It was enough to make anyone’s head spin After the discussion with Mr Smith and dealing with Dorian’s fears, they both decided to work on the case together.
Dorian didn’t know much about Brielle, yet there was something about her that made him trust that within the following days, everything with add up for the good.
As he retreated to his bed, he couldn’t forget how audacious Brielle had been earlier.
Although she didn’t even know anything yet, she was still so sure about herself.
Early at dawn, they both got prepared for office.
Before they could leave however, Dorian decided to brief Brielle about the office, giving her knowledge about everything she needed for the investigation.
‘This is so you don’t feel lost about anything.’ He had told her and they both smiled.
They spent nearly two hours trying to understand everything: from procurement records to transaction details, those who worked at what position, be didn’t miss anything out.
Brielle was also a fast learner, having learned some things back in town.
Before they left for the office, Brielle tended to the kids, and asked Miss Nancy to take care of them while they were away.
‘Please, I know you don’t know much about their likes and dislikes but I earnestly plead with you to look after them well.
‘She requested, trying to figure out if it was really a good idea to involve herself in something she had little idea of.
‘Yes miss Nancy.
Please, tend to their needs.
We don’t know when we might even get time to sit with them.
‘Dorian added, as if assuring her that everything would be fine.
Miss Nancy promised that she would .
After she felt everything was settled with the kids, she was finally ready to leave.
As both of them left, only one thing resonated in their minds.
Three days.
That was all the time they had to uncover what had gone wrong with Wolfe Enterprises and find a solution before the government proceeded with the measures outlined in the notice Brielle understood the gravity of the situation, but she wasn’t entirely certain how much help she could offer.
She knew business, but not on the scale Dorian did.
His company was worth millions, with employees, suppliers, contracts and financial obligations stretching far beyond anything she had ever handled.
Still, she knew more than she had initially let on.
Back in her town, business had been part of her everyday life.
She had handled small ventures, negotiated with suppliers, kept records, dealt with customers and learned how to determine whether an investment was worth making.
More importantly, she had spent years around experienced business owners who had taken a liking to her.They had taught her things no classroom ever could.
She had learned that a profitable business could still be struggling.
That cash flow mattered.
That records often revealed more than people intended them to.
And, most importantly, that whenever numbers didn’t make sense, there was usually a reason.She had simply never imagined those lessons would one day be useful in a company like Wolfe Enterprises.
“You understand what you’re looking at?” Dorian asked, still unsure if everything he had taught her in the morning would be of any use.
He couldn’t let his guard down.
Brielle glanced at him.
“Some of it.” “Some?” “I told you I know a little about business.” Dorian leaned back in his chair.
“This isn’t a small business where you can look at the day’s sales and know whether you’ve made a profit.” “I know.” “Then what exactly do you think you can find that our financial department hasn’t?” Brielle looked back at the documents.
“I don’t know yet.” She met his eyes.
“But I can look.” Something about her certainty made him pause.He pushed a thick file towards her.”Fine.
Start there.” Brielle opened it.For several minutes, she said nothing.She went through the invoices one after another, comparing them with the payment records.
Most appeared ordinary until two documents caught her attention.She placed them side by side.
“Dorian.” He looked up.”What?” “Come here.” He walked over.Brielle pointed at the first document.
“This payment was made to the same supplier as this one.” “So?” “The amounts are almost identical.” Dorian examined the papers.”They’re different invoices.” “Yes.” “And?” “They were paid twice.” He frowned.”That could be an accounting error.” “It could.” She pulled another document from the file.”But if it was, there should be a correction.” Dorian looked at the document.There wasn’t one.
“There’s another.” Then another.By the time they finished examining the file, they had found eight questionable payments.Dorian stared at the documents.”How much?” Brielle calculated the figures again.”Almost two hundred thousand.” His jaw tightened.”This isn’t an accounting error.” “No.” Dorian moved towards the window, his expression darkening.Someone had taken money from the company.And judging by the number of transactions, it hadn’t happened once.”Who handles procurement?” he asked.
“Several people.” “Who approves payments?” “Finance.” “Who authorizes transfers?” Dorian paused.
“Senior management.” Brielle looked at him.
“Who exactly?” He gave her the names.She wrote them down.
“Who has access to the financial system?” “Not everyone has the same level of access.” “Then whoever did this knew exactly how the system worked.” Dorian’s eyes narrowed.”That means someone inside.” Brielle nodded.Before either could say anything else, Dorian reached for his phone.”I’m calling Mr.
Norman.”The call connected after several rings.
“Dorian?” “Come to my office.” “Is something wrong?” “Just come.” He ended the call.
Mr.
Norman arrived shortly afterwards, carrying a folder beneath his arm.
He took one look at the documents on the desk and his expression changed.
“What happened?” Dorian pushed the papers towards him.”Explain these.” Mr.
Norman picked them up.”There may be an explanation.” “What explanation?” “Revisions to orders.
Accounting adjustments.
There are several reasons a payment can appear more than once.” Brielle watched him carefully.”Then where are the adjustments?” Mr.
Norman looked at her.”I’d have to check.” “There aren’t any,” she said.
His eyes returned to the documents.Dorian’s voice hardened.”Who approved these?” “I’ll have to check the records.” “You don’t remember?” “There are hundreds of transactions every month.” “Then check.” Mr.
Norman nodded and left.The moment the door closed, Brielle turned to Dorian.
“He knows something.” “You think so?” “He avoided every question.” Dorian said nothing.
Brielle gathered the documents.
“We need to find out where the money actually went.” “We know where it went.” “No.” She looked at him.
“We know who received it.
That’s different.” That distinction changed everything.They spent the next several hours tracing the payments.One supplier claimed they had received only one payment.Another denied issuing one of the invoices entirely.Then Brielle noticed something else.She compared the bank details on the invoices with the supplier’s official records.Her eyes widened.
“Dorian.” He looked up.
“What?” “These aren’t the supplier’s bank details.” He immediately walked over.
She pointed to the account information.
“Look.” He stared at the figures.The payments had been sent to different accounts.None belonged to the suppliers listed on the invoices.
Dorian’s face hardened.
“Someone changed the banking information.” “Which means the invoices were manipulated.” He picked up another document.
“And whoever did it had access to our internal system.” Brielle nodded.
“Exactly.” Dorian reached for his phone.
“We need to shut down the payment system.” “Wait.” He stopped.
“If you shut it down now, whoever is responsible will know we’ve discovered them.” Dorian looked at her.
“So what do you suggest?” “Nothing.” “Nothing?” “Let them think everything is normal.” His eyes narrowed.
“We find out who they are first.” For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Dorian gave a slow nod.
“You’re good.” Brielle returned her attention to the files.
“I’ve just learned from people who were better than me.” “Who?” “Business owners back home.” She paused.
“They taught me to pay attention to what people overlook.” Dorian looked at her for a moment before turning back to the documents.By the time evening arrived, they had uncovered several suspicious transactions and enough evidence to prove that the problem was deeper than simple financial mismanagement.But there was still the government notice.They needed to prove that Wolfe Enterprises could recover.They needed money.
Dorian began contacting major clients who still owed the company.
Some agreed to make early payments.
Others refused, insisting that their contracts gave them weeks before payment was due.Every refusal tightened the pressure.
“We’re still short,” Dorian said eventually.
“How much?” He told her.
Brielle stared at the figure.
“That much?” “Yes.” She looked through the company’s financial statements again.
“What about the properties?” “Not liquid enough.” “Vehicles?” “Not enough.” “Investors?” “Not quickly enough.” She sighed and continued searching.Then she stopped.A company name caught her attention.She frowned.She had seen it somewhere before.Brielle reached for an older file and began flipping through it.Dorian noticed.
“What are you looking for?” “I don’t know yet.” She continued searching until she found it.Her heart skipped.The same company name appeared in an old contract.But the contract was dated years earlier.She looked at the signature.Then at the amount involved.Then back at the name.
“Dorian.” He turned towards her.
“What?” She slowly pushed the document across the desk.
“Have you seen this company before?” He picked up the paper.The moment he read the name, his expression changed.Brielle noticed immediately.
“You know them.” Dorian didn’t answer.
“Dorian?” He read the contract again, his face growing increasingly grim.
“That company doesn’t exist anymore.” “Then why is it here?” He looked at her.
“I don’t know.” Brielle pointed at the document.
“Then we need to find out.” Dorian remained silent.He picked up another file and began searching through it.Then another.His movements became increasingly frantic.Brielle watched him.
“What is it?” He didn’t answer.Finally, he pulled out a document and placed it beside the first.The same company name appeared again.But this time, the date was recent.Brielle’s eyes widened.
“That isn’t possible.” Dorian stared at the document.
“It shouldn’t be.” The room fell silent.Someone had been using the name of a company that was supposed to have disappeared years ago.And somehow, that name had found its way back into Wolfe Enterprises’ records.Dorian’s phone suddenly rang.Both of them froze.He looked at the screen.Unknown number.His expression darkened.He answered.For several seconds, he said nothing.Brielle watched his face change.The colour slowly drained from it.Then the call ended.
“Who was that?” Dorian lowered the phone.His eyes met hers.
“They know.” Brielle’s stomach tightened.
“Who?” Dorian looked towards the office door.
“They know we’ve started looking.” The lights suddenly went out.The office was swallowed by darkness.And somewhere outside the room, footsteps stopped directly behind the door.