Chapter 5 - SABRINA'S ACCESS
Sabrina had more authority than anyone outside the family understood.
Nathaniel had made her executive director of gala strategy, then expanded the role into foundation communications, donor partnerships, vendor coordination, and special projects.
She could approve invoices.
She could recommend grants.
She could create vendors.
She could not independently move eight-figure sums.
That required CFO authorization or executive approval.
So Sabrina could not have moved sixty-eight million alone.
That fact irritated people who wanted an easy villain.
Then the forensic team reviewed Croft Strategic Initiatives. Real company. Real employees. Real work. Also excessive compensation.
Over two years, it received $4.8 million.
Independent valuation estimated fair value somewhere between $1.8 and $2.4 million depending how much intangible donor-network value was credited. Conflict was undisclosed.
Nathaniel had approved most contracts.
Sabrina told investigators he said the board knew.
The board did not.
Then came the messages.
SABRINA: This fee looks insane.
NATHANIEL: You built the donor pipeline.
SABRINA: Does Adeline know?
NATHANIEL: Adeline doesn’t need operational detail. There. Not theft. Concealment. Then another.
SABRINA: If the auditors ask about Croft, what do I say?
NATHANIEL: Say the truth. You earned it.
Sabrina had reason to believe Nathaniel would protect her.
She also knew enough to fear an audit.
That explained part of her reaction at the gala. Not all.
Then investigators found one vendor tied to Sabrina’s younger brother.
That company had received a $9.5 million community redevelopment loan.
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The loan was already in trouble.
And unlike the Croft consulting contracts, Nathaniel claimed he had never seen it.
