Chapter 16 - THE FILE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN EMPTY
Six months after the Reed Legacy Foundation opened, Valeria had finally learned what peace felt like.
It was not silence.
It was walking into her office without wondering who was waiting to humiliate her.
It was signing documents because she believed in them, not because someone had pressured her.
And it was seeing young women enter the foundation carrying business plans instead of apologies.
That morning, however, peace ended with a single folder.
Her chief financial officer, Daniel Mercer, placed it on her desk.
“Valeria, I need you to look at this before the board meeting.”
She opened the folder.
Inside was a payment authorization from three years earlier.
Her expression changed.
The transaction had been made through a subsidiary of Salazar Enterprises.
The amount was $4.8 million.
And the authorization carried a signature that looked like hers.
“I never signed this.”
Daniel nodded.
“I know.”
“Then why does it have my name?”
“That is exactly the problem.”
Valeria studied the document again.
The transaction had been classified as an international acquisition consulting fee.
But the consulting company no longer existed.
“Who approved it?”
Daniel hesitated.
“Your former husband.”
Valeria's jaw tightened.
Marcus.
The name still carried no love.
But it carried history.
She had already uncovered the $320,000 Marcus stole for Renata.
This was different.
The payment had happened before the gala.
Before the divorce.
Before Marcus had ever known Valeria was Alexander Salazar's daughter.
Which meant there was a possibility she had missed something.
Valeria closed the folder.
“Start the audit.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Privately?”
“No.”
She stood.
“Completely.”
Then she looked toward the framed photograph of her mother.
May you like
“If someone used my name to move millions of dollars, I want to know why.”
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