Chapter 3: The $184,000 Secret
Camille stared at the invoice as if the paper itself had betrayed her.
The room was silent.
Richard picked it up.
He read the description.
Then the date.
Then the payment authorization.
His eyes narrowed.
"Camille, what is this?""
She forced a laugh.
"It's a business expense.""
Richard looked at the page again.
"Jewelry?""
"Client entertainment.""
"An eighteen-thousand-dollar bracelet?""
"Yes.""
"Why is there a private jet charge?""
Camille looked toward Sophie.
"Because someone is clearly trying to embarrass me.""
Sophie didn't blink.
"That invoice was submitted to Laurent Estates under the executive hospitality account.""
"Exactly.""
"Was the bracelet purchased for a client?""
Camille hesitated.
"Of course.""
"Which client?""
Camille glanced at her father.
"Someone from the European division.""
Richard frowned.
"Who?""
She said nothing.
James opened another folder.
"Our auditors have identified thirty-seven similar transactions over fourteen months.""
Richard slowly lowered the invoice.
"Thirty-seven?""
"Yes.""
"How much?""
James looked at his notes.
"Approximately $1.8 million.""
Richard sat back.
Camille's face turned bright red.
"That's ridiculous!""
Sophie spoke calmly.
"The invoices include private shopping trips, personal vacations, luxury clothing, and payments to companies that appear to have no connection to Laurent Estates.""
Camille shook her head.
"I was entertaining clients.""
"Which clients?""
"Important people!""
"Names, Camille.""
She looked furious.
"Why should I have to explain every single thing I do?""
Richard slammed his palm against the table.
"Because you have been spending company money!""
Camille stepped backward.
"I was helping the company!""
"How?""
"I was maintaining relationships!""
"By buying yourself jewelry?""
Her eyes filled with angry tears.
"You never complained when I brought important people to your parties!""
Richard stared at her.
"Those parties were supposed to be business events.""
"They were!""
Sophie quietly turned another page.
"Then perhaps you can explain this payment.""
She slid a bank transfer statement toward Richard.
The recipient was a company called CL Lifestyle Consulting.
The transfer amount was $420,000.
Richard looked at the date.
"Who owns this company?""
James answered.
"We traced the registration to a private holding structure.""
Sophie added, "The ultimate beneficiary appears to be Camille Laurent.""
Richard slowly looked up.
Camille's face had gone completely still.
"That's not true.""
Sophie tapped the document.
"The registration details say otherwise.""
"I don't know anything about that company.""
Richard stood.
"Camille.""
She looked at him.
"Tell me the truth.""
Camille's lips trembled.
Then she did something nobody expected.
She laughed.
A short, bitter sound.
"Fine. You want the truth?""
Richard didn't answer.
"You want to know why I did it?""
"Yes.""
She pointed toward him.
"Because you made me feel like I had to.""
Richard looked stunned.
"Excuse me?""
"You spent your entire life building this company. Every conversation at home was about expansion, investments, and shareholders. You never cared about anything except Laurent Estates.""
"That's not true.""
"Really? When was the last time you asked me what I wanted?""
Richard stared at her.
Camille's voice rose.
"You gave me a title. You gave me an office. You gave me a company card. You expected me to smile at your business dinners and make wealthy people feel important.""
She wiped her cheek.
"So I did.""
Richard shook his head.
"That doesn't explain stealing money.""
"I didn't steal anything!""
Sophie leaned forward.
"Then where did the $420,000 go?""
Camille looked away.
Nobody spoke.
James closed his folder.
"Miss Laurent, our legal department will need a complete explanation.""
Camille suddenly turned toward him.
"You people are destroying my family over a few expenses!""
Sophie looked at her steadily.
"No, Camille. Your family is not being destroyed by an invoice.""
She paused.
"Your family is being damaged by years of decisions nobody was willing to question.""
Richard sat down heavily.
He looked older than he had an hour earlier.
"James, can we speak privately?""
"Of course.""
Richard glanced toward Sophie.
"Miss Morel, I would appreciate a moment.""
Sophie nodded.
"Certainly.""
She stood.
Daniel followed her into the hallway.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Daniel cleared his throat.
"I should have helped you earlier.""
Sophie looked at him.
"Yes. You should have.""
He lowered his eyes.
"I was afraid of losing my job.""
"I understand.""
"I've watched her do things like this for years.""
Sophie turned toward him.
"Why didn't anyone report it?""
Daniel gave a tired laugh.
"Because every time someone tried, they disappeared from the company.""
"Who made those decisions?""
"Richard signed the termination letters. But Camille usually started the complaints.""
Sophie studied his face.
"Do you have evidence?""
Daniel hesitated.
"Some.""
"What kind?""
"Emails. Internal messages. Expense approvals. There are also complaints from former employees.""
"Where are they?""
"Some were archived. Others were deleted.""
Sophie considered that.
"Can you recover them?""
"I think so.""
"Then I need you to work with our audit team.""
Daniel nodded.
"I will.""
Before Sophie could respond, a voice came from behind them.
"You really think you're going to walk in here and take everything?""
Camille.
She stood at the end of the hallway.
Her eyes were red, but her expression was hard.
Sophie turned.
"I'm not taking anything.""
"Don't pretend you're some kind of hero.""
"I'm not.""
"You humiliated me in front of everyone.""
Sophie remained quiet.
Camille stepped closer.
"You know what your problem is? You think having money makes you better than me.""
Sophie almost smiled.
"Camille, if money made people better, you wouldn't have needed to throw a waitress into a swimming pool to feel important.""
Camille's jaw tightened.
"You're going to regret this.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"Miss Laurent, that's enough.""
She pointed at him.
"You should be very careful, Daniel.""
He didn't move.
"No. I think I've been careful long enough.""
Camille stared at him.
Then she turned and stormed away.
Sophie watched her disappear around the corner.
"Daniel?""
"Yes?""
"Stay with the audit team tonight.""
"Why?""
Sophie glanced toward the conference room.
"Because I don't think that invoice is the biggest problem we're going to find.""
Daniel frowned.
"What makes you say that?""
Before she could answer, James appeared at the hallway entrance.
He was holding a thick envelope.
"Miss Morel.""
Sophie turned.
"What is it?""
James looked uncomfortable.
"Our legal department found something else.""
He handed her the envelope.
Inside was a copy of a confidential agreement.
At the top was the Laurent Estates company seal.
Below it was a list of assets scheduled to be transferred before the acquisition closed.
Sophie scanned the first page.
Then the second.
Her expression changed.
"Who authorized this?""
James pointed to the signature at the bottom.
Richard Laurent.
But beneath his signature was another name.
Camille Laurent.
And beside her name was a handwritten note.
Transfer completed. No further questions.
Sophie looked up.
"James, when was this filed?""
"Yesterday afternoon.""
"Did our legal team approve it?""
"No.""
Sophie closed the envelope.
"Then somebody has been moving assets before the acquisition.""
James nodded.
"And there's something else.""
"What?""
He lowered his voice.
"The money was transferred to an offshore company that appears to be connected to a member of your own family.""
Sophie froze.
"My family?""
James nodded.
"Yes.""
May you like
Then he gave her the name.
And Sophie realized the Laurent family scandal was only half the story.
