Chapter 4

I hit play on the recording, snatched the microphone from the emcee, and held it close to my phone's speaker.

In an instant, Patrick's voice came through loud and clear.

"Evangeline, I'm going to be honest with you. The company's been a little tight on cash lately, so I had to move that 100 thousand dollars to cover some immediate expenses."

His voice echoed through the ballroom, and the entire place fell deathly silent.

The color drained from Patrick's face.

He charged at me and knocked the phone out of my hand. It hit the floor with a sharp crack, the screen splintering on impact.

"That recording's been doctored!" Patrick yelled. "You made it up to frame me! Evangeline, even if you have a problem with me, that doesn't give you the right to make up lies about me!"

Anthony stood frozen, swaying slightly. He looked at me, then at the phone lying cracked on the floor. Finally, he turned back to Patrick.

"Yeah… The recording has to be fake. Evangeline, after everything Mr. Gibson's done for you, how could you do this to him?"

Anthony was furious. He jabbed a finger at me, coming so close that it nearly touched my nose. "How could you stoop so low? Making up evidence to frame Mr. Gibson?"

The people around us began pointing at me and whispering.

"Mr. Gibson's been nothing but good to her, and now she's making up evidence to frame him! What an ingrate!"

One mocked, "Evangeline, you're in your 30s and still haven't gotten your life together. Do you really think that 100 thousand dollars is going to change everything for you?"

"Just look at how shabby and pathetic she is. She does one little thing for the company, and suddenly she thinks she's somebody."

Another spat, "An ungrateful wretch like her should've been fired a long time ago."

"Mr. Gibson should just fire her and kick her out!"

Not a single person in that room was on my side. My mentor, my junior colleague, and even my boyfriend had all sided with Patrick.

But I couldn't back down. Dad was still waiting for me to bring home the money. I had to get that 100 thousand dollars today, no matter what.

I kept my eyes on Patrick as I reached into my pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper.

Anthony lunged at me, even more agitated than before, and clamped a hand over mine.

"Evangeline! Haven't you humiliated yourself enough today? Even if your dad is seriously ill, that doesn't mean you can go this far for money! Besides, I went to see your dad. He isn't nearly as sick as you made him out to be! Drop the act!"

I stared at him, my voice trembling as I said, "Anthony, my dad was in the ICU for two weeks. And you're telling me he isn't that sick? That money was meant to save his life! Do you even understand that?"

My words caught Anthony off guard, and his grip loosened for a moment.

Enraged, I shoved him away with all my strength. "Get out of my way! From now on, my affairs are none of your concern!"

I unfolded the paper and raised it high above my head.

"Mr. Gibson, you said the recording was fake. What about this, then?"

Over the past three days, I'd used project-payment checks as a cover and gone through the company's books with a fine-tooth comb.

In my previous life, I'd worked in the accounting department. So, I knew exactly where the books were kept and which transactions to check first. I could find everything with my eyes closed.

"That 100 grand was transferred out of the project payment that came in last month," I began. "And the money went into someone's personal bank account.

"Every transfer is logged in the system, with a reference number for each one. If you're still claiming it's fake, then let's get the police to verify the records right here, in front of everyone."

The coworkers who'd been defending Patrick just moments ago suddenly looked uncertain.

"100 thousand dollars was transferred out?"

"But didn't Jessie say the bonus hadn't been processed yet?"

"Then who did that 100 grand go to?"