Chapter 10 - THE NIGHT THE COMPANY WENT DARK|
At 6:42 p.m. on Tuesday, the company's financial director called me.
“Claire, we have a problem.”
I was sitting in Daniel's office reviewing the records Margaret had provided.
“What happened?”
“Several account permissions have been changed. We can't access the Harbor Point transaction folder.”
“Who changed them?”
“Grant's administrator account.”
Daniel looked up.
“Tell him not to touch anything else.”
I repeated the instruction.
The financial director lowered his voice.
“He's also requested an emergency transfer from the development reserve.”
“How much?”
“Three million dollars.”
I stood so quickly my chair rolled backward.
“Has it been approved?”
“Not yet. The bank flagged it because the authorization documents don't match the current corporate mandate.”
Daniel reached for his phone.
“I'm contacting the bank's legal department.”
I turned back to the call.
“Do not approve anything. Preserve the request and every related email.”
The director agreed.
When I ended the call, Daniel was already speaking to someone.
He walked toward the window, his voice low and controlled.
I stared at the documents on the table.
Three million dollars.
The company had never been in a position to lose that amount without serious consequences.
“Can he move it?” I asked.
“Not if the bank follows the existing restrictions.”
“And if he tries another account?”
“We'll seek additional protection.”
My phone vibrated.
A message from Grant.
You have until tomorrow to withdraw your application.
I showed Daniel.
He read it once.
“Don't respond.”
Another message appeared.
If the deal collapses, everyone loses.
Then a third.
You don't want to be responsible for what happens to the employees.
I felt anger rise in my chest.
That was his favorite weapon.
He would use the people who depended on the company to make me feel guilty for protecting it.
I typed a reply.
Then stop putting their jobs at risk.
I sent it before Daniel could stop me.
He sighed.
“Claire.”
“I know. I shouldn't have.”
“No. But now he knows you're not backing down.”
I returned to the table.
For the next hour, we reviewed the company's financial exposure. The situation was worse than I had imagined. If Harbor Point collapsed, the company could face penalties, lawsuits, and financing problems.
But if the transaction proceeded with questionable approvals, the consequences could be even worse.
At 8:15, Daniel received a call from the bank.
He listened without interrupting.
Then he covered the microphone.
“They've frozen the three-million-dollar transfer pending verification.”
I exhaled.
“Good.”
“It's temporary.”
“I know.”
He returned to the call.
A few minutes later, he hung up.
“The bank also received a request to change the beneficiary on the Harbor Point closing account.”
“From Grant?”
“His office.”
I stared at him.
“What was the new beneficiary?”
Daniel looked at the printed note.
“An account controlled by a holding company registered overseas.”
The room went quiet.
Then my phone rang.
Grant.
I answered.
His voice was no longer controlled.
“What have you done?”
I looked at the frozen transfer notice.
“Exactly what I should have done months ago.”
“You've frozen my money.”
“It's company money.”
“You don't understand what's at stake.”
“I understand perfectly.”
His breathing became heavy.
“Claire, if you don't stop this, I will make sure you regret it.”
May you like
I ended the call.
And this time, I saved the recording.
