Chapter 3 - The AuditThe morning sun washed over the floor-to-ceiling glass windows of the executive boardroom on the fiftieth floor of Aurelia Tower, casting long, sharp shadows across the polished walnut table.
I sat at the head of the table—the seat traditionally reserved for the Chairman of the Board. I wore a tailored black wool sheath dress, my hair pulled back into a sleek chignon, and a diamond brooch pinned to my lapel that had belonged to my grandmother. The physical pain from my C-section had dulled to a manageable ache, replaced entirely by a cold, surgical focus.
To my right sat Marcus Vance—no relation to my maiden name, but rather the senior managing partner at Vance & Sterling Legal Group, though the firm’s name was about to undergo a very urgent rebranding. Marcus was a shark in a Brioni suit, though unlike Dominic, Marcus actually had the legal brilliance to back up his terrifying reputation.
“The initial sweep of Sterling Medical Solutions’ financial records is complete, Audrey,” Marcus said, sliding a thick leather-bound dossier across the table toward me. “And to put it bluntly, your ex-husband wasn’t just a bad husband. He was a remarkably sloppy criminal.”
I opened the dossier, flipping past the corporate letterhead to the forensic accounting breakdown.
“Explain,” I said, my voice steady and crystalline.
“Over the past three years,” Marcus continued, pointing a gold-nibbed pen at a series of highlighted ledger entries, “Sterling Medical Solutions has been systematically overbilling Saint Aurelia Health Network for surgical-grade PPE and titanium stabilization hardware—inflating invoices by roughly forty percent. The surplus funds were then funneled through a network of shell companies registered in Delaware under pseudonyms.”
I raised an eyebrow, scanning the registry numbers. “Shell companies? Who was the ultimate beneficiary?”
“Primarily Dominic,” Marcus replied, leaning back in his leather chair. “Though a significant portion—nearly eight hundred thousand dollars—was transferred directly into personal accounts belonging to Ms. Natalie Vance—no relation, obviously, though she seemed quite fond of sharing your last name.”
A cold, humorless smile touched the corners of my lips. So Natalie hadn't just been a casual mistress; she had been an active accomplice in embezzling corporate funds to finance her high-society lifestyle, all while wearing my maternity coats and mocking my lack of income.
“What about the divorce settlement Dominic tricked me into signing yesterday?” I asked, tapping my fingernail against the table.
Marcus let out a low, confident chuckle.
“Legally speaking, Audrey, the separation agreement is entirely null and void,” Marcus said, pulling a separate document from his briefcase. “Under state law, any contract signed under duress while a party is recovering from acute medical trauma—compounded by fraudulent misrepresentation of marital assets—can be summarily thrown out. Furthermore, since Dominic deliberately concealed millions in hidden corporate assets during the discovery phase of our impromptu kitchen-table negotiation, he has committed perjury and financial fraud.”
Marcus slid a final sheet of paper toward me.
“All we need is your signature to file the emergency injunctions. We freeze all of his personal accounts, seize his corporate shares, impound his vehicles, and slap a federal lien on every property he owns—including his personal residence and his stake in the company.”
I picked up my pen. This time, there was no hesitation, no shock, and no grief. Just the quiet satisfaction of a ledger finally balancing itself out.
I signed my name across the injunction order.
“Execute it immediately, Marcus,” I instructed smoothly. “And make sure the asset freeze hits his primary business accounts right as the market opens. I want him sitting in his corporate office when his credit cards start declining.”
Before Marcus could answer, the heavy oak doors of the boardroom swung open.
My grandfather strode in, wearing his signature navy overcoat, looking as sharp and unyielding as a steel blade. He walked over to the head of the table, placing a warm hand on my shoulder before taking the seat to my left.
“How are the twins?” Arthur asked, his voice softening instantly at the mention of his great-grandchildren.
“Dr. Alpert called an hour ago,” I replied, a genuine smile breaking through my professional facade for the first time. “Both Liam and Chloe successfully passed their breathing unassisted trials for two consecutive hours. They’re gaining weight. They’re going to be just fine, Grandfather.”
Arthur let out a long, shuddering breath of relief, closing his eyes for a brief second.
“Thank God,” he murmured softly. Then, his blue eyes snapped open, turning razor-sharp. “And what of Dominic?”
“Marcus just finalized the injunctions,” I said, sliding the dossier toward my grandfather. “By noon today, Dominic Sterling will discover what it truly feels like to be a ghost with no money, no assets, and no escape.”
May you like
Arthur looked down at the documents, a slow, predatory grin spreading across his weathered face.
“Good,” my grandfather said softly, tapping his knuckles against the wood. “Because he’s about to find out that the Aurelia family doesn't just protect its own. We hunt back.”
