Chapter 4 - The Audit
For the next two days, Flynn lived in a world of spiraling paranoia.
He didn't come home. He stayed at a luxury hotel downtown, spending eighteen hours a day trying to bribe public relations firms, silence board members, and intimidate internal whistleblowers. But the damage was already done. Vance Global’s major institutional investors were demanding an emergency board meeting, and rumors were circulating that federal securities regulators were taking a close look at the firm's sudden accounting discrepancies.
On Thursday morning, I received a notification on my phone. Flynn had officially executed his threat: my primary bank card was declined at the grocery store, and my monthly allowance transfer was canceled. He had completely cut off my financial access, expecting me to break, call him in tears, and beg for forgiveness.
Instead, I used my private personal account—a small, untouched fund my father had set up for me years ago—and hired the top forensic financial firm in the country: Vance & Sterling Audit Group.
By Thursday afternoon, Marcus Thorne and a team of six elite forensic accountants had gained administrative access to the Pendelton Family Trust’s master portal. Because the trust held controlling interest, Marcus was legally authorized to execute an unannounced, deep-level audit of Vance Global’s corporate accounts without needing Flynn’s approval.
The results uncovered in less than twelve hours were staggering.
In Marcus’s high-rise office overlooking Wall Street, the lead auditor, a sharp woman named Eleanor Vance, presented the findings on a massive digital screen.
“Mabel, your husband hasn't just been cheating on you; he’s been systematically pillaging the company,” Eleanor explained, highlighting red financial markers across dozens of spreadsheets. “Over the past thirty months, Flynn created three shell companies registered in Delaware—Alpha Zenith LLC, Crestview Management, and Lumina Holdings.”
She clicked a button, revealing a flow chart of offshore wire transfers.
“Flynn channeled over $4.2 million from Vance Global’s research and development funds into these shell accounts,” Eleanor continued. “From there, the money was funneled directly into personal luxury assets: Selina’s $3,200-a-month Soho penthouse, private jet charters for weekend trips to Miami, a fleet of sports cars registered under shell names, and over $600,000 in high-end jewelry purchases—including the $110,000 necklace.”
Marcus leaned forward, tapping his pen on the desk. “This isn't just civil corporate misconduct, Mabel. This is grand larceny, wire fraud, and tax evasion. Flynn thought he was untouchable because he believed he was the majority owner. He had no idea he was stealing from a company governed by your family trust.”
“What happens if the board finds out before we act?” I asked.
“The board is currently in chaos,” Marcus replied with a quiet smile. “Flynn has called an extraordinary shareholder gala for tomorrow night at the Plaza Hotel. He’s calling it a ‘Recommitment to Corporate Excellence.’ He plans to deliver a speech, announce a fake strategic partnership, and present Selina’s presence as a deliberate corporate cover operation to reassure investors.”
I looked at the audit documents spread across the table. The sheer audacity of Flynn’s arrogance was unbelievable. He genuinely thought he could charm, lie, and manipulate his way out of felony criminal behavior.
“He thinks I’m sitting at home crying over an empty bank account,” I said softly.
“What do you want to do, Mabel?” Marcus asked.
I stood up, adjusting my coat. “I want an invitation to that gala, Marcus. Make sure I have total access to the keynote media system.”
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“Consider it done,” Marcus said, his eyes glittering with quiet anticipation. “And what about Flynn’s CEO status?”
“We let him take the stage tomorrow night,” I said cold-bloodedly. “Let him stand in front of every major investor, board member, and news reporter in New York. Let him give the performance of his life. And then, we pull the rug out from under his feet.”
