I’d seen it before.
Not on her hand.
On a jeweler’s invoice connected to Hartwell Industries’ executive spending account.
Forty-eight thousand dollars.
At the time, I’d wondered why an expensive piece of jewelry appeared among questionable corporate expenses.
Now I was beginning to understand.
Celeste mistook my silence for jealousy.
“Impressive, isn’t it?”
I glanced at the ring.
“Very.”
She smiled smugly.
“Now sign the document before I have security escort you out.”
I picked up the termination notice and read it once more.
Then I set it back on the table.
“I’d like a copy.”
Celeste laughed.
“What for? Planning to take legal action?”
I gave her a small smile.
“Something along those lines.”
I left without signing.
She had no idea that the independent audit committee had already been investigating the suspicious transactions for six weeks.
And earlier that same day, the outside forensic accountants had delivered their preliminary findings.
