Chapter 16 - The Invoice for Silence
Nicole called the payment "public relations." The auditor called the communications firm and asked what work it had performed. Its director sent an email chain that showed Nicole approving the release of Nina's forged agreement.
"You knew it wasn't real," Brandon said when he read the message.
Nicole stared at the carpet. "I knew she would hurt us if she got people listening."
"So you tried to ruin her name?"
"I tried to protect what we've built."
Nina felt anger rise, but she didn't need to shout.
"You used my name to hide where the money went," she said. "You wanted me too embarrassed to ask a second question."
Nicole turned toward Sebastian. "She was an employee. Why are you treating her like a trustee?"
"Because she brought evidence," he said. "Something you should have brought us months ago."
The hotel had finished its review of the alarm. A camera showed Adrian entering the service stair moments before the pull station was activated, but it didn't show his hand touching it. The report went to the investigators with that limitation plainly stated.
Nina's catering supervisor restored her shifts after reviewing the video and incident report. The money from the false agreement was still a threat to her reputation, but it no longer stood unanswered.
Priya made one final request of Nicole: produce the original relocation studies, the legitimate invoices and the signed trustee approvals by the next morning.
Nicole said nothing.
When the meeting ended, Leah stopped Nina outside the door. "I thought I had to choose between telling the truth and keeping my life together."
May you like
"I did too," Nina said.
Leah glanced back at the conference room. "Nicole just asked me to delete my calendar."
