Chapter 15 - The Gala Without a Smile
The foundation gala had been postponed, but Richard agreed to host a smaller gathering a week later for donors who needed an update. He did not want the charity's work to collapse because of Peter's actions. The families who depended on its grants had done nothing wrong.
Victoria insisted on attending. “You can't erase me from the family by changing the guest list.”
“This isn't about the guest list,” Richard said. “It's about what happened to Maya and the financial records.”
She wore a simple black dress instead of the emerald gown planned for the original gala. She spoke politely to donors, but every time Maya appeared, Victoria's eyes followed her. Maya chose to stay upstairs with Grace and Dr. Brooks. Richard told her she could come down only if she wanted to.
Elaine announced that an independent audit had begun and that questionable transfers were frozen. The foundation would continue paying verified grants while the review proceeded. When a donor asked whether the family was falling apart, Richard answered, “A family isn't protected by hiding the truth. Neither is a charity.”
Victoria set down her glass too hard. Later, she waited for Richard near the west corridor.
“You're humiliating me,” she said.
“You can leave if you don't want to be here.”
“Peter said you would never look at the accounts. He said you were too busy being sad to notice.”
Richard held still. “So you knew.”
Victoria's eyes filled, but this time she looked cornered rather than wounded. “I knew he needed help. I didn't know how far he'd go.”
“Did you help him forge my signature?”
She said nothing.
From upstairs, Maya called her father's name. Richard turned toward the sound. When he looked back, Victoria had slipped away.
A moment later, Omar called. Someone had tried to remove the original flash drive from the office safe.
May you like
The person caught on camera was not Peter.
It was Victoria.
