Chapter 6 - THE SABOTAGE
Three months passed.
Leah’s life transformed at a breathtaking pace.
As the new Lead Financial Administrator of the Rowan Family Foundation, she revolutionized the organization. She eliminated useless corporate galas, redirected funds directly into community childcare subsidies, and established emergency housing grants for single parents.
Her salary allowed her to move into a bright, safe two-bedroom apartment near a park. Ember was enrolled in the Rowan Early Learning Center, thriving alongside Maya, who had completely returned to her bright, vocal self.
And between Leah and Calder, something deeper began to take root.
They spent late nights in Calder's office reviewing foundation projects, sharing takeaway dinners over spreadsheets, talking about their pasts, their fears, and their hopes for their daughters.
Calder found himself laughing again. He found himself looking forward to coming into the office, not for the corporate deals, but to see Leah’s warm, brilliant smile when she walked down the hall.
However, Julianna Vance’s fury only grew darker.
Sitting in her office on the 82nd floor, Julianna looked at an upcoming foundation audit report.
"She’s getting too close to him," Julianna spat to her assistant, Marcus. "Calder took her and her kid to his private estate in the Hamptons last weekend. The press is already calling her the 'Secret Heiress of Rowan Tower.' If she stays here another month, he’s going to put a ring on her finger."
"What do you want to do, Julianna?" Marcus asked nervously. "Her work is immaculate. The board loves her."
Julianna pulled a flash drive from her desk drawer.
"Tonight is the annual Rowan Foundation Gala," Julianna sneered. "Leah is presenting the final ten-million-dollar grant distribution to the Mayor. I have written a small piece of code that will alter the wire transfer routing numbers on her master presentation file."
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Marcus gasped. "Julianna... that’s federal bank fraud!"
"It’s not fraud if it looks like an accounting error," Julianna corrected coldly. "When Leah hits 'execute' on stage in front of five hundred donors and the Mayor, ten million dollars will be routed into an unverified offshore holding account in Panama. She will be arrested on stage for embezzlement before the dessert course is served."
