Chapter 5 - THE CORPORATE EXECUTION: TIFFANY’S DOWNFALL
While Robert and his family were learning the harsh realities of the pavement outside the Malibu bungalow, my morning routine at the Ritz-Carlton executive suite was remarkably serene.
I sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, sipping black coffee while reviewing the corporate audit report Mr. Vance’s investigators had compiled overnight.
It was a masterpiece of financial exposure.
Tiffany, despite her modest title as a junior marketing coordinator, had managed to siphon nearly two hundred thousand dollars from company marketing budgets over the past eighteen months.
The funds had been funneled through shell companies managed by Robert’s cousin to pay for luxury vacations, designer handbags, and—most ironically—the deposit on the very wedding venue where they had celebrated their betrayal.
At 9:00 a.m. sharp, my corporate phone buzzed.
It was Marcus Thorne, the CEO of our parent company and Julian’s older brother.
“Audrey,” Marcus said, his voice grave. “I’ve reviewed the preliminary forensic findings you submitted through legal counsel. This is worse than we thought.”
“I know, Marcus,” I replied evenly. “It’s not just a breach of company policy. It’s corporate embezzlement and fraud.”
“The board has already authorized immediate termination for cause,” Marcus confirmed. “And we are turning all documentation over to the district attorney’s office. There will be no internal settlement. Tiffany is finished in this industry.”
“Good,” I said. “Ensure HR handles the notification while she is off-premises. I don't want her stepping foot in the headquarters building ever again.”
“Consider it done. And Audrey... I heard about the house. If you ever need legal backup, my firm’s litigation team is at your disposal.”
“Thank you, Marcus. But the house is already sold. I’m moving forward.”
As I hung up, a notification popped up on my personal laptop.
Tiffany had tried to log into her corporate Slack workspace.
Access denied.
Then she tried accessing her company email.
Account suspended pending fraud investigation.
Ten minutes later, my phone lit up with a frantic call from an unknown number.
I answered it, setting the phone on speaker.
“Audrey? Audrey, please!” Tiffany’s voice was ragged, desperate, and filled with genuine terror. “It’s a mistake! HR just locked me out of my accounts! They’re saying I’m suspended for embezzlement! You have to fix this! If I lose my job, I can’t—we don’t have any money!”
I took a slow sip of coffee before speaking.
“You managed to steal two hundred thousand dollars from my company while wearing my husband’s ring, Tiffany. Did you really think there wouldn't be an invoice?”
“It was Robert’s idea!” she shrieked, instantly throwing her new husband under the bus. “He said you wouldn't even notice! He said you were too busy working to care about company finances! He promised we’d pay it back once we inherited the bungalow!”
Classic Robert.
Always spending money he hadn't earned, always blaming someone else when the trap snapped shut.
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“Well, Tiffany,” I said coldly, “you got your wish. You’re part of the Miller family now. You can share his bankruptcy right along with his mother’s insults.”
I hung up and blocked the number permanently.
