All Chapters of THE CEO's REVENGE BRIDE: Chapter 21 - Chapter 25

One year later, Sophia stood in the White House East Room, accepting the Presidential Award for Excellence in Community Service. The room was filled with dignitaries, fellow award recipients, and a small delegation from the Martinez Foundation including Ethan, Janet, and Maria Santos, whose own organization had been recognized for its innovative housing programs. "The Martinez Foundation," the President said, reading from the citation, "has revolutionized community based advocacy by proving that local organizations can achieve systemic change through strategic partnerships and evidence based programming." Sophia felt the weight of the moment. Two years ago, she'd been writing grant proposals in her studio apartment. Now she was being recognized at the highest levels of government for work that had touched thousands of lives across four cities. "Dr. Martinez," the President continued, "your integration of academic research with grassroots advocacy has created a model that communiti

The call came at 6 AM on a Tuesday morning. Sophia was reviewing grant applications over coffee when her phone rang with Janet's number. "Sophia, I need to tell you something before you see it in the news." "What's wrong?" "There's been an investigation. Into the Phoenix foundation office. Allegations of fund misuse." Sophia's coffee cup stopped halfway to her lips. "What kind of allegations?" "Diverting rapid response funds to personal accounts. Falsifying family eligibility records. The local director, Karen Matthews, has been arrested." "That's impossible. Karen's been with us since the beginning." "The FBI has documentation. Bank records, forged documents, testimony from families who never received the assistance they were supposedly given." "How much money?" "Nearly four hundred thousand dollars over eighteen months." Sophia felt the world tilt. Four hundred thousand dollars. Eighteen months of systematic fraud. Under her oversight, carrying the Martinez Foundation nam

The call came on a Tuesday morning in March, interrupting Sophia's review of quarterly reports. Maria Santos, their program director in São Paulo, was calling from a hospital. "Dr. Martinez, we have a situation. The community center in Cidade Tiradentes was attacked last night. Three people were hospitalized, including Carlos, our local coordinator." Sophia's hand tightened on the phone. "What kind of attack?" "We think it was related to the housing advocacy work. Carlos has been organizing residents to challenge illegal evictions, and there have been threats." "Is he going to be okay?" "The doctors think so, but he's unconscious. The community is scared, and some are saying they want to stop the program." Sophia closed her eyes. After eighteen months of successful international expansion, this was the call she'd been dreading. "I'll be on a plane tonight." "You don't need to come. We can handle" "Maria, three people are in the hospital because of work we're supporting. I need