Chapter 39 – Smoke and Shadows

Evelyn moved through Thursday like a woman with a target on her back. The audit report had landed in Compliance first thing that morning, and the air around her had grown tense with anticipation. The truth was on paper now, undeniable and damning. All that remained was for the right people to read it.

As she walked the corridor toward the executive boardroom for the 10:00 a.m. strategy session, she could feel eyes on her of which some were wary, some curious, others calculating. Let them watch, she thought. Let them guess.

She stepped inside to find Alexander already seated at the head of the table, flanked by Claudia and two senior partners. Noah was reviewing printouts, and Genevieve, perfectly composed, stood pouring herself a cup of tea as if she hadn't just been implicated in corporate fraud.

"Evelyn," Alexander said, motioning her to sit beside him. "We're waiting on the Compliance liaison."

Claudia didn't acknowledge her at all.

The minutes stretched until the door opened and the liaison from Compliance entered with a briefcase and a slight bow.

"Good morning," he said, setting down his files. "I'm here to discuss the preliminary findings from the internal audit requested by Ms. Park."

Claudia's head turned slowly. "You initiated an audit?"

"Yes," Evelyn said evenly. "I believed discrepancies in expense records warranted further investigation."

Genevieve's smile was thin, almost amused. "What discrepancies, exactly?"

The liaison opened a folder. "Several invoices were approved under Ms. Moreau's access credentials at times she was logged off the company server or not present in the building, according to our security logs."

A silence fell.

"Impossible," Genevieve said coolly. "That would suggest someone tampered with access controls."

"Or," Noah said, sliding a copy of the log across the table, "you did it yourself and assumed no one would look too closely."

Alexander turned to her. "Care to respond?"

Genevieve remained eerily calm. "This is clearly a misunderstanding. I would never falsify records."

The Compliance liaison interjected. "Regardless, the evidence is strong enough to warrant suspension pending a formal hearing."

Alexander gave a slow nod. "Then that's what we'll do."

Genevieve rose, gathered her things with icy grace, and walked to the door. Just before exiting, she paused and turned back.

"This isn't over, Evelyn. Not by a long shot."

The door closed behind her.

Back in her office, Evelyn let out the breath she'd been holding since the meeting began. Hana walked in with her tablet and a subtle grin.

"And that, my dear, is what we call a takedown."

Evelyn laughed, tension easing from her shoulders. "We're not done yet. Claudia isn't going to roll over just because Genevieve's out."

"No, but it bought us time," Hana said. "And space to get your agenda through without sabotage."

Evelyn nodded. "We use it wisely."

Claudia was furious. In the privacy of her penthouse suite, she paced with a phone clutched to her ear.

"I told you to undermine her, not hand her the evidence gift-wrapped," she hissed.

Genevieve's voice crackled on speaker. "I underestimated her. She has allies I didn't expect."

"You let her control the narrative. Do you understand how dangerous that is?"

"Yes," Genevieve said. "But we still have one card left. Her past. Her connection to the Bennett family. If we dig, we'll find something. And when we do, it won't be numbers that bring her down."

Later that night, Evelyn stood at the kitchen island in Alexander's townhouse, sipping a glass of red wine. He joined her, rolling up his sleeves, eyes tired but content.

"You did well today," he said. "Everyone saw it."

"It wasn't just me. Hana and Noah stood with me. And you let it happen."

He looked at her for a long moment. "Because I trust you. Even if I'm not always proud of the choices I've made... marrying you is one I never question."

Her eyes softened. "Then we keep moving. No distractions."

"Agreed," he said, though his hand brushed hers gently, a silent promise that the war around them didn't have to erode what they had in secret.

Outside, the city gleamed through the windows like a field of stars. Inside, Evelyn sharpened her resolve. She had survived the fire. Now she would outlast the storm.

And next time Genevieve struck, she would be ready.