"Dad."
"This isn't a conversation for the phone."
"You just told Charlotte to run."
"I told her to leave a volatile situation."
Amina gave a short, humorless laugh.
Bernard heard it.
"Is she listening?"
"Yes," Antoine said.
"Then listen to me carefully. Do not give her access to archived corporate records until counsel arrives."
Amina stepped closer.
"Too late."
She held up a small encrypted drive.
"Your finance director sent me a mirror image at 6:12 this morning."
The line went dead.
Charlotte stared at Antoine. "Why would Dad care about archived records?"
He handed her phone back without answering.
Amina walked into the manager's office. Antoine followed. After three seconds, Charlotte followed too.
On the main monitor, rows of payments filled the screen.
Small enough to avoid attention individually.
Large enough to become millions together.
Consulting fees.
Packaging contracts.
Storage expenses.
Emergency freight.
Amina clicked one vendor.
Bellecour Advisory.
Its registered office was a mailbox.
North Quay Services led to the same corporate agent.
Varenne Procurement shared a director with both.
"Three shells," Amina said. "Same controller."
Antoine leaned toward the screen.
"Who?"
"That's what the audit is for."
Marc entered with Leila and another employee, Nora Bell.
Nora looked terrified.
"She asked to speak with you," Marc said.
Amina turned.
Nora clutched a receipt envelope so hard it had folded in half.
"I worked inventory before they moved me to sales," she said. "I saw boxes leave after midnight. Pieces that were still listed as being in storage."
Antoine frowned. "Why didn't you report it?"
Nora looked at Charlotte.
"I did."
Charlotte's head snapped up.
"To who?"
"Your office. Twice."
"I've never seen you before."
Nora reached into the envelope and pulled out a printed email.
At the bottom was a reply.
One sentence.
May you like
STOP ASKING QUESTIONS IF YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR JOB.
The reply had been sent from Charlotte Beaumont's private corporate address.
