"Should I contact Charles?"
"No."
Victoria looked at the payment records.
"Don't contact anyone connected to the European division. I want an independent financial review."
Natalie nodded.
"Understood."
Victoria paused.
"And Natalie?"
"Yes?"
"Find out who sent this email."
The investigation began quietly.
For two weeks, the company's external auditors examined the transactions.
They discovered that one consulting company had received nearly three million dollars for services that were never properly documented.
Another had billed Maison Laurent for security assessments that appeared to have been copied from publicly available reports.
The third had been paid for employee training programs that several regional managers claimed had never taken place.
Then the auditors discovered something more serious.
The companies were connected through a series of private investment arrangements.
And one of the individuals associated with those arrangements was Peter Lawson, Maison Laurent's chief financial officer.
Victoria read the findings twice.
Peter had been with the company for eleven years.
He had personally presented the financial records during the acquisition negotiations.
He had also assured Victoria that the company's operational expenses were properly documented.
She immediately called an emergency meeting with the legal director and the external auditors.
"Can we establish whether these payments were authorized?"
"Some were approved through normal procedures. Others were processed using delegated spending authority."
"Who had that authority?"
"Mr. Lawson and several regional executives."
"Can we establish whether any funds returned to individuals within the company?"
The auditor hesitated.
"We have identified several transactions requiring further examination."
Victoria looked at him.
"Then examine them."
The auditor nodded.
"We'll need access to additional banking documentation."
"Get whatever legal authorization is required."
The meeting lasted nearly two hours.
When it ended, Victoria remained alone in the conference room.
She looked through the glass wall toward the employees working outside.
A woman carried a stack of documents.
Two assistants were discussing an upcoming product launch.
Someone laughed near the coffee station.
Everything appeared normal.
But beneath the polished corporate environment, the company had been operating with problems that had gone unchallenged for years.
Victoria picked up her phone.
"Alexander, I need to see you."
He arrived twenty minutes later.
She placed the preliminary audit findings in front of him.
He read them slowly.
Then he looked up.
"Are you sure?"
"The auditors are still verifying the details."
"Peter?"
"Yes."
Alexander removed his glasses.
"This is serious."
"Very."
He stared at the paperwork.
"Charles has worked closely with Peter for years."
Victoria nodded.
"I know."
"Do you think they're connected?"
"I think we need to find out."
Alexander looked troubled.
"Victoria, if this becomes public, the company could face significant reputational damage."
She met his eyes.
"Alexander, the company already has a problem. The only question is whether we're going to fix it or hide it."
He looked down.
Then nodded.
"You're right."
Two days later, Peter Lawson requested a private meeting with Victoria.
He arrived at her office carrying a small leather briefcase.
"Victoria, I understand there are questions about certain financial transactions."
Victoria gestured toward the chair opposite her.
"Please sit."
Peter sat.
He was fifty-four, with neatly styled brown hair and an expensive watch.
His expression was controlled, but his fingers moved nervously against the briefcase.
"I wanted to explain the consulting arrangements before the situation becomes unnecessarily complicated."
Victoria folded her hands.
"I'm listening."
Peter explained that the payments had been part of a long-term restructuring initiative.
He said the consulting firms had provided valuable operational advice.
He argued that the documentation was incomplete because several projects had been conducted through informal regional arrangements.
Victoria listened without interrupting.
When he finished, she asked:
"Who owns the companies?"
Peter blinked.
"I'd have to check."
"You're the chief financial officer."
"Of course. I simply don't have those details in front of me."
Victoria opened the audit report.
"One of the companies is linked to an investment entity associated with a family member of yours."
Peter's face changed.
"That's a misunderstanding."
"Is it?"
"Yes."
"Then you should have no difficulty providing the relevant documentation."
Peter shifted in his seat.
"Victoria, I think we need to be careful here. These kinds of investigations can create unnecessary tension."
She looked at him.
"Unnecessary tension?"
"Yes. We're talking about established business relationships. Some of these arrangements predate your acquisition."
Victoria closed the folder.
"That doesn't make them legitimate."
Peter stood.
"I think you should speak with Charles before making any decisions."
Victoria remained seated.
"Why?"
"Because he understands how the company operates."
She looked at him for several seconds.
"Thank you for coming, Peter."
He seemed surprised by the abrupt end of the meeting.
"That's all?"
"For now."
He picked up his briefcase.
At the door, he turned.
"Victoria, you should understand something. This company has survived for decades because people like Charles and me know how to manage it."
Victoria answered calmly.
"Then I hope the investigation confirms that."
Peter left.
Victoria immediately instructed the legal department to preserve all relevant financial records.
The following morning, Charles Harrington sent a message requesting a board meeting.
The message was short.
We need to discuss the direction of the company and the impact of recent management decisions.
Victoria read it.
Then she smiled faintly.
The situation was becoming clearer.
Charles wasn't simply defending an old culture.
He was defending people who had something to lose if that culture changed.
But while the corporate investigation continued, Victoria received another unexpected visitor.
It was Emily Parker.
The young sales associate from the flagship store had been promoted to customer experience supervisor.
She had come to headquarters to attend a training workshop.
Natalie informed Victoria that Emily was waiting outside.
"Send her in," Victoria said.
Emily entered carrying a notebook.
"Good afternoon, Ms. Bennett."
"Hello, Emily. How are you?"
"Very well, thank you."
Victoria gestured toward the chair.
"Please sit."
Emily looked slightly nervous.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything."
"Not at all. What's on your mind?"
Emily placed her notebook on the desk.