Chapter 4 - Account 1816

The auditors worked through the afternoon.

At 4:23 p.m., they found Account 1816.

It was not listed in Solmere’s ordinary financial reports.

The account existed inside a secondary property-management system used for private residences and executive clients.

Over three years, forty-three million dollars had passed through it.

Some transactions appeared legitimate.

Most did not.

Money moved from Solmere Holdings into six consulting companies.

Those companies purchased hotel furniture, art, wine, and construction services at highly inflated prices.

Then the excess money disappeared offshore.

Daniel spread the company names across the table.

Silver North Consulting.

Laurent Lifestyle Management.

Meridian Restoration.

White Harbor Capital.

Orchid Hospitality Services.

MGM Private Advisory.

Charlotte looked at one name.

“Laurent.”

Daniel nodded.

Vivienne Laurent’s father, Lucien Laurent, chaired Solmere’s compensation committee.

Vivienne herself owned Laurent Lifestyle Management.

Charlotte leaned back.

“So the woman who dragged me across the floor has been billing my company.”

The auditor nodded.

“Nearly nine million dollars.”

Charlotte felt something close to rage.

Vivienne had humiliated her because of a tank top.

Meanwhile, Vivienne had been draining millions from a business she did not own.

Daniel asked.

“Did Eleanor approve these transactions?”

The auditor shook his head.

“Her electronic signature appears on several.”

“But metadata shows some were applied remotely.”

“After her death?”

Charlotte asked.

The auditor looked uncomfortable.

“Three of them.”

The room went silent.

Charlotte stood.

Someone had continued using Eleanor Vale’s digital authorization after Eleanor was dead.

That transformed accounting irregularities into something else entirely.

Daniel called federal financial investigators.

Charlotte called Rosa.

The receptionist entered nervously.

Charlotte softened her voice.

“I need the truth.”

Rosa nodded.

“Anything.”

“Did my mother use the executive elevators the night she died?”

Rosa looked toward the door.

Then she whispered.

“No.”

Charlotte frowned.

“The official report says she went directly from dinner to the penthouse.”

“She didn’t.”

Rosa explained.

At 10:17 p.m., Eleanor came through the lobby alone.

She looked frightened.

She asked Rosa whether a man named Elias Grant was working.

Elias had been a night auditor.

He left Solmere the morning after Eleanor’s death.

Charlotte’s pulse quickened.

“Why?”

“No one told us.”

Rosa lowered her voice.

“But I remember something.”

“Your mother gave Elias an envelope.”

“Then Mr. Mercer came downstairs.”

“He saw them together.”

Charlotte looked at Daniel.

“What happened next?”

“Mr. Mercer told me to take my break.”

Rosa’s eyes filled with guilt.

“When I returned, your mother was gone.”

“And Elias looked terrified.”

Charlotte asked.

“Do you know where Elias is now?”

Rosa hesitated.

Then nodded.

“He calls me every Christmas.”

Charlotte’s heart started pounding.

“Call him.”

Rosa did.

Elias answered on the fourth ring.

Rosa said Charlotte Vale was alive.

There was silence.

Then Elias whispered.

“Tell her not to trust anyone in that building.”

Charlotte leaned toward the phone.

“Elias.”

He stopped breathing.

“This is Charlotte.”

Another silence.

Then he said.

“Your mother gave me something the night she died.”

“What?”

“A hotel key.”

Charlotte looked at Daniel.

“To which room?”

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Elias’s answer made them both freeze.

“Eighteen sixteen.”