Chapter 6 - The First Page
The first page was not financial.
It was a photo.
Lena Ortiz leaving Meridian Crest with a cardboard box, captured by lobby security six months earlier.
Under it was her exit interview statement.
I was told my role was being eliminated. The next day, Valerie Crane moved into my office and accessed my calendar files.
Dominic looked away.
Valerie scoffed.
“That woman was unstable.”
Chloe turned one page.
A screenshot.
Valerie to Dominic:
Make her look unstable before she talks.
The pantry fell silent.
Valerie’s face changed.
Dominic stepped in.
“This is privileged internal material.”
Chloe looked at legal counsel, who had just entered with two security officers.
Legal counsel answered calmly.
“No, it isn’t.”
Audrey stood near the counter, coffee drying in her hair, and watched Dominic’s confidence shrink.
Chloe turned another page.
Expense report.
Paris hotel suite.
Consulting travel.
Valerie Crane listed as investor relations support.
But on the same dates, internal records showed no investor meetings in Paris.
Instead, there were photos from Valerie’s private account.
Valerie and Dominic on a balcony.
Champagne.
A caption she had deleted.
Business looks better from Paris.
Chloe turned another page.
Jewelry purchase.
Client retention gift.
No client named.
Security still from the boutique showed Dominic buying it with Valerie beside him.
Valerie’s hand went to her necklace.
The diamonds at her throat suddenly looked heavier.
Dominic spoke through clenched teeth.
“Enough.”
Audrey lifted her phone.
“Should I play the rest of the audio?”
He stopped.
Chloe continued.
The next section showed access logs.
Valerie entering Dominic’s office after hours.
Valerie accessing restricted calendars.
Valerie using Dominic’s credentials to approve vendor additions.
One vendor stood out.
Crane Strategic Advisory.
Valerie’s private company.
Payments totaling $1.8 million over eighteen months.
Employees began whispering.
Valerie turned on them.
“Get back to work.”
No one moved.
For the first time, her command hit air.
Chloe looked at her.
“You do not direct employees here.”
Valerie’s mouth opened.
Then closed.
That might have been the first time anyone inside Meridian Crest had said the truth to her face.
Dominic looked at Audrey.
“You set this up.”
Audrey wiped another streak of coffee from her jaw.
“No. I gave you room to behave.”
His eyes flashed.
“You came in under a false identity.”
Legal counsel answered before Audrey could.
“With board authorization, due to credible claims of misconduct and retaliation.”
The word board changed everything.
Dominic looked toward Chloe.
Then at the folder.
Then at security.
He realized this was not HR overreacting.
This was already above him.
Valerie whispered, “Dominic?”
He did not look at her.
That was when her fear truly began.
Because Valerie had mistaken intimacy for protection.
But men like Dominic protect only themselves once the room turns.
Chloe turned to security.
“Collect their company devices.”
Dominic’s voice rose.
“I am the CEO.”
Chloe’s face remained calm.
May you like
“Not for much longer if the board confirms what’s in this folder.”
👉 The first pages showed Valerie was not just Dominic’s lover—she had been using his power and company money while employees paid the price.
