Chapter 6 - The Corporate AuditThree weeks later.

While Rosa’s health rapidly improved under elite medical care, Arthur Sterling launched his hostile corporate strike against Whitmore Tech.

Arthur used his connections to block Whitmore’s server headquarters lease renewal, while simultaneously spreading false rumors to the press that Whitmore Tech was facing insolvency.

In his executive office downtown, Daniel sat across from his lead financial counsel, Victoria Vance.

“Arthur Sterling is playing dirty, Daniel,” Victoria warned, laying out a spreadsheet. “He’s bought up fifteen percent of our voting shares through shell companies in Nevada. If he reaches twenty percent before Friday’s shareholder meeting, he can force an emergency vote to remove you as CEO.”

Daniel leaned back in his leather chair, his jaw set. “How is he funding the share buys? Sterling Global was cash-poor last quarter.”

“That’s the strange part,” Victoria said, pulling up a digital audit file. “He’s using an offshore fund registered in Panama called Aegis Holdings. But the wire signatures don't match his usual corporate accounts.”

Suddenly, Maria knocked softy on the glass door, stepping inside carrying two cups of coffee. She was now working as the community outreach coordinator for Whitmore Tech’s charitable foundation—a role she excelled at with her natural empathy and grace.

Maria looked at the screen, her eyes catching the name Aegis Holdings.

“Wait,” Maria said, setting the coffee down. “Aegis Holdings?”

Daniel looked up. “Do you recognize that name, Maria?”

“When I worked at the country club three years ago,” Maria recalled, her mind clicking into place, “I overheard Celeste’s uncle talking about Aegis Holdings. He said it was an off-the-books account they used to hide unpaid municipal taxes from the city.”

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Victoria gasped, tapping her keyboard rapidly. “If Sterling Global is using tax-evaded offshore funds to buy Whitmore shares, that’s federal wire fraud and securities manipulation!”

Daniel looked at Maria with a grin of pure admiration. “Maria, you just handed us the keys to Arthur Sterling’s vault.”